It could be an almost forgotten early emotional wound, a severe loss, a deep 
resentment, or some unfinished business with a loved or hated person. Or else we may be dealing 
with someone who conforms to the so-called ‘cancer-prone personality,’ as defined by Lawrence 
LeShan4, pioneer researcher of the body-mind link in malignant disease. LeShan, also known as 
‘the father of psycho-oncology,’ has observed over several decades that certain personality traits 
seemed to pre-dispose some people to cancer. These traits include low self-esteem, difficulty 
in expressing anger or aggression, an urge to please others and ignore their own feelings and 
needs, and inhibited emotions. The true self of such people has been banished behind a false self, 
probably developed quite early in life to ensure parental approval, and maintained in adulthood, 
too, when it was no longer necessary. Of course this personality profile does not apply to all cancer patients, although in my work 
with sufferers I have often come across similar character traits. Together or separately they suggest 
a dispiritingly negative outlook on life, which a cancer diagnosis can turn into black despair, and 
PNI tells us what that means in terms of reduced immune competence. It has been observed that cancer often appears 18 months or two years after some adverse life 
event, such as divorce, bereavement, financial crisis, loss of a job or of an important relationship, 
and so on. Experience with clients has shown me that those events only represented for them 
the last straw; that they had long existed in an impossible existential situation that apparently 
could neither be borne nor changed. LeShan and Carl Simonton, M.D.5 call this setup a life trap, 
which they describe in detail. My case material bears out its power, and the fact that those who 
feel unable to break free eventually reach a stage when they don’t care whether they live or die. As many of them put it, “Something snapped inside me.” I suspect it was the last strand of their 
frayed will to live. The Role of Stress
 I am often asked whether stress can cause cancer. I don’t think it can, certainly not by itself. But it can be the ultimate extra burden that pushes an already weakened, barely functioning 
immune system over the edge, so that it can no longer dispose of the irregular maverick cells that 
every healthy organism produces in vast numbers every day. Yet without the eternal vigilance of 
Copyright © Charlotte Gerson, 2007. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced in any medium, print or electronic without prior written permission from the author .Page 168Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.coma well functioning immune system there is nothing to stop a few of those irregular cells to initiate 
a malignant process. What we are dealing with here is the mysterious interaction of biochemistry and emotions, 
which we have only begun to explore and understand. But there is already enough orthodox 
clinical—as opposed to anecdotal—evidence to prove that inner attitudes can make a big 
difference to survival. For example, British researcher Stephen Greer 6 interviewed a group of 
women three months after they had undergone mastectomies, to find out how they were coping. He found four distinct types among them who showed respectively fighting spirit, denial, stoic 
acceptance and hopelessness. After 5 and 10 years, 80% of the fighters, but only 20% of the 
hopeless had survived. These rates had nothing to do with medical prognoses. In the U.S., David Spiegel, M.D.,7 invited 36 women with metastasized breast cancer to 
attend weekly meetings for a year, where they could share worries and sorrows, encourage each 
other, and make their mental attitude positive. A control group of 50 women attended no such 
meetings. Spiegel only wanted to discover whether the group meetings enhanced the members’ 
quality of life, which it certainly did. But he was amazed to find that they also lived twice as long 
as the members of the control group. Another interesting insight comes from US oncologist Bernie Siegel, M.D.8, author of several 
best-selling books that have helped to extend public understanding of the body-mind link in 
health and sickness. He claims that 15-20% of cancer patients consciously or unconsciously want 
to die, no doubt to escape a difficult life trap. 60-70% wish to get well, but are passive and expect 
the doctor to do all the work. 15-20%, however, are exceptional: they refuse to be victims, they 
research their disease, don’t obey the doctor automatically but ask questions, demand control and 
make informed choices. In Dr. Siegel’s words, “Difficult or uncooperative patients are most likely 
to get well.” Apparently they have a more warlike immune system than docile patients. First Aid for the Mind
 
 There are simple ways to dispel the newly diagnosed patient’s sense of hopelessness and 
isolation. The first step is to de-mystify the disease, discuss it openly, in a natural voice, without 
avoiding the dreaded word ‘cancer.’ One of the very first advantages which the intending Gerson 
patient experiences is the calm assurance with which his or her problem is approached, with the 
clear message that yes, it is possible to be healed, not just put into remission (which is the best 
orthodox medicine has to offer.) What the patient needs is a safe space in which to release stormy emotions, and to be listened 
to with total unhurried non-judgmental attention, something that time-starved doctors and nurses 
cannot give. It is a mistake to try to comfort and console too soon or offer cheerful assurances. To do that would simply stop the patient from expressing his or her true feelings. They must be 
Copyright © Charlotte Gerson, 2007. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced in any medium, print or electronic without prior written permission from the author .Page 169Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comgiven free flow. But once that has happened, I ask a vital question: “Do you want to live?” If the 
answer is yes, I ask: “Do you want to live unconditionally?” Another firm “yes” settles the matter, 
while a hesitant “Yes, but…” reply hints at an undecided individual, possibly stuck in a life trap. If I ask what the rest of the sentence might be, I often get something like “if things go on as 
before, I’m not sure I want to live.” That “but” needs careful exploration to make sure that it will 
not undermine the healing work. The 18-24 months of the patient’s life prior to the diagnosis can 
yield valuable clues. Did some major stress or trauma drive the patient to drink, drugs, or other 
destructive habits, which caused significant liver damage? Gentle questioning often allows us to 
identify some life trap. The next task is to show that there is a way out, other than dying. It helps to build a therapeutic partnership with the patient, in which he or she has an important 
role to play. This is easy with the Gerson Therapy, which cannot succeed without the patient’s 
active cooperation. If a patient tells us that 85% of people with his or her condition die within 
three years, we suggest joining the 15% who don’t. (I recall with admiration the fragile little 
woman riddled with cancer who, when told that she had six months to live, brightly replied, “Oh 
good, I have six months to get well!” And get well she did, on the Gerson program.) I like the way LeShan4 approaches the task of shifting the mood from negative to positive. His basic questions are, “What’s right with you? What are your special ways of being, relating, 
creating? What is blocking their expression? What do you need to fulfill yourself? Above all, 
what do YOU want to do with your life?” Once these basics have been clarified, it is time to point 
out the enormous potential open to the patient, if only he or she will ACT, NOT JUST REACT, 
and start making personal decisions. Much can be achieved in a short time. The main tool of the 
therapist is his or her personality and calm, reliable presence. Often this is the only solid support 
in the patient’s confused, chaotic world. Other tools, such as teaching relaxation techniques, 
simple meditation, and creative visualization focused on self-healing, should also be used by 
trained counselors or therapists. (see Chapter 25 )
Clearing the First Hurdle
Many patients come to the Gerson therapy as a last resort, after the failure of conventional 
medical treatments, which has left them with deep disappointment, loss of trust, and a lot of 
severe after-effects. To embark on the Gerson program is for them a final gamble, an end-of-
the-line decision. Others choose the Gerson path at an earlier, less serious stage of their disease, 
with fewer irreversible changes in their bodies, but with a poor prognosis. Either way—and this 
is the first hurdle to be taken into account—they embark on an unfamiliar treatment, much of 
which sounds bizarre at first. Moreover, they are aware of having stepped outside the limits of 
orthodox medicine, leaving behind the network of doctors, consultant, hospitals, referrals—an 
