Gerson Institute

What Gerson Institute does

Gerson Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1978 and headquartered in San Diego, California, that serves as the leading global source of information, licensing, training, and patient support for the Gerson Therapy — a natural treatment protocol developed by Dr. Max Gerson in the 1930s that combines an organic plant-based diet, raw juices (up to 13 glasses daily), coffee enemas, and natural supplements to address toxicity and nutritional deficiency as underlying causes of chronic degenerative disease including cancer, arthritis, heart disease, and allergies.

The Institute operates a vertically integrated platform combining clinical services, professional education, telemedicine, retail, and patient support. Its only physical licensed clinic is the Health Institute de Tijuana (founded 2001, Mexico), which offers 7- to 21+ day immersive stays priced at $5,500–$6,000/week including accommodation, meals, juices, supplements, and 24/7 medical staff. Web-Based Case Management extends the protocol globally via certified practitioners in 10+ countries at $175–$400 per consultation. The two-year Gerson Practitioner Training Program certifies MDs, DOs, DCs, NPs, and NDs through a structured three-phase application process, while the Home Set-Up Training Program certifies non-physician trainers for in-home patient onboarding. Ancillary revenue streams include an e-commerce store (books, supplements, enema supplies, downloads), affiliate commissions from approved vendors (PURE Juicer, Angel Juicer, Purelife Enema), and recurring donations via Donorbox.

The organization targets two primary customer segments: individuals with chronic degenerative diseases seeking natural treatment alternatives, and licensed medical professionals seeking to integrate the Gerson Therapy into their practice. The Recovered Patients Network, patient testimonial content, blog, webinars, and social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube) form the core marketing engine, with a 2024-2025 leadership visit to China signaling forthcoming geographic expansion. The principal asset is the registered "Gerson Therapy™" trademark and 45+ years of accumulated patient outcomes, though the organization remains operationally concentrated in a single clinic and reliant on donor funding as a non-profit.

Name

Gerson Institute

Legal name

Gerson Institute

Website

https://gerson.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Gerson Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1978 in San Diego that licenses, trains, and supports providers of the Gerson Therapy — a natural protocol using diet, raw juices, and supplements — serving chronic-disease patients globally and certifying medical professionals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Chronic Care & Complex Care Management (HSABAIAD)

Keywords

• Alternative cancer therapy
• Holistic health treatment
• Natural healing protocol
• Practitioner certification
• Patient support services

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

Revenue model

1. Clinic Services Revenue: Revenue from in-person treatment at licensed Gerson clinics, including the Health Institute de Tijuana in Mexico. Packages range from 7-day to 21-day+ stays at $6,000 for new patients and $5,500 for returning patients, covering accommodation, meals, juices, supplements, and protocol implementation.
2. Practitioner Training Tuition: The two-year Gerson Practitioner Training Program generates revenue through tuition fees, which include all courses, exams, and course materials. Scholarships and payment plans may be available with deposits.
3. Product Sales: Revenue from sale of books (including A Cancer Therapy: Results of 50 Cases, Gerson Therapy Cookbook), supplies (coffee for enemas, enema kits, supplements), downloads, and other Gerson-approved products through the online store.
4. Affiliate Commissions: The Gerson Institute earns affiliate commissions from recommended products including PURE Juicers, Angel Juicers, Purelife Enema equipment, and other approved supplies. Some links on their vendor pages are affiliate links that result in small commissions.
5. Donations: As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, donations from supporters contribute to operations. The organization states 'Our work is only made possible through the generosity of our donors.'
6. Telemedicine Consultations: Certified Gerson Practitioners provide web-based case management via telemedicine, with consultation fees (e.g., Initial consultation: $400, Follow-up: $175 per the practitioner listing for Dr. Vidya Krishnamurthy).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Gerson Institute delivers the Gerson Therapy, a natural treatment protocol centered on an organic plant-based diet, raw juices, coffee enemas, and natural supplements to address toxicity and nutritional deficiency. It supports patients through licensed in-person clinics, telemedicine case management with certified practitioners, online retail of supplies and books, and a peer support network of recovered patients.

