Quick Read:

• Take the good and leave the outdated parts of these older theories.
• Always TEST. Don’t guess and stress. Everybody needs something different for healing.

Long before “integrative medicine” became a buzzword, courageous pioneers explored natural healing paths for cancer. They found ways of blending nutrition, detox, and the innate wisdom of the body and mind. Among the most well-known are the Budwig Diet, ESSIAC Tea, Gerson Therapy, and the use of Pancreatic Enzymes. These theories laid the first bricks on the integrative oncology road and inspired many breast cancer thrivers to take charge of their healing.

But as with all things in life and health, our understanding evolves. With new science and personalized testing at our fingertips, we can now assess these “old” theories through a modern, evidence-based lens. Some ideas remain deeply valid. Others need refining. 

The best part is that one-size-fits-all protocols are obsolete. We can now TEST—not guess and stress! Let’s look at the roots and relevance of these healing paths so we can take the good and leave the unhelpful in the past. 

The Budwig Diet

In the 1950s, Dr. Johanna Budwig introduced a novel approach to cancer support: combining cold-pressed flaxseed oil with cottage cheese to restore cell membrane function and oxygenation. She was a 7-time Nobel prize-nominated German biochemist, physicist, pharmacologist, blood specialist, and cancer researcher. Her protocol also emphasized whole, plant-based foods and eliminating processed sugar. Born in 1908 and lived 95 impressive years, she clearly understood the connection between diet and longevity, as most people only lived 65-70 years during her day. 

Dr. Budwig chose flax oil because she knew they were a powerful source of ultra-healing omega-3 essential fatty acids. Cottage cheese became the go-to match because she knew that flax oil required a sulfurated protein to be best utilized by the body. At the time, this was revolutionary insight, and it did help heal many people. 

What Still Holds True: Consuming flax supports breast cancer healing!

• Flaxseeds are tiny but extraordinarily mighty seeds for breast cancer healing.
• Consuming flax reduces inflammation, increases the effectiveness of tamoxifen and other treatments, detoxes harmful xenoestrogens, strengthens your gut/immune system, Causes apoptosis (cell death) in cancer cells, slows metastasis, balances healthy estrogen levels, and so much more!
• The Budwig Diet also encourages whole, unprocessed foods and avoiding sugar, which aligns with our  7 Essentials System®. ^[1]

What Needs Updating: Most people should NOT eat lots of cottage cheese 

• Cottage cheese, a key component of the original recipe, may not be ideal for everyone, especially today. Most types contain toxic, GMO-processed dairy, contributing to spiking inflammation, hormone disruption, and gut issues.
• Budwig’s protocol was not based on individual biochemistry or genetic variants, making it less effective for some women.
• It’s also important to remember that the Budwig Diet (or ANY diet, supplement, therapy, etc.) is just ONE thing you can do to heal breast cancer, NOT the only thing!

Essiac Tea

Created by Canadian nurse Rene Caisse in 1922 after learning about it from the Ojibwa nation. She started giving the concoction to her patients, and word of amazing healing stories spread worldwide. Essiac Tea is an herbal formula that includes: burdock root, sheep sorrel, slippery elm, and Indian rhubarb.

What Still Holds True: Specific herbs have potent healing properties!

The key herbs in this tea are still known for their potent abilities to boost your immune system, optimize your body’s ability to detox, improve digestion, and decrease inflammation. They also support skin and hair health. 

Many women report feeling more energetic and resilient drinking Essiac tea as a part of their broader healing plan.

What Needs Updating: It may NOT be safe to take.

As always, please talk to your medical team before trying something new. Everyone’s body is different, so everyone needs a custom healing plan.

• Although the herbs still work as studied, clinical evidence for Essiac tea’s cancer-fighting properties is limited and anecdotal. The best source of science-backed cancer healing tea is Matcha Tea by Superfood Science ^[2]. Click here to learn why via this blog post. ^[3]
• In 1938, the Royal Cancer Commission of Canada shut down Rene’s clinic because they found little evidence that the tea was helping patients. 
• The U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI) has tested Essiac several times and reports no anti-cancer effects.
• One study added Essiac tea to breast cancer cells in test tubes, and it stimulated the growth of the cells. (Study ^[4])
• It may slow down the rate at which your body breaks down drugs (such as chemotherapy), meaning they may not work as they should. 
• Sheep sorrel contains oxalic acid, which may interfere with nutrient absorption or stress the kidneys in high doses.
• It causes nausea and vomiting in some people.
• Not all Essiac formulations are created equal—quality, sourcing, and dosing vary widely. If you do drink it or use related products, make sure to purchase from the original source ^[5]. 

Gerson Therapy

Developed by Dr. Max Gerson in the 1930s, his therapy rigorous therapy includes three major components:

• • Juicing: 15-20 pounds (13 glasses) of organic produce daily to “flood the body with nutrients.”
  • Supplements: Potassium, flaxseed oil, pancreatic enzymes, iodine, thyroid hormone supplements, Vitamins A and C, Pepsin, Coenzyme Q10, and B vitamins to help increase potassium and decrease sodium so cells will shrink (according to his theory).
  • Coffee enemas: They have been around since the late 1800s, but he made them popular and more accessible. Besides supporting cancer healing, regular coffee enemas speed up detoxification, support digestive and gut health, boost energy and mood, improve the post-surgery healing process, etc. In summary, coffee enemas support your body’s natural ability to detox so that it can work at optimal levels. To learn more about enemas and how to do it, please read this blog post ^[6].

What Still Holds True: Coffee enemas are powerful detoxers, and (strategic) vegetable juicing can be healing.