entire system which has been unable to heal them, yet still carries an aura of great power. Some 
may have been rudely dismissed by their physicians, simply for daring to consider an “unproven” 
Copyright © Charlotte Gerson, 2007. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced in any medium, print or electronic without prior written permission from the author .Page 170Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comalternative therapy. Others face pressure and doubts from family members and friends who refuse 
to accept that a weird-sounding therapy may possibly succeed where modern hi-tech medicine 
has failed. This kind of pressure can be debilitating for the patient, who probably also suffers from some 
niggling doubts, and so the next urgent task is to make clear how and why the Gerson Therapy 
works. Most people are familiar with the workings of allopathic medicine, where there is a pill for 
every ill and you either recover or die, but at least things happen fast. Here, however, the patient 
faces two years of unremitting effort, strict discipline and a total change from a so-called normal 
lifestyle, all of which sounds pretty scary, especially because there is no guarantee of success at 
the other end. This is when the cognitive approach works best. It needs no medical background to 
understand why rebuilding the immune system is a better idea than knocking it out with radiation 
and a cocktail of poisons, and once the simple but powerful logic of the Gerson program is 
grasped, the patient is reassured and willing to proceed as an equal partner and ally of the doctor 
or counselor
Help Comes from the Body
One of the most striking results of the Gerson program is the immediate improvement in 
the new patient’s general condition. Pain diminishes, appetite begins to return, sleep improves 
within the first few days on the program. This in itself boosts the mood of the patient, who over 
the preceding months, if not years, had only experienced deterioration in his or her condition 
and a fading of hope. Now the opposite has begun to happen, and it immediately changes the 
atmosphere. (Visitors to a Gerson clinic are astonished by its relaxed atmosphere and the patients’ 
good mood—mealtimes are usually loud with laughter—as opposed to the heavy, sad air of the 
average cancer hospital). Needless to say, this changed mood and the accompanying sense of 
relief also begin to have a helpful effect on the immune system. However, the healing journey has only just begun, while the need for psychological support 
is far from over. The patient is faced with a total change of lifestyle, diet, and daily routine for a 
minimum of two years (less in the case of non-malignant conditions). Inevitably it takes a lot of 
determination and discipline to stick to the schedule. Equally inevitably after a while boredom 
and monotony take their toll: the patient feels restricted and deprived of most social pleasures, 
and at times gets sufficiently fed up to want to quit the therapy. When that happens, it is best not 
to contradict the patient’s grumbles but, on the contrary, agree that the process is demanding, 
restricting and monotonous—and then point out the good results so far, ask tactless questions 
such as, “Would you rather have chemotherapy?” or “All right, you quit—and then what?” and 
wait for the answer. Above all, remember: this, too, will pass. Boredom can be relieved by providing relevant reading material, tapes and DVDs. Once 
Copyright © Charlotte Gerson, 2007. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced in any medium, print or electronic without prior written permission from the author .Page 171Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comindividuals have got a taste of natural medicine, they are keen to find out more about it. Networking 
with other Gerson patients or choosing a fresh hobby or study that can be fitted in between juices, 
enemas and meals also works well. Interim goal-setting is another good way to break up the monotony: what would the patient 
want to achieve in one week, one month and three months? The goals have to be realistic and 
modest, and celebrated when they are achieved. The ones that did not work out can be re-phrased 
or postponed, but not written off as failures. Problems on the Path
Food can be a tricky issue for some. Many people take to Gerson food at once and enjoy it. Others do not. When they express their dislike vigorously, or even refuse to eat certain essential 
foods, they are driven by their deep emotional attachment to certain kinds of food, however 
unhealthy. Normally these are the foods their mother gave them in childhood, when food equaled 
love, even if it was low-grade junk. Now, at a fraught time even though these people accept the 
rightness of the Gerson diet, on a deep non-rational level they reject it. The answer is to remind 
the patient that the food on offer is—literally—medicine, that the diet is not for ever, and that 
accepting it now is an essential investment in the future. I have found it helpful to make a contract 
with the patient, who undertook to stick to the diet meticulously for two weeks and explore its 
varied flavors. As a rule quick improvement followed and extending the contract was easy. Firmness is needed when patients wish to bend the dietary rules by committing small lapses 
or having occasional “treats.” The only answer is no, for what exactly is small, and how often 
does an occasional exception occur? Once the rules are broken, the safe boundaries of the therapy 
are damaged; the consequences can be serious. Even so, the rules must be enforced with tact and 
affection, otherwise we as carers or therapists end up in the role of the over-strict parent, with 
“Thou shalt not” written all over us. Then there is the problem of flare-ups or healing reactions, which can be extremely unpleasant 
yet must be welcomed, since they mean that the body is responding to the treatment. The practical 
measures for dealing with flare-ups are fully set out elsewhere in this book (see Chapter 16 ). By 
way of psychological support the likely symptoms of flare-ups must be explained in advance, so 
that the patient doesn’t panic when they set in. Here, too, our calm, reassuring presence is the 
best we can offer, especially when physical symptoms are accompanied by behavioral changes. The body can’t detoxify without causing psychological detoxification as well. Toxins passing 
through the central nervous system cause strange reactions and out-of-character behavior—anger, 
irritability, violent mood swings, aggression and unfair accusations. The patient’s usual civilized 
behavior is swept aside by drives and emotions that have been repressed probably since childhood. The adult self is temporarily pushed aside by a raging inner child, until it takes over again amid 
Copyright © Charlotte Gerson, 2007. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced in any medium, print or electronic without prior written permission from the author .Page 172Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comprofuse apologies. (A client of mine called such incidents “the Gerson Rage,” and as she could 
sense when a flare-up was in the offing, she told the family that whatever she would do or say in 
the next few hours or days, she still loved them dearly.) This, too, has to be prepared for and not taken personally. It is part of the process. In whatever 
capacity we work with the patient, we remain calm, caring, and unchanged, waiting for the inner 
upheaval to pass. By the time the patient has been restored in body and mind and it comes to the winding down 
of the Gerson therapy, the final task is to ensure that the process runs smoothly. Some patients 
who used to ask, “Is there life after Gerson?” are now reluctant to let go of the routine. They need 
a slow, patient “weaning.” Besides, there is the maintenance routine (see Chapter 23 ), which 
they should stick with for the rest of their lives, to safeguard their restored health (At the time of 
writing I’ve been happily doing that for 24 years and have no intention of stopping.) There are others who have to be discouraged from rushing back into the disastrous eating 
habits that had contributed so much to their disease. As a rule any such temptation is short-lived. Their detoxified, cleared, optimally nourished organisms shrink away from the so-called normal 
food they had been dreaming about during the therapy—food heavy with fat, painfully salty and 
harsh with synthetic flavors. If their brains don’t object to junk food, their taste buds will. In my experience, after recovery there is no way back into the pre-disease state. Living with 
the holistic Gerson Therapy changes you, not only in your lifestyle and eating habits, but also in 
your set of values, priorities and general outlook. You have been reborn without the need to die 
first, and you may spontaneously decide to help others on the same path, by way of repaying a 
debt to life. References:
