Josef Issels

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Josef Issels (November 21, 1907 - February 11, 1998) is known for having developed an alternative cancer therapy, the Issels treatment, that caused a great amount of controversy among medical professionals. He claimed to cure cancer patients who had otherwise been declared incurable by conventional cancer treatments.

Issels believed that cancer was caused by the weakening of the human immune system and hence had to be cured by strengthening it again. However, he did not dispute the importance of conventional cancer therapies like surgery and chemotherapy, and did in fact use them when treating his patients.

Issels opened his Ringberg Clinic in Bavaria in 1951. As the clinic achieved greater fame, patients from around the world began to seek his treatment. However, his practice was not appreciated by other doctors, specifically the Bavarian Medical Council, which charged Issels with fraud and manslaughter. After a four year legal battle, Issels was acquitted on all charges and his clinic was relicensed. Issels centers and clinics continue to treat cancer patients with all types and stages of cancer both in and out of the United States.

Among his illustrious patients were Jamaican reggae legend, Bob Marley, and British Olympic medaillist, Lillian Board, who both entered his Rottach-Egern clinic in order to get Issels' cancer treatment. Nevertheless both died soon after since the therapy could not fulfill the hopes of a cure. Issels died of pneumonia at the age of 90.