Positive Health Online

This is a new and updated book about the theory and practice of Gerson Therapy, written by the daughter of Dr Max Gerson MD (1881-1959). It is a comprehensive, well written and clear account of the approach to healing developed by Dr Gerson which has since been, and continues to be, applied internationally by many people with chronic health problems including cancer.

After some personal insights into the healing of his own migraine headaches, Dr Gerson researched and developed an approach to health, based on the principle that much modern illness is due in large part to toxicity and deficiency. His approach is well known for its use of fresh juices and coffee enemas.

The book itself is comprehensive and clearly presented, offering a detailed account of the theory and methods of this therapy, ideas about why modern society is suffering so much chronic disease including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer, and also examples of dietary recipes and patient case histories. It is a faithful description of an insightful Physician’s perception of the cause and solution of many health problems.

For me, this review is difficult to write because, on the one hand, I acknowledge many truths in this writing. I absolutely agree that much of the chronic degenerative disease we are seeing today is in large part due to a combination of environmental factors, lifestyle, lack of exercise, stress and poor nutrition, in conjunction with genetic predisposition. I also agree that many problems can be significantly improved by dietary and lifestyle measures. Where I personally diverge from Gerson therapy is in the theory that this is a ‘healing system’ which must be adhered to exactly as it is described, without divergence in any way including the addition of any other treatments. The implication of divergence, which is quite explicitly stated in the book, is that it won’t work.

There is so much that is good and true in this method, I feel I’m being harsh in putting forward any criticism. I am in full accord with the content. There is absolutely no doubt that flooding a deficient body with phytochemicals, while removing unhealthy foods and environmental toxins, can be of significant benefit. The difficulty for me is the lack of robust scientific explanation, and the appeal to the reader to ‘believe’ in it as a healing philosophy. Some of the theories about why and how things are helpful, and why some new methods have been added to the original therapy, are more like popular science and are in some cases flawed. I also think that while many of these principles can be very helpful in preventing disease, attention should also be given in more detail to treatment principles, particularly for cancer, which can be quite different. There is also no mention of molecular biology and the genetic underpinning of cancer.

It’s a good, faithful and readable book and I personally know people who have benefited from Gerson therapy. I just don’t think this information needs to remain shrouded as a healing philosophy which must be adhered to religiously when there is already good science out there for most of it. I have seen no good explanation why people should not adopt other treatment strategies simultaneously to some of the dietary principles recommended by this system. I do this in my own practice, particular in the case of cancer. I feel strongly that people with cancer should have access to information about all treatment options which may be in their best interest. And there’s a lot of good material out there these days, including Gerson therapy.

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