1) Gerson, M. A Cancer Therapy: Results of 50 Cases . 6th edition. Bonita, Calif. The Gerson 
Institute, 1999. 2) Pert, C. Molecules of Emotion . Simon & Schuster, New York, 1997. 3) Illich, I. Medical Nemesis . 1976. 4) LeShan, L. Cancer as a Turning Point . Plume, 1994. 5) Simonton, C., Matthews-Simonton, S., Creighton, J. Getting Well Again . Bantam, 1992. 6) Greer, S.  Mind-body research in psycho-oncology. Advances  15(4), 1999. 7) Spiegel, D. Effect of psychosocial treatment on survival of patients with metastasized 
breast cancer . The Lancet, October 14 1989; 888-891. 8) Siegel, B. Love, Medicine & Miracles . Harper Perennial, 1998. Copyright © Charlotte Gerson, 2007. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced in any medium, print or electronic without prior written permission from the author .Page 173Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comCHAPTER 25
Overcoming Stress and Tension
In the chapter on the psychological support needed by Gerson patients (see Chapter 24 ) it was 
explained how the mind and the body interact every moment of our lives; in other words, how 
our moods, emotions and general outlook have a measurable and direct impact on our physical 
processes and above all on the immune system, that all-important tool of the healing journey. A 
hopeful, trusting, determined state of mind strengthens immune competence; fear, despair, anger 
and negativity weaken it. There is also the harmful effect of stress, keeping the entire organism in 
a state of high tension. Yet the body, that wonderful organism with its own intelligence, only 
functions well when it is relaxed, free from tension and able to follow its inner rules and rhythms. Obviously, the Gerson program will also work best for the relaxed, unstressed patient. After all, 
it is not enough to eat the best possible food and drink the most health-giving juices—they also 
have to be digested and absorbed properly, and it is no secret that anxiety and worry can wreak 
havoc with the digestion. Keeping mind and emotions on an even keel, banishing stress and fear must be part of the 
Gerson patient’s daily routine. Fortunately there are some simple, enjoyable methods that make 
this possible. In this chapter we present a full range. Please try them and see which suit you 
best. Minding the Body
Posture  can have a huge impact on how we feel, just as how we feel is often betrayed by our 
posture. When we are happy, we walk on air. When miserable, head goes down, shoulders move 
up, back curves forward and slumps, all of which compresses our innards and adds to the gloom. And that will never do. Learn to keep your spine straight, but not rigid, both standing and sitting. (Please freeze for 
a moment and check what your spine is doing.) Sit with both feet on the ground and don’t cross 
your legs; doing so impedes the circulation and twists the spine. Walk from the hips and avoid 
leaning forward, as if you were pushing a grocery cart– you can’t get ahead of yourself! Think of 
your head as the hook of a coat hanger, with your body hanging from it loosely and comfortably. The shoulders are a particularly tension-prone part of the body: they tend to move forward and 
up, whenever we feel stressed, as if wanting to protect the chest. A side effect of this unconscious 
move is that anxious people seem to have short necks. In the memorable words of a yoga teacher, 
opening up your chest means saying yes to life. Copyright © Charlotte Gerson, 2007. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced in any medium, print or electronic without prior written permission from the author .Page 174Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comMake sure your shoulders are where they belong. Stand up straight, draw both shoulders 
up as far as they will go, right up to the earlobes—and then drop them, as if they had become 
redundant. Where they land is their natural position. Please memorize it for future use. It is also 
helpful to keep your neck supple and relaxed (and make it longer!) by regular exercise. Turn your 
head slowly from left to right and back; drop your head gently forward and backward, keeping 
your lower jaw loose; rotate your head first clockwise, then counter-clockwise, repeating each 
movement five times. If at any time you feel you are tensing up and no one can see you, imagine 
that you are a rag doll in a strong breeze, and move accordingly
Hands are also tension-prone . They tend to curl into fists as soon as we feel anxious or 
angry. In old Westerners you could tell that things were getting dangerous when the hero’s 
knuckles turned white. Actually anybody’s knuckles can turn white from fear, and this is what 
needs to be avoided. Train yourself to keep your fingers splayed when your hands are at rest. That 
prevents the tensing up of the arms, which would lead to further tension rushing through the body. If at first you fail and all you have is fists, imagine that you have washed your hands and have no 
towel, so that you need to shake both hands vigorously from the wrists. As you do that, feel the 
tension dropping away from your fingertips. Last but far from least, breathing deserves our full attention . Breath is the basic condition 
of life. We can live for quite a while without food and for a much shorter time without water, but 
life without breath ends in a few moments. Yet most of us neglect this vital function, until we 
learn otherwise and switch from shallow to deep abdominal breathing. This way, routinely used 
by singers, speakers, practitioners of yoga and athletes, boosts the body’s oxygen intake and has 
a calming effect. The method is simplicity itself. With each in-breath push out your stomach, so 
that the breath can fill your lungs to full capacity. With each out-breath, pull in your stomach hard, 
squeezing out the stale air. Find your own rhythm and practice this method several times a day, 
until it becomes your natural way of breathing. If at first it is a bit difficult, imagine that in your 
abdomen there is a beautiful balloon, which you inflate with each in-breath and deflate by letting 
out the air. You will be surprised what a difference better breathing makes to your well-being. Matters of the Mind
Your mental attitude can be your best ally—or your worst enemy, and the same applies to 
your imagination, depending on how you use it. Positively used, your thoughts and ideas can help 
you to re-program your entire outlook, your moods and feelings, so that they promote health and 
healing, instead of dragging you down. . Energy follows thought! There are several ways to achieve the best possible state of mind. All of them depend on your 
ability to relax as fully as possible, so that no tension interferes with what you are trying to do. The simplest way is to lie on your back on a comfortable but not too soft surface, with your hands 
Copyright © Charlotte Gerson, 2007. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced in any medium, print or electronic without prior written permission from the author .Page 175Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comloosely resting by your sides. Close your eyes. Start breathing slowly, deeply, from the abdomen. With each in-breath imagine drawing in brilliant light, which fills you with peace, strength and 
energy. With each out-breath imagine releasing all tiredness, tension, pain or anxiety in the shape 
of dirty dark smoke. Let your head and your body become very heavy, so that the floor carries 
your weight. Check through your body, starting with your toes and working your way up to the 
top of your head, for traces of tension or stiffness, and release them. Make sure your jaw is relaxed 
and your tongue lies easy against your upper palate. And now just stay with this feeling of peace, 
release and relaxation for a little while. This basic letting go is the key to all kinds of inner work, including meditation, prayer, 
visualization and affirmations. Practised at least twice a day, free from disturbance, noise and 
interruptions, it will make a great difference to your mental state, which in turn will affect your 
body. Meditation is a simple way to still the ever-busy brain and enter a place of profound stillness 
and peace, which for a short while lets us escape from everyday reality. It needs practice—the 
brain is hard to discipline and keeps bringing in thoughts, fragments of ideas and all kinds of 
mental rubbish. At first you may find that even thirty seconds of stillness is quite an achievement, 
but don’t give up: there are ways to improve the situation. One is to get hold of intruding thoughts, identify them, then imagine tying a big balloon to 
each one and watch them float away. Another one is to improve concentration by counting from 
one to four, seeing in your mind’s eye the numbers, shining bright and beautiful against a dark 
curtain, and repeat the counting ten times. You can also place a clock at eye level and fix your 
entire attention to the second hand going round and round and round, so that nothing else matters. Gradually—but it needs perseverance—you’ll find it easier to achieve spells of thought-free 
