Over the last couple of months I’ve received a few questions about the Gerson Therapy, which I will attempt to answer here.
Please note I am simply a girl on a modified version of the therapy. In no way, shape, or form do I represent the Gerson’s, the Gerson Institute or a professional practitioner of the therapy, so my responses are simply my own understanding of the therapy.
How do you make oatmeal, Gerson style?
Sorry I failed, originally, to list the basic oatmeal recipe on the primary Gerson recipe post. I have since amended that post to include this recipe.
This is how I make the Gerson oatmeal:
The oatmeal is made using 1 cup (you could use up to 12oz) pure water to ¾ cups (you could use up to 5 oz) oats for a single serving. Bring the water to a boil and then quickly reduce the heat, put in the oats and softly simmer for six or so minutes, until ready. You can add a bit of fruit (albeit no berries on Gerson, sad but true) and up to 2 teaspoons of maple syrup if you’d like. I typically make it with 1 tablespoon pre-soaked raisins and 1 teaspoon maple syrup.
If you’re not on Gerson you could substitute the water for fresh nut milk and add in berries…healthy and yummy!
Why are certain herbs and healthy foods like berries not allowed on the Gerson therapy?
This is a difficult question for me to answer, as I am still curious about what is and is not allowed myself. I wonder why onion and garlic (both powerful culinary medicinals) are allowed and used daily, while ginger (another powerful culinary medicinal) is not.
Why is mint (an aromatic) used in several of the recipes in Healing The Gerson Way, while a large list of other aromatics are forbidden because of the very fact that they are aromatics? Hum. That makes no sense at all to me.
What I can say is that there is a definite rhyme and reason to what is and what is not allowed, even if it seems contradictory. For example, at one point I had a tiny bit of avocado and my body screamed NO. Avocado is not allowed on Gerson because it is high in fat, which although healthy makes the liver work harder than is needed at this critical healing time. I also tried a smidge of ginger and my body again said a big NO; it was way too strong for my system.
So all I can say is after seventy-five plus years of treating people with serious illness the Gerson therapy is the way that is is for a reason. They know what works and what doesn’t.
In regards to berries, it my understanding that some people have reactions to them and so in effort to make it easy they just have everyone stay away from berries while they are on the therapy.
Did you stay at the clinic in Mexico?
No, I didn’t. I am not able to travel so I never really had the opportunity to even consider it. I am doing the therapy from home, right out of the gates…like many.
How are you responding to the therapy?
It’s been a mixed bag really. I’ve experienced some healing, but I have also run into some difficulties that have resulted in me making some necessary modifications. I will share more about this in an upcoming post and will eventually put up an in-depth progress report post as well.
I didn’t think the Gerson therapy was an option for people with a brain illness?
It is an option, but depending on the type of illness in the brain that you are referring to some have lower rates of success. That said, it is my understanding, after reading numerous testimonials on the Gerson therapy that some (even with brain tumors) have healed completely while others have improved greatly. I think those are pretty good odds given the dismal statistics of healing brain illness even in conventional medicine.
The main thing that makes healing illness in the brain difficult is the location itself. Being encapsulated within the skull limits inflammation (a normal healing response) and what inflammation does occur creates pressure within an already tight space, which can cause greater problems and risks. This is the difficulty I have had. As the pressure increases in my head I develop speech, vision, hearing and even memory problems. I will talk more about the modifications I have had to make to the Gerson therapy, in order to deal with some of these challenges, in an upcoming post.
I would just add, if you or someone you love has a brain illness I would not rule out the Gerson therapy as a means of healing and or helping. I would suggest contacting the Gerson Institute for support.
How much is the Gerson therapy costing you per month?
A lot. There is no disputing how expensive alternative, and nutritional healing therapies in particular, can be. Fifteen pounds of fresh produce a day, plus supplements, adds up quickly. If you are not able to grow any of your own produce to offset grocery bill costs then you’re looking at a very heafty bill. Not including ALL of the start up costs associated with this therapy, I spend around $1,600 – $2,000 per month on Gerson related costs alone. This of course is on top of the grocery costs and other needs and expenses my family has.
It is a hardcore program in ALL respects (physically, emotionally, financially, et al.). It is worth every penny spent to restore one’s health, but it definitely takes a lot to make it happen. Everything we have (literally) is going to fund my healing therapy. It takes a true commitment to pull it off (for spouses too). I am blessed to have my husband and mom’s unwavering support. I simply could not do it alone.
For more information
The Getting Started page on the Gerson website has a cost estimate pdf worth looking at if you are deciding whether or not to do this therapy.
Also, the FAQ page on the Gerson website is very helpful and thorough. Check it out if you have lingering questions about the Gerson therapy!
I hope this answered all of your questions. If not, you’re welcome to contact me.
Wishing you a wonderful day,
Treesa
Been scouring the web for alternatives to help my dad who has dementia. We’ve been thinking a lot about Gerson. Is this one of the brain conditions you mention that it could help? Thank you for being so honest. It is helpful for some of the rest of us as we learn and make decisions best for us. Thanks ~ Jaden
Jaden – Sorry about your dad.
In answer to your question it depends on the form of dementia we’re talking about. The dead brain cells associated with Alzheimer’s disease is irreversible, and so too are the effects on the brain therein. However, it is possible that the therapy can hault further damage to the brain (as noted in Healing the Gerson Way pg 110).
It is my understanding that motor system disorders (with dementia) are also noted not to be curable, but individual’s with these conditions can improve on the therapy.
As I said in the post, brain conditions all across the board have less favorable odds (and are really among few conditions noted that have less favorable results on the therapy). Still and yet doing better, not worse; having a longer and better quality of life even if not ‘cured’ is still favorable in my eyes.
Talk with the people at the Gerson Institute, if you have not done so already, to get a better feel for how to proceed. They can get you in touch with (former) patients with similar conditions so you can speak to them directly. All the best…
Thats a great idea. I’m gonna do that. Thank you.
Curious about what tools you use to make life easier on this therapy or to make this therapy happen?
great post
It takes a lot to do this, but those of us on the outside looking in really just don’t have a clue how much. You have so much courage and strenth.
I admire your efforts and your path.
I admire your commitment to this therapy so much! You have answered many questions that I had about this approach, thank you!
You shared already your food schedule but I am curious about the rest of your day schedule and all that it takes to do this therapy. Could ou share your typical day schedule with us? Also I am curios about what you need tool wise to do this to. Thx for sharing all that you do.
I think ALL cancer treatments (for what I hear of Gerson being used most frequently) are expensive.
I believe your answer to why mint is allowed is that it’s technically not an aromatic acid, because there are no double bonds in it’s ring structure. I believe it’s actually considered a Cyclic aliphatic compound (such as Cyclobutane). Specially a cyclic aliphatic acid. Don’t quote me, I’m not a chemist by trade.