Hoxsey Therapy

Hoxsey Therapy is an alternative medical treatment promoted as a cure for cancer. The therapy consists of a regimen of herbal mixtures, which are claimed to rid the body of cancerous growths without the need for conventional treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation. The formula, purported to have been developed in the 19th century by John Hoxsey, a veterinarian, and later popularized by his grandson Harry Hoxsey, a former coal miner, has been a subject of controversy and legal battles, particularly with the American Medical Association and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States.

History

The origins of Hoxsey Therapy trace back to the 1840s when John Hoxsey allegedly discovered a cancer-curing formula after observing a horse cure itself of a tumor by grazing on certain wild plants. Harry Hoxsey opened the first Hoxsey Clinic in Illinois in 1924, claiming success in treating cancer patients with his herbal formulas. The treatment gained popularity, and by the mid-20th century, Hoxsey operated clinics in several states.

Components

The Hoxsey Therapy consists of an internal tonic and an external paste. The internal tonic is a mixture of herbs including poke root, burdock root, barberry, cascara, licorice, buckthorn bark, Stillingia root, and potassium iodide. The external paste, used for topical application on skin cancers, contains bloodroot, zinc chloride, and antimony sulfide.

Controversy and Legal Issues

The medical and scientific communities have largely dismissed Hoxsey Therapy as ineffective and potentially harmful. Critics argue that there is no scientific evidence to support the claims made by proponents of the therapy and that delaying conventional cancer treatment in favor of Hoxsey Therapy could result in worsening health outcomes.

In the 1950s, the FDA initiated a legal battle against Harry Hoxsey for promoting an unapproved cancer cure. The courts ruled against Hoxsey, leading to the closure of his clinics in the United States. Subsequently, the Hoxsey Clinic moved to Tijuana, Mexico, where it continues to operate.

Current Status

Despite the lack of scientific validation, Hoxsey Therapy remains available, primarily at the clinic in Mexico. Some patients and practitioners continue to advocate for the therapy, citing anecdotal evidence of success. However, major medical institutions and cancer research organizations, including the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society, do not endorse the Hoxsey Therapy as a legitimate cancer treatment.

See Also

• Alternative cancer treatments
• History of cancer chemotherapy
• Regulation of therapeutic goods