awareness, leading to an extraordinary sense of restfulness and peace. Also, switching off the brain for a little while enables us to hear our so-called inner voice, the 
voice of intuition and wisdom. Whatever our belief system, whether or not we are religious, we 
all have an inner life and a set of values by which we live. Often it is at a time of crisis, caused 
by a serious health breakdown, that we turn inward and review our position in life. Naturally, 
Gerson patients are totally free to choose their own way in this field: we are all different and must 
respect our differences. But it is the experience of many doctors, counsellors and other health 
professionals that patients who believe in a Higher Reality, who are able to pray and put their faith 
in God, fare better than those who don’t. Prayer, coming from the heart, with trust in the ultimate 
rightness of things, can be a great support on the rocky path of recovery . Visualization uses the imagination to re-program not only the mind but to a certain extent the 
body as well. It works through images, by-passing the thinking-talking brain, and those images 
come from the same deep area of the psyche as the ones we meet in our dreams. The purpose of 
visualization is to prescribe, so to speak, what we want to achieve: defeating disease, rebuilding 
Copyright © Charlotte Gerson, 2007. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced in any medium, print or electronic without prior written permission from the author .Page 176Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comhealth, recovering and living a full life. Using visualisation in the context of cancer was first 
developed by the American radiation oncologist Dr. O. Carl Simonton in the 1970’s; “Getting 
Well Again,” the book he wrote with his then wife psychologist Stephanie Matthews-Simonton, 
has appeared in many editions and several languages. The essence of the Simonton technique is to find an image for the disease, another one for the 
treatment, and see how the latter attacks and gradually demolishes the former. For instance, in the 
state of deep relaxation described above, the Gerson patient may visualize his or her tumor as a 
big blob of black mud, and the juices as powerful bursts of golden liquid that attack and gradually 
clear away the mud. Read cold from the page this may sound odd; practiced as it is meant can be 
a powerful experience. Here is a simple visualization exercise for daily use: see yourself in a perfectly beautiful 
place, real or imaginary, where you feel safe, secure and happy. Make yourself comfortable in 
imagination, in whatever way feels right for you: gently swaying in a soft hammock, walking in 
a perfect garden, sitting happily with a loved person. Choose your own setting outside time and 
space and be refreshed by its peace and beauty. Then see yourself as you wish to be: healthy, fit, strong and active, doing the things you most 
enjoy, able to give and receive love, feeling at home in the world. Surrender to this image, become 
it, anchor it in your mind and heart. And then slowly return to mundane reality, but bring with 
you the memory of the experience. It does make a difference. Actually a similar technique is used 
by successful sportsmen and women, who before an important event visualize themselves doing 
extremely well in their chosen area. Imagination is powerful. Used well, it stimulates and tunes the body. It is free, non-toxic and 
has no harmful side effects, which makes it the ideal supplementary tool for Gerson patients. Copyright © Charlotte Gerson, 2007. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced in any medium, print or electronic without prior written permission from the author .Page 177Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comCHAPTER 26
Gerson Lab Tests Explained
Gerson patients are able to monitor their own healing process by having regular laboratory 
tests of their blood and urine. Patients on the intensive Therapy and chemo-pretreated 
persons on the adjusted version should have these tests every six to 8 weeks; those on the modified 
protocol for non-malignant diseases may only need them every three months. Ideally, laboratory tests should be arranged and analyzed by a Gerson-trained health 
professional, but if no such practitioner is available, it is still possible to access these important 
tools of follow-up. Patients need to find a conventionally trained allopathic physician, who is 
willing to order laboratory tests for them (against the payment of a fee). Without the prescription 
of a licensed health professional no tests can be carried out. Once the test results are available, you should be able to interpret them, following the 
detailed guidance contained in this chapter. As a rule, combining a doctor’s interpretation with 
the information contained below will allow you to understand the physiological processes going 
on in your organism. But let us reiterate the warning already given earlier (see Chapter 21, pg. 150): a well-meaning  allopathic doctor not trained in the Gerson protocol may suggest that you 
take certain drugs or change your diet. Please listen to his or her suggestions, but realize that to 
follow them would clash with the rules of the Gerson program and slow down or even stop your 
progress. When you read this chapter for the first time as a lay person, you may feel somewhat 
overwhelmed by the unfamiliar technical terms. However, everything is made as clear as possible, 
and you will soon find your way easily among the results. If you don’t have the services of a 
health professional and have questions to which you find no answers in the information below, 
put them to the experts at the laboratory where your tests are carried out. The Serum Calcium Laboratory Test
The laboratory test for serum calcium is a measurement of the levels of calcium in the blood. Knowing such levels helps a health professional to interpret the patient’s physiological status 
regarding neuromuscular activity, enzyme activity, skeletal development, and blood coagulation. Calcium (Ca+) is a predominantly extracellular ion (a cation) derived from the calcium 
absorbed in food through the gastrointestinal tract, provided sufficient vitamin D is present in 
the food eaten. Excess quantities of calcium ions in the blood are excreted in the urine and feces, 
while insufficient calcium concentrations can move out of the storage areas of bones and teeth to 
Copyright © Charlotte Gerson, 2007. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced in any medium, print or electronic without prior written permission from the author .Page 178Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comrestore low blood levels. Daily ingestion of 1 gram of calcium is necessary for normal calcium 
balance. For Gerson patients, this should not be given in the form of supplements. Juices and 
foods contain more than adequate amounts of calcium. Serum calcium testing aids in diagnosing arrhythmias, blood-clotting deficiencies, acid-base 
imbalance, and disorders of the neuromuscular, skeletal, and endocrine systems. Normal adult 
serum calcium levels range from 8.9 to 10.1 mg/dL (atomic absorption is 2.25 to 2.75 mmol/L). Serum calcium levels for children are higher than for adults. When the level of Ca+ is too high, a condition of hypercalcemia prevails indicating the 
possibility of one or more of the following pathologies: hyperparathyroidism, Paget’s disease 
of the bone, multiple myeloma, metastatic carcinoma, multiple fractures, and prolonged 
immobilization. From inadequate excretion of calcium, also shown by elevated serum calcium, 
kidney disease and adrenal insufficiency may result. In contrast, low calcium levels (known as hypocalcemia) may come from hypoparathyroidism, 
total parathyroidectomy, or malabsorption. Decreased serum Ca+ levels may arise from calcium 
loss in Cushing’s syndrome, kidney (renal) failure, acute pancreatitis, and periotonitis. Hypercalcemia may bring on deep bone pain, flank pain from renal calculi, and muscle 
hypotonicity. Its beginning symptoms are manifested by nausea, vomiting, and dehydration, 
leading to stupor and coma, and may end in cardiac arrest. Hypocalcemia may produce peripheral numbness and tingling, muscle twitching, facial muscle 
spasm (Chvostek’s sign), carpopedal spasm (Trousseau’s sign), seizures, and arrhythmias. The Serum Phosphates Laboratory Test
The laboratory test for serum phosphates is a measurement of the blood levels of phosphates 
to tell the state of body energy, carbohydrate metabolism, lipid metabolism, and acid-base balance. Phosphate ion (P+) is the dominant cellular anion, which is essential for bone formation. Testing 
for its blood level aids in the diagnosis of acid-base imbalance plus renal, endocrine, skeletal, and 
calcium disorders. In a normal adult, serum phosphate levels range from 2.5 to 4.5 mg/dL (0.80 to 1.40 mmol/L) 
or from 1.8 to 2.6 mEq/L. Children show a higher range that can rise to 7 mg/dL (2.25 mmol/L) 
during spurts of increased bone growth.. 
