Diet Novelties .com

…„Over the past two decades, nutritional therapies that promise to cure cancer, such as macrobiotic diets, massive doses of vitamin C and various “metabolic” therapies, have experienced a resurgence in popularity. But the American Cancer Society, which recently reviewed seven of the most popular nutrition-related cancer therapies, concluded that not only are these therapies ineffective and often expensive, some are actually dangerous.

Perhaps most important, all pose the risk that people who use them will abandon more effective treatments.

Here’s what ACS uncovered about two of the more bizarre nutrition-based cancer therapies: Hoxsey Herbal Treatment has been around since the 1920’s. It was developed by the late Harry Hoxsey, who was convicted three times of practicing medicine without a license. Following his death, his former head nurse opened a clinic in Tijuana, Mexico, where the current cost of the treatment ranges from $4,000 to $5,000.

Treatments consist of external and internal herbal components. The treatment used for external cancers is a red paste made from several compounds including zinc chloride, arsenic sulfide, sulfur and talc. These products are corrosive enough to destroy body tissues on contact.

The formula used for internal cancers is an herbal elixir containing licorice, red clover and cascara, among other substances. Cascara, derived from the bark of a tree, is known for its laxative effect. The Gerson Diet was first described in 1945 by the German-born physician, Max Gerson. The focus of the program is “detoxification” of the body via castor oil and coffee enemas and a special diet that is supposed to help the body “heal itself.” The diet consists of about 13 glasses of vegetable juice a day, as well as several “supplements” including linseed oil, acidophilus-pepsin capsules, laetrile and thyroid tablets. Forbidden foods include salt, oil, coffee, berries, nuts, tap water, and all bottled, canned, refined, preserved or frozen foods.

Gerson’s treatment is administered in a converted motel in Tijuana, Mexico, for about $4,000 per week.

Between 1980 and 1986, at least 13 patients treated with the Gerson therapy were admitted to San Diego-area hospitals for severe infections believed to be caused by injections of raw liver extract. None of the patients was cancer-free. Five were comatose due to low blood sodium levels, presumably a result of the diet regimen. …”