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Everything You Need to Know About Gerson Therapy
You would be hard-pressed to find a more widely hated word than cancer. Over the years, this deadly disease has claimed millions of lives – parents, children, friends, lovers; nobody is safe from its fell clutches. Though medicine and science have advanced by leaps and bounds, we are still pretty far away from a cure. New technology and treatments are developed every year, and scientists have been at it for decades.
Max Gerson, a German physician, developed a treatment as far back as the 1920s and 1930s. This is called Gerson Therapy, which forms the subject of our article today. We will be looking into what this treatment entails, where it came from, and whether it has any benefits.
What Is Gerson Treatment?
The treatment that Gerson developed was used to treat his headache, which he claimed it did successfully. He then went on to use it to treat tuberculosis and cancer. When it comes to treating cancer, Gerson therapy requires some level of belief by the user base. These are:
- The belief that a strictly regimented diet and healthy consumption of vitamins helps treat cancer.
- The belief that cancer is a symptom rather than a disease and that it points at a greater malady affecting the whole body.
- The belief that by strengthening the body’s immune system and getting rid of toxins, the body goes back to its normal metabolic state and heals itself.
It has three parts:
- A strict diet made up of organic vegetables and fruits – low in potassium content but high in sodium.
- Gerson supplements: vitamins, minerals, and certain specific enzymes.
- Coffee or castor oil enemas.
Gerson diet cancer patients believe that consuming large amounts of vegetables and fruits will restore the body’s natural balance. Additionally, doing this will also cleanse the liver. It is also widely believed that the coffee enemas will help the body get rid of toxins from the liver and colon by excretion. Finally, the supplements and enzymes rid the body of cancer cells.
It should be noted that modern scientific methods do not support any of these claims.
Why Do People Continue to Use Gerson Therapy for Cancer?
So, knowing all that, why do people keep using the Gerson diet for cancer treatments? Well, there are many reasons why one might subscribe to such a method, but in this section, we’ll take a look at a few main reasons why.
They have hope that it might control their disease.
Nobody likes hearing the words, “Conventional treatments probably won’t cure your cancer.” It is a huge blow to morale for everyone involved. It is in these moments that people will do desperate things for hope. To preserve that sense of still having a chance.
Thus, you have people resorting to alternative forms of treatment like Gerson therapy, which is not proven to work. In fact, it can cause serious problems for patients and make them feel worse than they did before. A change in diet might help prevent cancer, but there is no proof that it actually kills cancer cells.
They want to feel more in control.
The first casualty of cancer is agency. Our body is the one thing we have always been in control of, and as soon as we start exhibiting the symptoms, control is the first thing we lose. Our body reacts in strange, unfamiliar ways, and we are no longer in charge of what happens to it.
To counteract this, people will resort to alternative forms of treatment just so they can feel accomplished for making a decision. It allows them to feel more in control of their cancer and its treatment. This should not be discounted as willpower goes a long way.
They want to boost their immune system.
One of the many things that Gerson therapy claims to be good at is boosting immunity. This might help fight off cancer cells, but there is no scientific evidence for this. Until more research is done to either prove or disprove this theory, it cannot be said whether this actually works or not.
What Does Gerson Therapy Involve Doing?
As you should have realized by now, the Gerson therapy is a diet plan that has some rather strict demands. But how strict is it really? What exactly do people have to do? Let’s have a look!
These are the things you will need to do on a daily basis:
- Drink twenty pounds – nine kilograms – of crushed fruits and vegetables. It comes around at one glass of juice every hour for thirteen hours of the day.
- Have three to four coffee and/or castor oil enemas.
- Consume potassium and other mineral supplements like vitamin B12, pancreatic enzymes, and thyroid supplements.
What Are the Side Effects of Gerson Therapy?
We alluded to this earlier, but it is time to discuss this properly. Following Gerson therapy can have some pretty significant side effects that you may not like. Especially the coffee enemas. These things remove a lot of the body’s natural potassium and have been known to cause:
- Infections
- Dehydration
- Fits
- Salt and other mineral imbalances in the body
- Heart and lung problems which can sometimes lead to death
- Constipation and inflammation of the bowels caused by repeated enemas, which will weaken your bowel muscle
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhea
- Cramps in your abdomen
- Aching, feverishness, and sweating
- Cold sores
- Dizziness and weakness
How Much Does Gerson Therapy Cost?
Here’s the thing. For a practice that has not been proven effective against cancer, the treatment sure costs a pretty penny. If you are planning on having it done at home, you will need to buy special equipment. Another constant source of expenditure will be the procurement of fresh fruits, vegetables, coffee, and supplements, which you will need every day. In some cases, you’ll need them every hour!
If you are considering getting treatment elsewhere – the Gerson Institute often refers to clinics run by them, and the most popular ones are in Mexico and Hungary – then you will need to pay for airfare on top of treatment. So, be sure to think about how much it can cost before you commit to it.
Getting More Advice From All American Hospice
Gerson therapy is unproven to work on cancer, which is what it is used to treat. Nonetheless, there are many reasons why you should consider it. In fact, the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables is among the healthiest things you can do. But you do have to keep in mind the real-life consequences you may face. For more details about treatments that may make a difference, contact us today at All American Hospice and book an appointment.
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