Viewers of Netflix's Apple Cider Vinegar, based loosely on the true story of Australian wellness blogger Belle Gibson who lied about having (and then curing) brain cancer through changing her diet, will be familiar with the idea of 'Hirsch therapy'.
In the series, fellow blogger and influencer Milla, who also has cancer, is seen partaking in the 'natural cancer cures' pushed by the Hirsch clinic, which include living on a juice-based diet, undergoing regular coffee enemas and looking into mistletoe therapy. She even goes on to create her own line of juices, which she then tours the country trying to sell – in spite of it being clear that her disease is unfortunately progressing.
During the series, in a bid to only eat organic food, Milla is also seen snapping at a waitress after learning her meal is not totally organic, suggesting she may also be battling with disordered eating patterns following her stay in the Hirsch retreat.
While Apple Cider Vinegar makes clear it's an almost 'true story based on a lie', it can sometimes be hard to tell which bits of the series are real and which aren't – including certain characters and whether or not Hirsch therapy is a real thing.
To learn more, Cosmopolitan UK spoke to Dr Liz O’Riordan, a breast surgeon, cancer patient and author of The Cancer Roadmap and Dr Dionysios Papadatos-Pastos, an accomplished oncologist of 20+ years who works with Doctify, to to find out if Hirsch therapy is legit, if there are any natural or alternative treatments to cancer that are recommended by leading experts, and more.
Is Hirsch therapy real?
Hirsch therapy, as seen in Apple Cider Vinegar, is not real – but it appears that the show's scriptwriters may have taken inspiration from a similar sounding setup known as Gerson therapy, also founded by a German doctor in the 1920s and developed in the 1930s.
Much like the Hirsch clinic on the show, Gerson therapy (according to Cancer Research UK) advocates for an all "organic vegetarian diet, nutritional supplements and enemas to treat cancer" however there is no evidence to show that Gerson therapy works – and it can have some extremely severe side effects.
What is Gerson therapy?
Dr O'Riordan explains that Gerson therapy was first developed by Dr Max Gerson in the 1920s with the intention of treating tuberculosis "but then he used it to treat cancer patients".
As for the methodology, like Milla's character demonstrates in the show, it's pretty intense. "You drink 13 juices a day, made from 9 kilograms of organic fruit and vegetables. The juices must be freshly prepared and you drink one every hour during the day, which severely restricts your lifestyle," the expert shares. "You must also give yourself five coffee enemas a day to get rid of liver toxins, and take a variety of supplements as well."
When it comes to Dr Gerson's reasoning, Dr O'Riordan shares that he "believed that the human body has too much salt and too little potassium. [He claimed] the juices reset your metabolism, help your body destroy cancer cells and heal itself – but this is not true. There is no scientific evidence to back up any of these claims and this diet has been widely discredited."
Dr Papadatos-Pastos agrees that there's a distinct lack of evidence to support Gerson therapy. "Advocates claim it detoxifies the body and boosts immunity, but no scientific evidence supports its effectiveness in curing cancer." He shares concerns that some patients who may initially opt for unproven alternative 'treatments' when facing cancer and could miss their chance to undergo chemotherapy, radiation, surgery or other conventional forms of treatment – much like Milla in the show.
"Strict diets and other unproven methods can be harmful if used instead of conventional treatments," says Dr Papadatos-Pastos. "Some of the potential risks are malnutrition due to extreme dietary restrictions, severe infections (sepsis) from enemas, particularly in patients undergoing chemotherapy and delayed medical treatment in patients who rely solely on Gerson Therapy and may miss the window for effective conventional therapies."
Is there any evidence that a juice diet or eating organic can cure cancer?
While diet is always an important factor when it comes to our health (and when it comes to reducing our risk of developing certain diseases, including cancer) sadly there's no evidence that cancer be cured through a diet change alone.
"There are no trials to prove that juicing can cure cancer and you cannot get all the nutrients and fibre you need from juicing alone. Your body needs protein and fat to function, recover and heal. Without them, you will become seriously malnourished and risk losing your life," Dr O'Riordan details, adding that "the people who claim to have cured themselves with juicing have nearly always had mainstream curative treatments first, like surgery to remove the cancer."
She points out that it's the same for organic food. "The pesticides and chemicals used in farming do not cause cancer and removing them from your diet won’t cure it."
The doctor points to the high-profile case of former model Irena Stoynova, who almost died in 2023 after turning down chemotherapy for her non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and instead tried to cure it solely with juicing. Over the space of two and a half years, Stoynova lost a worrying amount of weight began hallucinating. "She was finally admitted to hospital just days away from death," Dr O'Riordan recalls. "She eventually agreed to have chemotherapy, and after 50 days in hospital, Irena is now in remission."
