Max Gerson was born in 1881 in Wongrowitz, Germany. He began studying medicine at the age of 28 and went on to develop what's known as Gerson therapy, which he believed could cure both cancer and migraines. The National Cancer Institute says there's no evidence Gerson therapy works. It says the diet could be potentially hazardous, especially because the diet promotes coffee enemas, which can cause colitis, inflammation of the bowel, infections, dehydration and sometimes septicemia. There is no scientific evidence the diet effectively treats cancer or migraines. Although the diet is not endorsed in the United States, the Gerson Institute still licenses a clinic in northern Mexico.
Permitted Foods
Gerson's migraine diet requires a predominantly plant-based diet. These plants had to be organically grown as Gerson believed pesticides to be highly toxic. The diet also dictates an 8 oz. glass of vegetable or fruit juice every waking hour, or 13 times per day. The high level of fruit intake is meant to correct sodium imbalance in the body.
Banned Foods
All animal fats, except for calf liver oil, are not permitted on Gerson's migraine diet. Substances such as alcohol, tobacco, salt, food additives, fluoride and pharmaceuticals are also forbidden, as are nuts and berries. Drinking pure water is also forbidden on Gerson migraine diet.
Supplements
Dietary supplements are a vital part of the diet, especially vitamin C and iodine. Gerson also recommended flaxseed oil and calf liver oil. Hydrogen peroxide and ozone, or trioxygen, are given orally or rectally as part of Gerson therapy in the belief that they reverse the effects of living in a toxic environment and remove excess salts from the body. Vitamin B-12 is also recommended on the Gerson diet to help remove excess toxins from the liver.
Other Aspects
Coffee and castor oil enemas are an integral part of Gerson therapy. These enemas are meant to relieve pain in the patient and remove toxins stored in the liver. The use of any aluminum utensils or cooking pots is also forbidden, as aluminum is a heavy metal and Gerson believed it toxic to humans.
