Dr. Gerson was very much aware that patients require the intake of essential fatty acids. He experimented with various substances, including sunflower, safflower, olive and other oils to try to satisfy this need. He even tried fresh, unsalted butter. In all cases, fats administered to patients, even after they were already free of tumor tissue, caused the regrowth of cancers. Therefore, Dr. Gerson stated repeatedly and emphatically when describing the practice of the Therapy "NO OILS, NO FATS." In 1958, after his book had been published, Gerson found the work of Dr. Johanna Budwig.

Dr. Budwig described her successful use of flax seed oil (linseed oil) in cancer patients. Dr. Gerson tried this substance and found it very beneficial. It supplies the essential fatty acids, helps to carry Vitamin A through the blood stream and supplies linoleic and linolenic acids. In a letter to his long-time friend, Dr. Albert Schweitzer, Gerson described his protocol for the use of Flax Seed Oil: two tablespoons a day for the first month on the Gerson Therapy; one tablespoon thereafter.

In the charts on pp. 235 and 236 of A Cancer Therapy, the reader will find that the use of flax seed oil is described. The reason for the "contradiction" is that, on the basis of Dr. Gerson's research in the last year of his practice, we added the flax seed oil prescription. We did not change the text in the book prohibiting all fats and oils, because we wanted to keep Dr. Gerson's original words as intact as possible.

We hope that this explains any apparent contradictions the reader may find. Flax seed oil is made from organic flax seed, cold pressed, bottled in a light-proof container, and sealed in the presence of inert gas, not air. This careful handling keeps the oil from oxidizing, and becoming rancid. It must never be heated, and should never be used to cook, bake or fry anything. Unopened bottles may be stored in a freezer for up to six months; in a refrigerator for up to three months. Once opened and exposed to air, still refrigerated, the oil is only usable for three weeks. Patients should use the golden, filtered oil , not the brownish and viscous material that includes lignins. The lignins come from part of the fiber of the seed, which also contains certain undesirable proteins. These should be avoided. Also, when used by patients, only the oil should be taken, not freshly ground flax seeds, for the same reason. Some patients have been told by well-meaning friends that lignins or flax powder can be used and added to cakes. That is totally out of the question.