Picture this: A 22-year-old develops lumps in her left arm, and is diagnosed with epithelioid sarcoma, a rare soft-tissue cancer. Doctors tell her amputation is her best chance for extending her life. She refuses amputation and conventional therapies, and chooses to treat herself naturally, embarking on a regime that includes 13 juices a day and coffee enemas five times a day.
Three years later, the young woman’s mother is diagnosed with breast cancer. She, too, eschews conventional treatment and embarks on the same alternative therapies as her daughter.
In four years, both mother and daughter – Sharyn and Jessica Ainscough, respectively – would be dead. Sadly, this is a true story.
Seductive So-Called Solutions
If that story sounds familiar, it might be because you’ve seen a similar storyline in the Netflix series, Apple Cider Vinegar. The show highlights that even with age and experience, we’re not immune to the allure of “natural” solutions, especially when our health is on the line.
Apple Cider Vinegar reminds us how easily misinformation can hijack hope. Based on real events, the show follows wellness influencer Belle Gibson (played by Kaitlyn Dever, in the photo above) and her meteoric rise built on a lie: that she cured her terminal brain cancer through alternative therapies.
But it’s the subplot involving Milla Blake and her mother Tamara that hits hardest. Diagnosed with bowel cancer, Tamara forgoes conventional treatment in favour of natural remedies.
Why We Fall For Health Scams
We grow up believing that with age comes wisdom, which includes being immune to health scams. But the truth is, adults over 40 are often more vulnerable. Why?
- We’re facing real health concerns: Chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer become more common after 40
- We crave control: A diagnosis can make us feel powerless. Alternative therapies offer a sense of agency
- We trust experience over evidence: Anecdotes from friends or influencers can feel more convincing than clinical trials
- We’re bombarded with wellness culture: Social media platforms are saturated with “experts” selling hope in a bottle
The Emotional Pull of Alternative Therapies
Tamara’s story in Apple Cider Vinegar isn’t just about misinformation, it’s about love, fear, and the desperate need to believe in something.
When faced with a terminal diagnosis, it’s natural to seek hope wherever we can find it. Alternative medicine often promises a gentler, more empowering option. And sometimes, it can help – just not as a replacement for evidence-based care. If a whole-foods diet really does cure cancer, wouldn’t every oncologist be prescribing that to their patients?
Blending the Best of Two Worlds
Here’s the good news: no one has to choose between kale smoothies and chemotherapy. Integrative medicine combines the best of alternative and conventional therapies. For example:
- Acupuncture for nausea during chemo
- Mindfulness and yoga for stress reduction
- Dietary changes for immune system support
- Herbal supplements (with doctor’s approval)
The key is conjunction, not substitution. Alternative therapies can complement conventional treatment – if you want to do both, just please check with your doctor first to make sure it’s safe for you to do so.
What We Can Do?
As we age, our relationship with food and health becomes more nuanced. We’re no longer primarily chasing six-pack abs, but vitality, longevity, and quality of life. That means:
- Being skeptical of miracle cures
- Asking for authoritative sources and credentials, not just testimonials
- Consulting with licensed professionals
- Using food as medicine – but not as the only medicine
Far be it from me to tell someone what treatment to choose. An individual’s health and healthcare is an incredibly personal topic. This blog post features my opinion only.
If you’ve watched Apple Cider Vinegar, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Did it change how you view wellness culture? Drop a comment below or share your story, because the conversation around food, health, and aging is far from over.
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