The Hindu : International / Globescan : `Coffee cure for cancer'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jun 28, 2004

International

International - Globescan

`Coffee cure for cancer'

London: Britain's Prince Charles has never made a secret of his love affair with alternative medicine. Now he has infuriated the medical profession by backing a controversial cancer treatment which involves taking daily coffee enemas and drinking litres of fruit juice instead of using drugs. Charles gave an enthusiastic endorsement last week to the Gerson Therapy, which eschews chemotherapy in favour of 13 fruit juices a day, coffee enemas and weekly injections of vitamins. Cancer specialists have said that there is no scientific basis for the theory and that it can be dangerous because patients often come off their normal treatment to try something unproven which may leave them dehydrated. Max Gerson, a German-born physician, gave his name to the rigorous diet, which he initially used to cure his own migraines. He gained a huge following and moved to the U.S. after practising in Paris, but incurred the wrath of the American medical profession for presenting five patients alive and well to a U.S. Congressional committee, years after they had been sent home to die. But the American Cancer Society has warned that the therapy may be dangerous.

Guardian Newspapers Limited 2004

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