Phosphates are absorbed through the intestines from dietary sources in the presence of 
vitamin D. Excess quantities of them are excreted through the kidneys, which act as the regulating 
mechanism. Because calcium and phosphate interact in a reciprocal relationship, urinary excretion 
of phosphates increases or decreases in inverse proportion to serum calcium levels. Copyright © Charlotte Gerson, 2007. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced in any medium, print or electronic without prior written permission from the author .Page 179Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comAbnormally high concentrations of phosphates in the blood (hyperphosphatemia), which can 
come from drinking an overabundance of carbonated beverages, sets up a pathological process 
of bone loss, tooth demineralization, poor healing of fractures, hypoparathyroidism, acromegaly, 
diabetic acidosis, high intestinal obstruction, and renal failure. Depressed phosphate levels in the blood (hypophosphatemia) may result from malnutrition, 
malabsorption syndromes, hyperparathyroidism, renal tubular acidosis, or treatment of diabetic 
acidosis. In children, such hypophosphatemia can suppress normal growth. The Serum Sodium Laboratory Test
The laboratory test for serum sodium is a measurement of the blood levels of sodium 
to determine body water distribution, osmotic pressure of extracellular fluid, neuromuscular 
function, and acid-base balance. The sodium ion (Na+) is the major extracellular cation, and it 
influences both chloride and potassium blood levels. Sodium is absorbed by the intestines and is excreted primarily by the kidneys; a small amount 
is lost through the skin by sweating. This mineral aids the kidneys in regulating body water, 
for decreased Na+ promotes water excretion and an increased level promotes water retention 
(edema). Testing for Na+ aids in evaluating fluid electrolytes, acid-base balance, and certain disorders 
of the kidneys, adrenals, and neuromuscular system. The sodium blood test also determines the 
effects of drug therapy such as diuretics on the body. For an adult, normally serum sodium levels 
range from 135 to 145 mEq/L (mmol/L). For Gerson patients, a level of 127 is still acceptable. Sodium imbalance comes from either a change in water volume intake or variation in how 
much sodium gets consumed. Elevated serum sodium levels (hypernatremia) may be caused by 
inadequate water intake, diabetes insipidus, impaired renal function, prolonged hyperventilation, 
severe vomiting, or severe diarrhea. Sodium retention also comes from consuming excessive 
salt. The signs and symptoms of hypematremia are thirst, restlessness, dry mouth, sticky mucous 
membranes, flushed skin, oliguria, diminished reflexes, hypertension, dyspnea, and edema. Ingesting too little sodium mineral for serum Na+ (hyponatremia) is rare and doesn’t even 
happen on the low-sodium dietary program encouraged by the Gerson Therapy. There is always 
some sodium coming from food. Still, hyponatremia can occur, and its indications appear 
as apprehension, lassitude, headache, decreased skin turgor, abdominal cramps, tremors, or 
convulsions. It can come on from profuse sweating, gastrointestinal suctioning, diuretic therapy, 
diarrhea, vomiting, adrenal insufficiency, bums, and chronic renal insufficiency with acidosis. If 
you do have testing for serum sodium performed, make sure to get a urine sodium determination 
simultaneously. Copyright © Charlotte Gerson, 2007. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced in any medium, print or electronic without prior written permission from the author .Page 180Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comThe Serum Potassium Laboratory Test
The laboratory test for serum potassium, a quantitative analysis, is the measurement of blood 
potassium for regulation of homeostasis, osmotic equilibrium, muscle activity, enzyme activity, 
acid-base balance, and kidney function. Potassium (K+) is the body’s major intracellular ion (a 
cation); small amounts of it are also found in the extracellular fl uid. Since the kidneys excrete nearly all the ingested potassium, a dietary intake of at least 40 
mEq/day (mmol/d) is essential. A normal diet usually includes 60 to 100 mEq/day of this mineral. In the blood, normal K+ levels range from 3.8 to 5.5 mEq/liter (mmol/L). Vital to maintaining electrical conduction within the cardiac and skeletal muscles, K+ is 
affected by variations in the secretion otadrenal steroid hormones and by fluctuations in pH, 
serum glucose levels, and serum sodium levels. A reciprocal relationship exists between K+ and 
Na+; the substantial intake of one causes a corresponding decrease in the other. Although the 
body readily conserves sodium, potassium deficiency may develop rapidly and is quite common, 
because there is no efficient method for conserving potassium. The laboratory test for serum potassium is used to evaluate clinical signs of either potassium 
excess (hyperkalemia) or potassium depletion (hypokalemia). It also monitors kidney function, 
acid-base balance, and glucose metabolism, and evaluates arrhythmias, neuromuscular disorders, 
and endocrine disorders. Hyperkalemia is common in patients with excessive cellular K+ entering 
the blood as in cases of burns, crushing injuries, di:Ibetic ketoacidosis, and myocardial infarction. It will also be present where there is reduced sodium excretion from renal failure that causes an 
abnormal Na+-K+ exchange and in Addison’s disease caused by the absence of aldosterone, with 
consequent K+ buildup and Na+ depletion. Note: Although elevated serum potassium is uncommon in Gerson Therapy patients, if it 
does occur, supplemental potassium should be reduced or temporarily discontinued. Then the 
consulting Gerson-trained physician should immediately be consulted. The signs and symptoms of hyperkalemia are weakness, malaise, nausea, diarrhea, 
colicky pain, muscle irritability progressing to flaccid paralysis, oliguria, and bradycardia. An 
electrocardiogram (EKG) reveals a prolonged PR interval; wide QRS; tall, tented T wave; and 
ST depression. Indications of hypokalemia are decreased reflexes; rapid, weak, irregular pulse; 
mental confusion; hypotension; anorexia; muscle weakness; and paresthesia. The EKG shows 
a flattened T wave, ST depression, and U wave elevation. In severe cases of hypokalemia, 
ventricular fibrillation, respiratory paralysis, and cardiac arrest could occur. Copyright © Charlotte Gerson, 2007. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced in any medium, print or electronic without prior written permission from the author .Page 181Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comThe Serum Chloride Laboratory Test
The laboratory test for serum chloride, another quantitative analysis, is a measurement of 
blood levels of the chloride ion (Cl-), the major extracellular fluid anion. Interacting with Na+, 
Clhelps maintain the osmotic pressure, blood volume, arterial pressure, and acid-base balance. Chloride is absorbed from the intestines and is excreted primarily by the kidneys. By evaluating the body’s fluid status, the serum chloride laboratory test detects two 
types of fluid imbalances, acid-base (acidosis and alkalosis) and extracellular cation-anion. Normally serum chloride levels range from 100 to 108 mEq/liter (mmol/L). Maintaining a 
normal amount of chloride in the blood reflects acid-base balance by its inverse relationship to 
bicarbonate. Excessive loss of gastric juices or other secretions containing chloride may cause 
hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis or excessive chloride retention. Ingesting it may lead to 
hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis. Elevated serum chloride levels (hyperchloremia) can come on from severe dehydration, 
complete renal shutdown, head injury (which produces neurogenic hyperventilation), and 
primary aldosteroism. Manifestations consist of stupor, rapid and deep breathing, and weakness 
that leads to coma. A situation of low chloride levels in the blood (hypochloremia) is associated with reduced 
blood sodium and potassium levels coming from prolonged vomiting, gastric suctioning, 
