The Gerson Therapy

My most recent research has lead me to The Gerson Therapy (TGT) originated by Dr. Max Gerson, written by Charlotte Gerson and Morton Walker, D.P.M. I originally became aware of the TGT in one of the first health documentaries I watched about 4 months ago. Since then I have heard about it off and on in numerous other documentaries. I am not sure why I hadn’t considered studying the subject further until just the other day, when it actually presented itself to me. I had a Barnes and Noble gift card I had been carrying around since my birthday last year. I prefer to buy my books on Amazon because it is way cheaper, plus I do not live close to a Barnes and Noble, any bookstore really. When I got to the bookstore I immediately went upstairs and straight to the section where, unbeknownst to me, TGT book lived. So, there it was. Of course my curiosity was peeked so I purchased it and brought it home. I began reading it last night and spent about 3 hours reading. I was super exhausted by the time I finally put it down, which means some of the details became a little fuzzy. I got the gist though and from what I can tell it is as follows:

Disclaimer: This is the basics of TGT, from my understanding and point of view. If considering trying TGT, I most definitely recommend purchasing the book and reading it for yourself and/or enlisting the assistance of individuals who work at the Gerson Institute.

To purchase visit http://www.amazon.com/Gerson-Therapy-Nutritional-Program-Illnesses/dp/1575666286/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1296334358&sr=8-1

TGT’s primary focus is on balancing the body’s potassium/sodium, to bring the internal environment into its maximum potential. Along with this diet and supplementation, it incorporates daily (hourly actually, but more on that in a minute) juicing and regular coffee enemas (hmm…sounds fun). The purpose of each of these elements:

Potassium/Sodium Balance- Potassium is an essential intercellular mineral (required for use in cells, rather then fluids) that is essential for normal functioning of all cells and tissues in the body. The idea is that when your body becomes damaged (i.e. with a tumor, cyst, etc.) it depletes the potassium from the tissues surrounding it, which allows the influx of sodium in our diets to attach to a water molecule and inhibit the vacant space left by the potassium. This of course creates the swelling responsible for our pain and nerve compression, not to mention it can kill off everything around it (for Tarlovians this equates to erosion of our tail bones, sacrum, spine, etc). Bringing the body back into balance means flooding it with potassium (through food and supplements), while starving it of extra sodium. Once you are able to cleanse all of your cells and tissues of sodium and fill them with potassium they will return to optimal functioning and can then take on the obstruction and eliminate it. 

Juicing- The primary source of all of the nutrients come from hourly juicing of vegetables, carrots, carrots and apples, etc. Juicing allows you to flush the body with enzymes, nutrients, vitamins, minerals that are easily absorbable. These foods are also, you guessed it, high in potassium. TGT is adamant that this be followed as to the letter as possible. In fact, they prefer you not to drink water, claiming it would only dilute the potency of your juice. You should get all of the fluid and water you need from the hourly juicing.

Coffee Enemas- As you can imagine, flushing your cells and tissue with that much juice and high potassium veggies and fruits, is going to cause a large level of detoxification. It is super important that you help your body eliminate these toxins and not continue to circulate simply because your liver can only process so much at any given time. Coffee, when taken as an enema, has proven to stimulate and open up the ducts of the liver, allowing a huge amount of toxins to be flushed out immediately. The book even claims that this is the primary way their patients gain control over their pain. It is said that doing this eliminates the pain for those suffering with any kind of inflammatory condition.

This is somewhat similar to the plan I have been on, which is Kris Carr’s Crazy, Sexy Diet (CSD). Both of their staples include a vegetarian meal plan, with lots of juice. The first important difference is that Kris Carr’s is more of a lifestyle change. TGT is a treatment, to be done until the patient has reached a cured state, at which point they could then shift over to Kris Carr’s diet for maintenance. That is how I am considering doing it at least. Other major differences include:

• TGT requires mostly raw fruit and well cooked vegetables. The idea is that you are getting your primary nutrition from the hourly juicing and the over cooked vegetables serve as substance to help with elimination. Also, you eat a diet high in oatmeal.
• TGT forbids the use of cucumbers, alfalfa and bean sprouts, most teas, protein powders, soy products (so does CSD), avocadoes, and excess water. I understand that you can get most of your needed protein from abundant vegetable intake and that soy is an internal irritant. Avocadoes are high in fat and the diet calls for almost no fat at all. But, there was no given reason (that I have found thus far) to avoid cucumbers and most sprouts. Cucumbers are the primary filler in my juice each day, so adjusting to not using them anymore is somewhat unsettling to me. Not to mention I love my tofu for dinner and pea protein shakes for lunch.

I know I have to remember that TGT is a temporary treatment plan and it does have thousands of success stories, and decades of confirmed research backing it. It would still be a humongous adjustment. I am mulling the idea over in my head and will make my decision once I complete the book as well as another book I purchased called Spontaneous Healing by Dr. Andrew Weil. Ohhhhh…I just remembered the coffee enemas! Yuck…I’ve got a lot to consider…

An excerpt from TGT:

“During the course of treating these various migraine and tuberculosis cases, Dr. Gerson found that many of the patients had been suffering from other problems, too: high blood pressure, asthma, allergies, kidney damage, arthritis, residual stroke, hardening o the arteries, and more. These acute or chronic degenerations also disappeared. Unquestionably, the Gerson Therapy worked toward correcting almost any degenerating illness.

Thus, Dr. Gerson recognized that he was no longer treating disease; he was helping the body to heal itself of nearly all dysfunctions. Of course, this meant that he was no longer treating symptoms but the patient’s underlying problem; he was taking a completely different approach from the usual approach of orthodox medicine: the suppression of symptoms.”