Product overview

The Gerson Institute offers the Gerson Therapy as its core product, a natural treatment for chronic degenerative diseases centered on organic plant-based nutrition, raw juices, coffee enemas, and supplements. The organization operates a platform model combining in-person clinical services (Licensed Gerson Clinics), remote care (Web-Based Case Management via Certified Gerson Practitioners), professional education (Practitioner Training Program, Home Set-Up Training Program), patient support (Recovered Patients Network), and retail (online shop for books, supplies, and downloads). The ecosystem is designed to support patients throughout their healing journey from initial diagnosis through home implementation and ongoing maintenance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Patients have recovered from cancer, arthritis, heart disease, and allergies through the Gerson Therapy protocol
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PURE JuicercoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2015PURE Juicer has developed a productive and collaborative relationship with the Gerson Institute since 2015. They offer the most effective grind and press juicer for Gerson Therapy, with the PURE Juicer providing highest enzyme count and yield based on third-party research. The PURE Juicer is approved by the Gerson Institute, comes with a 12-year warranty, and is offered at discounts to Gerson patients. PURE Juicer is an affiliate partner of the Gerson Institute.
• Angel JuicercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAngel Juicer is a 100% stainless steel cold press slow juicer recognized as the best masticating juicer on the market. The company offers 10% discount to Gerson patients and is an affiliate partner of the Gerson Institute.
• Purelife Health EquipmentcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerUSA-Made Stainless Steel and Glass Enema Bucket Kits as well as other coffee enema accessories and Gerson Therapy supplements. Purelife Enema is an affiliate partner of the Gerson Institute.
• Pure & Secure, LLC (Pure Water)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLeading manufacturer of premium water distillers for families and businesses for over 50 years. Located in Lincoln, Nebraska. Offers 5% discount with code 'gersonwater'. Affiliate partner of the Gerson Institute.
• VitaLab, Inc.coreGTM or Marketing PartnerFounded by Dr. Alicia Melendez, a protégé of Charlotte Gerson, VitaLab specializes in providing high-quality supplements and supplies designed for use with the Gerson Therapy. Located in San Diego, California, USA.
• Time Honored FormulasminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupplier of Gerson-approved natural supplements. Located in Wichita, Kansas, USA. Products are certified as to quality with independent microbiological testing performed to ensure purity and safety.
• ISHI Medical Equipment and LabminorGTM or Marketing PartnerISHI MEDICAL has worked with Gerson Institute since 2002, sourcing and delivering quality supplement products and other supplies that meet requirements of the Gerson therapy. Located in San Ysidro, California, USA.
• Red Wing Organics, LLCminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGerson-approved vendor for parts and services of Norwalk juicers. Provides every component needed to maintain Norwalk juicers with comprehensive service department. Located in USA.
• Healing Naturally LimitedminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUK-based supplier shipping within UK, EU and some other countries. Provides Gerson-approved supplements and products.
• Health Institute de TijuanacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMexico's first and only licensed Gerson clinic, founded in 2001 in Playas de Tijuana. Provides comprehensive in-person Gerson Therapy treatment with medical staff on-site 24/7. Offers 7-day to 21-day+ packages with full protocol implementation including meals, juices, supplements, and enemas.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Oasis of Hope Hospital: Oasis of Hope is a Tijuana-based alternative cancer treatment hospital offering nutritional, metabolic, and immunological therapies to international patients. It directly competes with the Health Institute de Tijuana for cross-border oncology patients seeking non-conventional protocols.
• Hippocrates Health Institute: Hippocrates Health Institute (historically based in Florida) ran a plant-based, living-foods lifestyle program for chronic disease patients and trained lifestyle educators—closely paralleling the Gerson Therapy's dietary philosophy and educational/certification model, though it ceased operations in 2022.
• Optimum Health Institute: San Diego-based Optimum Health Institute offers a residential, plant-based "Optimum Diet" program for chronic and degenerative disease, with an affiliated Living Foods Instructor certification. Geographic proximity and overlapping philosophy make it a close peer.
• Burzynski Clinic: Houston-based Burzynski Clinic provides alternative, non-FDA-approved antineoplaston therapy for cancer patients. It targets a similar self-referred, often late-stage oncology patient base willing to pursue non-conventional treatments outside mainstream oncology.
• Issels Medical Center: Issels Medical Center in Santa Barbara offers integrative immunotherapy for cancer, including non-conventional and personalized protocols. Like Gerson, it markets to cancer patients seeking alternative or complementary approaches outside standard oncology.
• Riordan Clinic: Wichita-based Riordan Clinic is a non-profit integrative/orthomolecular medicine center offering nutrition-based therapies, physician training, and patient education for chronic disease. Its non-profit, education-and-treatment model closely mirrors the Gerson Institute's structure.
• An Oasis of Healing: An Oasis of Healing in Arizona provides residential alternative cancer care combining nutrition, detoxification, and lifestyle protocols. It is comparable in offering residential, plant-based intensive programs for cancer patients outside conventional hospital settings.
• TrueNorth Health Center: Santa Rosa-based TrueNorth Health Center provides medically supervised water fasting and plant-based nutrition for chronic disease, including a doctor training program. Its residential, nutrition-based clinical model and clinician-education pipeline are highly comparable to Gerson's.

Emerging players

• Living Foods Institute: Atlanta-based Living Foods Institute offers educational programs and classes around raw, plant-based nutrition for chronic disease. It overlaps with Gerson's dietary philosophy and education/training focus, though it lacks a clinical treatment program.

Broad incumbents

• City of Hope (formerly Cancer Treatment Centers of America): City of Hope, which acquired CTCA, is a major US cancer system that now offers integrative medicine alongside conventional oncology. It represents the mainstream-end incumbent entering the same integrative/alternative space Gerson occupies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/gersoninstitute
• Facebookfacebook.com/GersonInstitute
• Instagraminstagram.com/accounts/login/?next=/gersoninstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gerson-institute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gerson Institute