In an interview published by The Times, Stoynova detailed how she was sucked in by the idea of natural treatments after googling for alternatives to chemotherapy. "If you have cancer, you need something much harder than organic carrot juice and celery," she said. "[But] when you have Instagram, Facebook, or even Google there are going to be millions of people who are going to say that they healed cancer holistically with organic carrots and parsley and celery.
"What I would say is it's great to have beliefs, it's great if they're backed by science, and please don't cut off your consultants. I cut off consultants and everything connected with standard medicine and I almost lost my life."
When it comes to cancer and diet overall, Dr O'Riordan explains, "Eating a healthy diet can help with sensible, controlled weight loss which will reduce the risk of your cancer coming back [but it cannot treat it]." She notes that the dietary guidelines for cancer patients encourage eating more whole fruit and vegetables.
Dr Papadatos-Pastos stresses that it's important to consult a doctor or specialist before making major diet changes. too. "While a healthy diet is important for overall well-being and may help support the immune system, cancer is a complex disease. Eating nutritious foods, including fruits and vegetables, can help the body stay strong, but it should never replace proven cancer treatments."
In terms of prevention, Cancer Research UK recommends reducing your red meat intake, as consumption can be linked to cell damage, eating plenty of whole grains and fibre to help lower your risk of bowel cancer, and generally eating as balanced a diet as possible to keep at a healthy weight.
Can mistletoe therapy help with cancer?
There have been studies into whether mistletoe might be able to help cure cancer, but there is no sold medical evidence of it being effective states Dr O'Riordan.
"Mistletoe is a semi-parasitic plant that grows on other trees. The plants and berries are poisonous to humans," she explains. "Mistletoe is meant to have two effects. The first is that it can boost your immune system by increasing the number of immune cells you have. The second is that it can make cancer cells kill themselves (called apoptosis)."
The theory behind mistletoe therapy is that "healthy cells are apparently unharmed and protected against further injury by any toxins they might come across".
Dr O'Riordan says mistletoe therapy is "mainly used in Europe as an alternative cancer treatment, normally a course of injections under your skin or into a vein. It has never been approved as a cancer treatment".
On the note of plants being used to treat cancer, Dr Papadatos-Pastos adds that while some are currently in the process of being studied for potential benefits "no food, herb, or supplement has been found to cure cancer on its own".
He adds that, "Some studies suggest mistletoe may help with symptom relief, such as reducing fatigue, improving appetite, and enhancing overall well-being in cancer patients. However, major cancer organisations, including the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the American Cancer Society, do not recommend mistletoe as a replacement for proven treatments like chemotherapy or immunotherapy.
"If considering mistletoe therapy, it's essential to discuss it with an oncologist to ensure it does not interfere with standard cancer treatments. For example, some alternative therapies can affect some blood tests results making it challenging for the oncologist to understand if the effect is from the cancer drug or the alternative therapy that can lead to unnecessary drug interruptions."
Can you cure cancer naturally?
According to both experts, sadly, in a word: no. "There are no known natural cures for cancer that have been scientifically proven," Dr Papadatos-Pastos concludes.
While Dr O'Riordan adds, "Eating a plant-based diet, cutting back on alcohol and exercising five times a week [may] reduce the risk of a recurrence but there are no natural cures."
This article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
If you or a loved one has received a cancer diagnosis, if you're awaiting test results and feel anxious or have any questions related to cancer, the Macmillan Support Line is there to offer you support. Contact the friendly, kind and knowledgable team there for free on 0808 239 9397. The line is open, 7 days a week, 8am to 8pm.
Jennifer Savin is Cosmopolitan UK's multiple award-winning Features Editor, who was crowned Digital Journalist of the Year for her work tackling the issues most important to young women. She regularly covers breaking news, cultural trends, health, the royals and more, using her esteemed connections to access the best experts along the way. She's grilled everyone from high-profile politicians to A-list celebrities, and has sensitively interviewed hundreds of people about their real life stories. In addition to this, Jennifer is widely known for her own undercover investigations and campaign work, which includes successfully petitioning the government for change around topics like abortion rights and image-based sexual abuse. Jennifer is also a published author, documentary consultant (helping to create BBC’s Deepfake Porn: Could You Be Next?) and a patron for Y.E.S. (a youth services charity). Alongside Cosmopolitan, Jennifer has written for The Times, Women’s Health, ELLE and numerous other publications, appeared on podcasts, and spoken on (and hosted) panels for the Women of the World Festival, the University of Manchester and more. In her spare time, Jennifer is a big fan of lipstick, leopard print and over-ordering at dinner. Follow Jennifer on Instagram, X or LinkedIn.