intestinal fistula, chronic renal failure, or Addison’s disease. Congestive heart failure, or edema 
resulting in excess extracellular fluid, can cause dilutional hypochloremia. The indications are 
hypertonicity of muscles, tetany, and depressed respirations. The Lactic Dehydrogenase (LDH) Laboratory Test
The laboratory test for lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) is a measurement of five specific 
isoenzymes which catalyze the reversible conversion of pyruvic acid present in all muscles of the 
body into lactic acid. Many common diseases—myocardial infarction (MI), pulmonary infarction, 
anemias, liver disease, kidney disease, erythrocytic damage, and others—cause elevations in total 
lactic dehydrogenase, and the LDH laboratory test is useful for dif ferentiating between them. The five identified isoenzymes in lactic dehydrogenase are LDH1 and LDH2 appearing in the 
heart, red blood cells, and kidneys; LDH3 in the lungs; and LDH4 and LDH5 in the liver and the 
skeletal muscles. Testing for these enzymes is especially appropriate for the delayed measurement 
of creatine phosphokinase (CPK) associated with MI and for monitoring patient response to some 
forms of chemotherapy. Total LDH levels normally range from 48 to 115 U/L. Normal distribution 
of the five isoenzymes is as follows: 
Copyright © Charlotte Gerson, 2007. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced in any medium, print or electronic without prior written permission from the author .Page 182Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.com LDH1: 17.5% to 28.3% of total 
 LDH2: 30.4% to 36.4% of total 
 LDH3: 19.2% to 24.8% of total 
 LDH4:   9.6% to 15.6% of total 
 LDH5:   5.5% to 12.7% of total 
Since a vast number of illnesses involve the enzymes of LDH, this laboratory test for lactic 
dehydrogenase is broadly employed for establishing diagnoses. The Aspartate Transaminase/Serum
GLUTAMIC -OXALOACETIC  TRANSAMINASE  (AST /SGOT) L ABORATORY  TEST
The laboratory blood examination for aspartate transaminase and serum glutamic-oxaloacetic 
(AST/SGOT) is a measurement of specific amino acid residues left behind by nitrogenous portions 
of the metabolized amino acids. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) is found in the cytoplasm 
and mitochondria of many tissue cells, primarily in the liver, heart, skeletal muscles, kidneys, 
pancreas, and red blood cells. AST is released into blood serum in proportion to cellular damage, and its detection (together 
with creatine phosphokinase and lactate dehydrogenase) indicates myocardial infarction. The test 
also helps in the diagnosis of acute liver disease. It monitors patient progress in healing. AST 
adult serum levels range from 8 to 20 OIL. Normal values for infants are four times higher . Maximum elevations of AST are associated with viral hepatitis, severe skeletal muscle trauma, 
extensive surgery, drug-induced liver injury, and passive liver congestion. Levels ranging from 
10 to 20 times normal may indicate severe MI, severe infectious mononucleosis, and alcoholic 
cirrhosis. Moderate-to-high levels ranging from 5 to 10 times normal indicate Duchenne muscular 
dystrophy, dermatomyositis, and chronic hepatitis, along with prodromal and resolving stages of 
diseases. Low-to-moderate levels of 2 to 5 times normal may show hemolytic anemia, metastatic 
liver tumors, acute pancreatitis, pulmonary emboli, alcohol withdrawal syndrome, fatty liver, and 
the first stages of biliary duct obstruction. The Serum Bilirubin Laboratory Test
The laboratory test for serum bilirubin, the main product of hemoglobin catabolism, is a 
measurement of bile pigment which indicates the state of health of the liver and gallbladder. After 
being formed in the reticuloendothelial cells, bilirubin is bound to albumin and then transported 
to the liver, where it’s conjugated with glucuronic acid to form bilirubin glucuronide and bilirubin 
diglticuronide. These two compounds are then excreted in bile. Measurement of indirect or 
prehepatic (unconjugated) bilirubin helps to evalute hepatobiliary and erythropoietic functions. Copyright © Charlotte Gerson, 2007. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced in any medium, print or electronic without prior written permission from the author .Page 183Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comThe serum bilirubin laboratory test showing elevated levels often indicates liver damage in 
which the parenchymal cells can no longer conjugate bilirubin with glucuronide. Then indirect 
bilirubin reenters the bloodstream. Also, an elevated reading alerts the health professional to the 
possibility of severe hemolytic anemia. This test aids in the differential diagnosis of jaundice, 
biliary obstruction, and dangerous levels of unconjugated bilirubin. Normally in an adult, indirect serum bilirubin measures 11 mg/dL or less; direct serum 
bilirubin of less than 0.5 mg/dL). Neonates have total serum bilirubin ranging from 1 to 12 
mg/dL; if elevated to 20 mg/dL (for them, it indicates neonatal hepatic immaturity or congenital 
enzyme deficiencies. An exchange blood transfusion may then be required. If readings of bilirubin are elevated for adults, the test advises about the possibility of 
autoimmunity or transfusion reaction, hemolytic or pernicious anemia or hemorrhage, and 
hepatocellular dysfunction perhaps from viral hepatitis. Needless to say, elevated levels of 
direct conjugated bilirubin usually show biliary obstruction with overflows into the bloodstream. Intrahepatic biliary obstruction may come from viral hepatitis, cirrhosis, or chlorpromazine 
reaction. Extrahepatic obstruction may come from gallstones, gallbladder cancer, pancreatic 
cancer, or bile duct disease. The Serum Gamma-Glutamyl
Transpeptidase (GGT) Laboratory Test
The laboratory test for serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) is a measurement of 
obstructive jaundice in neoplastic liver disease, and it’s also useful for the detection of excessive 
alcohol consumption. The GGT enzyme is sensitive to drug use and detects alcohol ingestion; 
therefore, it’s used to  determine compliance with alcoholism treatment. It also helps in the 
diagnosis of obstructive jaundice and liver cancer. The normal range for GGT varies with age in males but not in females. For men ages 18 to 
50 it varies between 10 and 39 U/L. Older than that, males show a GGT  range from 10 to 48 U/
L. The normal range in women is 6 to 29 U/L. Elevation signals a cholestatic liver process. Note: The immune-stimulating effect of the Gerson Therapy frequently causes a rise in GGT 
blood levels. The Acid Phosphatase Laboratory Test
The laboratory test for acid phosphatase is a measurement of the prostatic and erythrocytic 
isoenzymes to detect cancer. Active at a pH of 5, the two phosphatase enzymes appear in the liver, 
spleen, red blood cells, bone marrow, platelets, and prostate gland. Successful treatment for prostate cancer decreases acid phosphatase levels. Its normal values 
range from 0 to 1.1 Bodansky units/mL; 1 to 4 King Armstrong units/mL; 0.13 to 0.63 Bessey-
Copyright © Charlotte Gerson, 2007. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced in any medium, print or electronic without prior written permission from the author .Page 184Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comLowery-Brock units/mL; and 0 to 6 U/L in SI units. Normal range of radioimmunoassay results 
is 0 to 4.0 ng/mL. An elevated prostatic acid phosphatase test indicates Paget’s disease, Gaucher’s disease, 
multiple myeloma, and a tumor that has spread beyond the prostatic capsule. If metastasized 
to bone, the high acid phosphatase level accompanied by a high alkaline phosphatase shows 
increased osteoblastic activity-metastatic bone cancer. The Alkaline Phosphatase (AP) Laboratory Test
An enzyme that is most active at pH 9.0, alkaline phosphatase (AP) influences bone 
calcification and the transport of lipids and metabolites. The alkaline phosphatase laboratory test 
measures combined activities of those AP isoenzymes found in the liver, bones, kidneys, intestinal 
lining, and placenta. Bone and liver AP are always present in adult blood serum, with liver AP 
