Dr. Gerson strongly prohibited
any fats or oils, yet A Cancer Therapy says to use flax seed
oil. What is the source of this contradiction?
Dr. Gerson was very much aware that
patients require the intake of essential fatty acids. He
experimented with various substances, including sunflower,
safflower, olive and other oils to try to satisfy this need. He
even tried fresh, unsalted butter. In all cases, fats
administered to patients, even after they were already free of
tumor tissue, caused the regrowth of cancers. Therefore, Dr.
Gerson stated repeatedly and emphatically when describing the
practice of the Therapy "NO OILS, NO FATS." In 1958, after his
book had been published, Gerson found the work of Dr. Johanna
Budwig. Dr. Budwig described her successful use of flax seed oil
(linseed oil) in cancer patients. Dr. Gerson tried this
substance and found it very beneficial. It supplies the
essential fatty acids, helps to carry Vitamin A through the
blood stream and supplies linoleic and linolenic acids. In a
letter to his long-time friend, Dr. Albert Schweitzer, Gerson
described his protocol for the use of Flax Seed Oil: two
tablespoons a day for the first month on the Gerson Therapy; one
tablespoon thereafter. In the charts on pp. 235 and 236 of A
Cancer Therapy, the reader will find that the use of flax seed
oil is described. The reason for the "contradiction" is that, on
the basis of Dr. Gerson's research in the last year of his
practice, we added the flax seed oil prescription. We did not
change the text in the book prohibiting all fats and oils,
because we wanted to keep Dr. Gerson's original words as intact
as possible. We hope that this explains any apparent
contradictions the reader may find. Flax seed oil is made from
organic flax seed, cold pressed, bottled in a light-proof
container, and sealed in the presence of inert gas, not air.
This careful handling keeps the oil from oxidizing, and becoming
rancid. It must never be heated, and should never be used to
cook, bake or fry anything. Unopened bottles may be stored in a
freezer for up to six months; in a refrigerator for up to three
months. Once opened and exposed to air, still refrigerated, the
oil is only usable for three weeks. Patients should use the
golden, filtered oil , not the brownish and viscous material
that includes lignins. The lignins come from part of the fiber
of the seed, which also contains certain undesirable proteins.
These should be avoided. Also, when used by patients, only the
oil should be taken, not freshly ground flax seeds, for the same
reason. Some patients have been told by well-meaning friends
that lignins or flax powder can be used and added to cakes. That
is totally out of the question.
Dr. Gerson strongly prohibited
any fats or oils, yet A Cancer Therapy says to use flax seed
oil. What is the source of this contradiction?
Dr. Gerson was very much aware that
patients require the intake of essential fatty acids. He
experimented with various substances, including sunflower,
safflower, olive and other oils to try to satisfy this need. He
even tried fresh, unsalted butter. In all cases, fats
administered to patients, even after they were already free of
tumor tissue, caused the regrowth of cancers. Therefore, Dr.
Gerson stated repeatedly and emphatically when describing the
practice of the Therapy "NO OILS, NO FATS." In 1958, after his
book had been published, Gerson found the work of Dr. Johanna
Budwig. Dr. Budwig described her successful use of flax seed oil
(linseed oil) in cancer patients. Dr. Gerson tried this
substance and found it very beneficial. It supplies the
essential fatty acids, helps to carry Vitamin A through the
blood stream and supplies linoleic and linolenic acids. In a
letter to his long-time friend, Dr. Albert Schweitzer, Gerson
described his protocol for the use of Flax Seed Oil: two
tablespoons a day for the first month on the Gerson Therapy; one
tablespoon thereafter. In the charts on pp. 235 and 236 of A
Cancer Therapy, the reader will find that the use of flax seed
oil is described. The reason for the "contradiction" is that, on
the basis of Dr. Gerson's research in the last year of his
practice, we added the flax seed oil prescription. We did not
change the text in the book prohibiting all fats and oils,
because we wanted to keep Dr. Gerson's original words as intact
as possible. We hope that this explains any apparent
contradictions the reader may find. Flax seed oil is made from
organic flax seed, cold pressed, bottled in a light-proof
container, and sealed in the presence of inert gas, not air.
This careful handling keeps the oil from oxidizing, and becoming
rancid. It must never be heated, and should never be used to
cook, bake or fry anything. Unopened bottles may be stored in a
freezer for up to six months; in a refrigerator for up to three
months. Once opened and exposed to air, still refrigerated, the
oil is only usable for three weeks. Patients should use the
golden, filtered oil , not the brownish and viscous material
that includes lignins. The lignins come from part of the fiber
of the seed, which also contains certain undesirable proteins.
These should be avoided. Also, when used by patients, only the
oil should be taken, not freshly ground flax seeds, for the same
reason. Some patients have been told by well-meaning friends
that lignins or flax powder can be used and added to cakes. That
is totally out of the question.