Netflix’s latest limited series Apple Cider Vinegar follows the rise and fall of Australian wellness influencer Belle Gibson, who lied about having cancer, and tells the parallel story of fellow influencer Milla Blake, inspired by wellness influencer Jessica Ainscough. Milla shunned traditional medicine in favor of holistic remedies from the fictional Hirsch clinic in Mexico, which promotes juice-based diets, coffee enemas, and juices as natural cures for cancer. Milla even creates her own line of juices, despite her cancer metastasizing. While the series is based on a true story, it mixes elements of truth with fiction, leaving viewers wondering about the efficacy of ‚Hirsch therapy‘ and juicing for cancer treatment.
Hirsch therapy, as depicted in Apple Cider Vinegar, is not real. However, it appears to be based on the alternative ‚Gerson therapy‘ plan followed by Jessica Ainscough in real life. Ainscough claimed to be healing herself naturally from cancer using the Gerson regimen, developed by Dr. Max Gerson in the 1940s. The Gerson programme involves consuming organic fruit and vegetable juice, following a vegetarian diet, taking supplements, and daily coffee enemas. Despite Ainscough’s claims of success, the Gerson therapy has not been proven to treat or prevent cancer, according to reputable cancer institutes and scientific papers. The National Cancer Institute states that there is insufficient data to support the effectiveness of the Gerson therapy as a cancer treatment.
The Gerson therapy involves a strict regimen that aims to detoxify and cleanse the body of cancerous cells through juicing, diet, supplements, and coffee enemas. The therapy, which includes drinking 13 glasses of juice a day, following a vegetarian diet, and avoiding salt and animal protein, is promoted as a natural cure for cancer. However, both the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre and the National Cancer Institute caution against using the Gerson therapy as a primary cancer treatment, citing a lack of evidence and the need for well-designed clinical trials. Despite Ainscough’s personal experience with the therapy, its efficacy remains unproven in scientific research.
Apple Cider Vinegar blurs the lines between reality and fiction, leaving viewers questioning the validity of ‚Hirsch therapy‘ and juicing as a cancer treatment. While the series is based on the true story of Belle Gibson and Jessica Ainscough, it takes creative liberties to explore the dangers of following unproven holistic remedies for serious medical conditions. The portrayal of Milla Blake’s journey with cancer reflects the real-life experiences of individuals who eschew conventional treatments in favor of alternative therapies, despite the lack of scientific evidence supporting their effectiveness. As viewers delve into the world of wellness influencers and their influence on public perceptions of health, Apple Cider Vinegar serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of evidence-based medicine in cancer care.
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