most prominent—except during the third trimester of pregnancy when the placenta originates half 
of all AP. The AP laboratory test is particularly sensitive to mild biliary obstruction and indicates liver 
lesions. Its most specific clinical application is in the diagnosis of metabolic bone disease and 
detecting skeletal diseases characterized by osteoblastic activity and local liver lesions causing 
biliary obstruction such as tumor or abscess. It furnishes supplemental information for liver 
function studies and GI enzyme tests, and it assesses the response to vitamin D treatment in 
rickets. The normal range of serum alkaline phosphatase varies in accordance with the laboratory 
method employed, but the usual total AP levels range from 30 to 120 U/L in adults and from 40 
to 200 U/L in children. Since AP concentrations rise during active bone formation and growth, 
infants, children, and adolescents normally show levels three times higher than adults. Additional 
normal ranges for AP are 1.5 to 4 Bodansky units/dL; 4 to 13.5 King-Armstrong units/dL; 0.8 to 
2.5 Bessey-Lowry units/dL; 30 to 110 U/L by SMA 1260. High AP blood levels indicate skeletal disease, intrahepatic biliary obstruction causing 
cholestasis, malignant or infectious infiltrations, fibrosis, Paget’s disease, bone metastases, 
hyperparathyroidism, metastatic bone tumors from pancreatic cancer, and liver diseases before 
any change in blood serum bilirubin levels. Moderate rise in AP levels shown by this laboratory test may reflect acute biliary obstruction 
from liver inflammation in active cirrhosis, mononucleosis, osteomalacia, deficiency-induced 
rickets, and viral hepatitis. Copyright © Charlotte Gerson, 2007. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced in any medium, print or electronic without prior written permission from the author .Page 185Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comThe Alanine Transaminase, Serum 
GLUTAMIC -PYRUVIC  TRANSAMINASE  (ALT/SGPT) L ABORATORY  TEST
Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), one of the two enzymes that catalyze a reversible amino 
group transfer reaction in the Krebs citric acid (tricarboxylic acid) cycle, is necessary for tissue 
energy production. (The second enzyme is aspartate aminotransferase.) Elevated serum ALT 
indicates acute hepatocellular damage before jaundice appears. The ALT/SGPT laboratory test 
makes use of spectrophotometric or colorimetric methods which detect and evaluate treatment 
progress for hepatitis, cirrhosis without jaundice, liver toxicity, and acute liver disease. It also 
distinguishes between myocardial and hepatic tissue damage. ALT values range from 10 to 32 U/L in men; from 9 to 24 U/L in women; twice those levels 
in infants. When they are very high—up to 50 times normal—viral or drug-induced hepatitis must 
be suspected. Or there may be other liver disease with extensive necrosis. Moderate-to-high levels of ALT may indicate infectious mononucleosis, chronic hepatitis, 
intrahepatic cholestasis, early or improving acute viral hepatitis, or severe hepatic congestion due 
to heart failure. Slight-to-moderate ALT elevations may appear with any condition that produces acute 
cellular injury in the liver such as active cirrhosis and drug-induced or alcoholic hepatitis. Marginal elevations possibly show acute myocardial infarction or secondary hepatic 
congestion. An interfering factor for the alanine transaminase, serum glutamicpyruvic transaminase 
laboratory test is the taking of opiate analgesics such as morphine, codeine, and meperidine, 
The Total Serum Cholesterol Laboratory Test
This quantitative serum analysis measures the circulating levels of free cholesterol and 
cholesterol esters and reflects the amount of cholesterol compound appearing in the body tissues. Both absorbed from the diet and synthesized in the liver and other body tissues, cholesterol is a 
structural component in cell membranes and plasma lipoproteins. It contributes to the formation 
of adrenocorticoid steroids, bile salts, androgens, and estrogens. A diet high in saturated fat raises 
cholesterol levels by stimulating absorption of lipids, including cholesterol, from the intestine; 
a diet low in saturated fat lowers them. Elevated total serum cholesterol is associated with an 
increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Thus, the total serum cholesterol laboratory test assesses the risk of coronary artery disease 
(CAD), evaluates fat metabolism, and aids in diagnosing kidney disease, pancreatitis, liver 
disease, hypothyroidism, and, hyperthyroidism. Total cholesterol concentrations vary with age 
Copyright © Charlotte Gerson, 2007. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced in any medium, print or electronic without prior written permission from the author .Page 186Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comand sex. Its common range is from 150 to 200 mg/dL. A desirable blood cholesterol is below 200 
mg/dL, and levels from 200 to 240 mg/dL are considered borderline or at high risk for CAD. A 
level in excess of 250 mg/dL (hypercholesterolemia) indicates high risk of cardiovascuar disease, 
incipient hepatitis, lipid disorders, bile duct blockage, nephrotic syndrome, obstructive jaundice, 
pancreatitis, and hypothyroidism. They require treatment. Hypercholesterolemia from high dietary 
intake requires modification of eating habits and possibly medication to retard absorption. Hypercholesterolemia can occur from taking adrenocorticotropic hormone, corticosteroids, 
androgens, bile salts, epinephrine, chlorpromazine, trifluoperazine, oral contraceptives, salicylates, 
thiouracils, and trimethadione. Low serum cholesterol (hypocholesterolemia) is associated with malnutrition, cellular 
necrosis of the liver, and hyperthyroidism. Cholesterol often drops below normal in the Gerson 
program, because patients are eating an extremely low-fat diet. The Lipoprotein/Cholesterol
Fractionation Laboratory Test
To assess the risk of coronary artery disease, the lipoprotein/cholesterol fractionation 
laboratory test is conducted. By centrifugation or electrophoresis, it isolates and measures 
the cholesterol in blood, which appears as low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density 
lipoproteins (HDL). It’s known that a lower HDL level in the population gives rise to a higher 
incidence of CAD. Conversely, higher HDL levels produce a lesser amount of CAD. Note: Since the Gerson Therapy offers a minimal amount of fat, it often lowers the risk 
of coronary artery disease; but it does provide an adequate supply of certain polyunsaturated 
essential fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins that cannot be synthesized in adequate amounts for 
optima[ body function. Normal HDL cholesterol ranges from 29 to 77 mg/100 mL of blood, and normal LDL 
cholesterol ranges from 62 to 185 mg/100 mL. Too-high LDL levels increases the risk of CAD, 
while elevated HDL generally reflects a healthy state. Or it might indicate chronic hepatitis, early-
stage primary biliary cirrhosis, or too much alcohol consumption. The Serum Triglycerides Laboratory Test 
Being the body’s main storage form of lipids (constituting 95 percent of fatty tissue), the serum 
triglycerides laboratory test provides a quantitative analysis of them. It identifies hyerlipemia in 
kidney disease and CAD. The triglyceride values vary according to age: 
Copyright © Charlotte Gerson, 2007. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced in any medium, print or electronic without prior written permission from the author .Page 187Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comAge            Trigyceride Values
                                                                 Mg/dL     nmol/L 
0-29              10-140    0.1-1.55 
30-39          10-150    0.1-1.65 
40-49          10-160    0.1-1.75 
50-59          10-190    0.1-2.10 
Test abnormality suggests that other measurements are needed. High triglycerides indicate the 
risk of atherosclerosis or CAD. Mild-to-moderate levels advise of biliary obstruction, diabetes, 
kidney disease, endocrinopathies, or too much consumption of alcohol. Decreased levels are rare 