• Follow Dr. V’s juicing protocol: It helps you get all the benefits of juicing without the harmful spike in blood sugars and body stress. Make sure to read this blog post ^[7] as it details testing blood sugars, strategic breast cancer healing ingredients to use, and a few recipes.
• Coffee enemas: We live in a highly toxic world, and our bodies need help flushing out all the toxins. Unless your medical team says otherwise, coffee enemas are a fantastic way to speed up detoxification, support digestive and gut health, boost energy, and the list could go on for days. If you haven’t yet, please read our guide to doing coffee enemas ^[6]. NOTE: If you are in active treatment, please get your doctor’s approval before doing an enema.

What Needs Updating: Excessive juicing floods your body with harmful sugars.

• It’s harmful (to some people, so make sure to ALWAYS test—don’t guess!): The harmful amounts of sugars from consuming excessive amounts of fruits and vegetables will actually promote breast cancer proliferation. Cancer cells have 44 times more insulin receptor sites for glucose (sugar) compared to healthy cells, meaning that cancer cells get fed first. Additionally, high blood sugar leads to insulin resistance and can also make breast cancer cells more resistant to chemotherapy and other immunotherapies and hormone therapies. Please read this blog post ^[7] to learn more about the Do’s and Don’ts of juicing. 
• Always test: Like many historical protocols, Gerson Therapy doesn’t include modern functional testing to assess what you truly need. One test that we suggest is The Nutrition Genome ^[8], an at-home DNA test kit and comprehensive report that removes the guesswork. You can also learn how to quickly test your blood sugars throughout the day by reading this blog post ^[9].

Pancreatic Enzymes

Pancreas Enzymes were a big part of Dr. V’s healing and continue to be part of her maintenance plan. In short, they break down the protein coating of the cancer cells so they are in plain sight to your immune system. This empowers the natural healing agents in your body to eat away at the cancer.

Dr. Nicholas Gonzalez developed The Gonzalez Protocol™ based on the research by Dr. John Beard in the early 1900s. For a deep dive into this research and protocol, please read this blog post ^[10].

In short, here are the key parts of The Gonzalez Protocol™:

• Pancreatic enzymes. Freeze-dried pork pancreas is rich in naturally occurring pancreatic enzymes and enzyme precursors. You can buy pork pancreas enzymes via our online ^[11]store, and it is the main anti-cancer supplement in the protocol.
• Individualized supplement plan. Each person is prescribed an individualized plan of 150-200 daily supplements chosen to heal their specific issues.
• Organic food plan. Each person receives a tailored eating plan.
• Coffee enemas. This is part of the detoxification process. Please check out a step-by-step guide to doing at-home coffee enemas ^[6].
• Emotional healing. For similar reasons why Essential #4 is Heal Your Emotional Wounds ^[1], unhealthy emotions can even impact your DNA and how your genes express themselves. Click here ^[12] to review blogs about healing and managing stress and trauma.

What Still Holds True: Enzymes, custom plans, organic food, coffee enemas, and emotional healing are all essential for vibrant health!

• All of the above aligns with our  7 Essentials System® ^[1], except that 150-200 supplements are not realistic or needed for most people. Please read our blog post on Pancreas Enzymes and The Gonzalez Protocol™ ^[10] for more detailed viewpoints and studies. 

What Needs Updating: Personal testing.

• TEST! Not everyone needs high doses of enzymes—pancreatic support and all supplements should be tailored to personal needs such as digestive function, cancer type, and nutritional status.
• Some individuals with compromised gut health or gallbladder issues may need to proceed more slowly or use different enzyme blends.

TEST. So you don’t have to guess and stress.

All four of these theories share one important theme: they were created when testing and bio-individuality weren’t even part of the conversation. Therefore, take the timeless wisdom they offer: detoxing, clean eating, emotional healing, and immune support. And then pair it with your data to guide your healing plans.

Below are a few testing options that can let you know exactly what your body needs:

• Blood Sugar Testing. Learn how to test throughout the day ^[9].
• Nutrition Genome Test. This test covers DNA changes and provides comprehensive action steps for your diet and supplementation. Learn more about the test here ^[8]. For a test result example, please see the image on the right side.
• Iodine Testing. Dr. V’s go-to iodine test is Hakala Lab Research’s 24-Hour Urine Iodine Loading Test Kit ^[13], which offers bromide, fluoride, and chloride add-ons. Please read this blog post ^[14] to learn more about the iodine and breast cancer connection. 
• Thyroid Testing. ZRT Laboratory ^[15] offers comprehensive thyroid and many other types of helpful tests. 
• The Gonzalez Metabolic Type Test. Created by the same Dr. Gonzalez above, this test ^[16] helps you determine the type of diet that is best for your body and needs.
• Your Lab Work. They offer a wide variety of testing methods, from toxin exposure to inflammation and metabolism. Click here ^[17] to learn about the tests that Dr. V recommends. 
• The Karlfeldt Center. Click here ^[18] to learn about the top lab tests for cancer wellness warriors offered by the Karlfeldt Center. Yes, it’s the same place as our Healing Diva Elite Retreat ^[19] in May! 

• Just like these modern tests offer a better way forward for healing, there are plenty of innovative, safe, and accurate tests for detecting cancer. To discover better options for detection and monitoring, please review Essential #7: Adopt Very Early Detection. ^[1] 

The Bottom Line: Honor the past and embrace the present.

There’s no doubt that these therapies opened the door for a more empowered, integrative approach to cancer care. And that’s something to celebrate!! They gave women alternatives when conventional care felt incomplete (or even incompetent). Even more, they taught us that the body is capable of extraordinary healing with the right support.

But you (and science) are not meant to stay frozen in time. With modern testing and personalized protocols, we can honor the best of these old theories while using today’s science and your data to go deeper, get clearer, and heal more completely.

Cheers to always evolving!