but may show malnutrition or a betalipoproteinemia. Note: On the Gerson diet, flare-ups and healing reactions are shown by elevated tri-
glycerides. The Serum Protein Electrophoresis Laboratory Test
The major blood proteins of the body, albumin and four globulins, are measured in an electric 
field by separating them into patterns according to size, shape, and electric charge at pH 8.6. Comprising more than 50 the serum creatinine level (see the test description which immediately 
follows). With normal values ranging from 8 to 20 mg/dL, the BUN test helps to evaluate kidney 
function, aids in the diagnosis of kidney illness, and assesses the body’s hydration. An elevated 
BUN happens in reduced renal blood flow from dehydration, renal disease, urinary tract 
obstruction, and ‘increased protein catabolism as in burns. Depressed BUN levels occur in severe 
liver damage, malnutrition, and overhydration. Note: Due to  initial decreased dietary protein intake, a person following the Gerson Therapy 
will likely show a slightly reduced level of BUN. The Serum Creatinine Laboratory Test
Providing a more sensitive measure of kidney damage than the BUN, the serum creatinine 
laboratory test is a quantitative analysis of the nonprotein end product of metabolism, creatinine. Kidney impairment is virtually the only cause of creatinine elevation in the blood; therefore, 
creatinine levels are directly related to the glomerular filtration rate. They assess renal glomerular 
function and screen for kidney damage. Creatinine concentration in males normally ranges from 0.8 to 1.2 mg/dL; in females it ranges 
from 0.6 to 0.9 mg/dL. Elevation of serum creatinine means that serious renal disease is present 
Copyright © Charlotte Gerson, 2007. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced in any medium, print or electronic without prior written permission from the author .Page 188Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comwith 50 percent damaged nephrons as in gigantism and acromegaly. Interfering factors are too 
much absorption of ascorbic acid, barbiturates, diuretics, and sulfobromophthalein. Also, athletes 
may have above-average creatinine levels, even with normal kidney function. The Serum Uric Acid Laboratory Test
Used mainly to detect gout, the serum uric acid laboratory test measures levels of uric acid, 
a metabolite of purine in the blood. Glomerular filtration and tubular secretion gets rid of uric 
acid, but it’s less soluble at a pH of 7.4 or lower which occurs in certain diseases such as gout, 
excessive cellular generation and destruction as in leukemia, and kidney dysfunction. Uric acid concentrations in men range from 4.3 to 8 mg/dL; in women they range from 2.3 
to 6 mg/dL. Although elevated levels of serum uric acid don’t correlate with severity of disease, 
they do rise in congestive heart failure, glycogen storage disease, acute infectious diseases 
such as infectious mononucleosis, hemolytic anemia, sickle cell anemia, hemoglobinopathies, 
polycythemia, leukemia, lymphoma, metastatic malignancy, and psoriasis. Depressed uric acid 
levels indicate defective acute hepatic atrophy or tubular absorption as in Wilson’s disease and 
Fanconi’s syndrome. Drug factors interfering in the serum uric acid laboratory test include loop diuretics, 
ethambutol, vincristine, pyrazinamide, thiazides, and low doses of salicylates which elevate 
blood levels. Also, starvation, a high-purine diet, stress, and alcohol abuse raise uric acid. When 
uric acid is measured by the colorimetric method, false elevations come from acetaminophen, 
ascorbic acid, levodopa, and phenacetin.
Healing_the_Gerson_Way.txt
Summarize the following text section accurately and concisely. Maintain specific details and numerical information, and use anti-repetition mechanisms:

        It could be an almost forgotten early emotional wound, a severe loss, a deep 
resentment, or some unfinished business with a loved or hated person. Or else we may be dealing 
with someone who conforms to the so-called ‘cancer-prone personality,’ as defined by Lawrence 
LeShan4, pioneer researcher of the body-mind link in malignant disease. LeShan, also known as 
‘the father of psycho-oncology,’ has observed over several decades that certain personality traits 
seemed to pre-dispose some people to cancer. These traits include low self-esteem, difficulty 
in expressing anger or aggression, an urge to please others and ignore their own feelings and 
needs, and inhibited emotions. The true self of such people has been banished behind a false self, 
probably developed quite early in life to ensure parental approval, and maintained in adulthood, 
too, when it was no longer necessary. Of course this personality profile does not apply to all cancer patients, although in my work 
with sufferers I have often come across similar character traits. Together or separately they suggest 
a dispiritingly negative outlook on life, which a cancer diagnosis can turn into black despair, and 
PNI tells us what that means in terms of reduced immune competence. It has been observed that cancer often appears 18 months or two years after some adverse life 
event, such as divorce, bereavement, financial crisis, loss of a job or of an important relationship, 
and so on. Experience with clients has shown me that those events only represented for them 
the last straw; that they had long existed in an impossible existential situation that apparently 
could neither be borne nor changed. LeShan and Carl Simonton, M. D. 5 call this setup a life trap, 
which they describe in detail. My case material bears out its power, and the fact that those who 
feel unable to break free eventually reach a stage when they don’t care whether they live or die. As many of them put it, “Something snapped inside me. ” I suspect it was the last strand of their 
frayed will to live. The Role of Stress
 I am often asked whether stress can cause cancer. I don’t think it can, certainly not by itself. But it can be the ultimate extra burden that pushes an already weakened, barely functioning 
immune system over the edge, so that it can no longer dispose of the irregular maverick cells that 
every healthy organism produces in vast numbers every day. Yet without the eternal vigilance of 
Copyright © Charlotte Gerson, 2007. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced in any medium, print or electronic without prior written permission from the author. Page 168Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www. thegersonway. coma well functioning immune system there is nothing to stop a few of those irregular cells to initiate 
a malignant process. What we are dealing with here is the mysterious interaction of biochemistry and emotions, 
which we have only begun to explore and understand. But there is already enough orthodox 
clinical—as opposed to anecdotal—evidence to prove that inner attitudes can make a big 
difference to survival. For example, British researcher Stephen Greer 6 interviewed a group of 
women three months after they had undergone mastectomies, to find out how they were coping. He found four distinct types among them who showed respectively fighting spirit, denial, stoic 
acceptance and hopelessness. After 5 and 10 years, 80% of the fighters, but only 20% of the 
hopeless had survived. These rates had nothing to do with medical prognoses. In the U. S. , David Spiegel, M.
To help the patient recover from cancer and other chronic diseases.
What is the primary goal of the Gerson Therapy?
Low self-esteem, difficulty expressing anger or aggression, an urge to please others and ignore own feelings and needs, and an inhibited emotional response.
What are some common personality traits that may predispose an individual to cancer, according to Lawrence LeShan?
To evaluate the body's physiological processes, diagnose liver damage, and detect various diseases.
What is the purpose of the Serum Calcium Laboratory Test?
To dispose of irregular cells that may become cancerous.
What is the main function of the body's immune system?
Stress can push an already weakened immune system over the edge, causing it to fail to dispose of irregular cells.
What is the role of stress in cancer development, according to the text?