Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ about the Budwig Diet, Budwig Protocol and other natural cancer treatments. 

Budwig Center FAQs

The Budwig Center supports combining the protocol and lifestyle steps with conventional care; many patients begin before, during, or after chemo. On our remote program, we personalize the support we offer you, taking into consideration the conventional treatment you are doing, to tailor your program for best results. Tap the link below to learn more.

Can I Follow The Budwig Protocol While Doing Chemotherapy?

We advise stopping the muesli roughly ten days before surgery because it can thin the blood.
More info here…

Understanding Your Body During Cancer Treatment

Yes, it can be. However, we can’t give any guarantees that it will be able to get you a specific result in your case.

In the 20+ years that we have been running the Budwig Center, we have helped people with all kinds of cancer. The reason the protocol works so well for such different types of cancer, is that, although they’re different, almost all types of cancers have more or less the same root causes. And when you address these root causes (using the Budwig Protocol) you are poised for good results.

Individual differences (cancer type/stage, treatments, nutrition status) affect the time it takes. Generally speaking, within 2-3 months on our home program, you should start to feel some kind of noticeable improvement. We emphasize energy, appetite, bowel habits, inflammation markers, and oncology follow‑ups to track progress—while we can’t promise specific outcomes.

Like every other cancer approach, the Budwig Protocol is not a guaranteed cure. We aim to help you address the root causes of your cancer holistically, which, from our experience, in most cases yields positive results.

Some people have been able to completely recover from their cancer and enter into remission after following the Budwig Protocol. In such cases, timelines vary greatly; usually it took between a few months to a few years to achieve this. Everyone is different.

The Budwig Maintenance program keeps core habits and principles (fresh foods, healthy fats, daily movement, sunlight as appropriate), while allowing more flexibility to fit your lifestyle.

The protocol integrates diet, movement, sunlight, stress care and selected supplements. If you’re considering IV vitamin C or Oxygen therapies, on our remote program we will guide you on how to do these therapies while avoiding a negative interaction with the Budwig Protocol, so that you can get the benefits from both these therapies and the Budwig Protocol.

Further reading….

A Message to People with Cancer

The Budwig Center is the only center that offers the true and original Budwig Protocol, with authorization we obtained from Dr. Johanna Budwig. While there are other centers that claim to offer the Budwig Protocol, we have unfortunately found that many of them don’t truly understand the protocol and aren’t faithful to it.

If you’d like to get the true Budwig Protocol and want the best support you can get, you’ll want to join our remote program. This is the only place where you can get top-level guidance and support on following the Budwig Protocol and addressing cancer at its roots, all from the comfort of your home.

Yes. The Budwig Protocol is a result of Dr. Johanna Budwig’s decades of research as a biochemist into fats and their effect on health and disease.

While conventional media continues to attempt to discredit the Budwig Protocol, countless positive testimonials and years of scientific research, including modern science, show more and more that Dr. Budwig was right.

Trials and reviews show flaxseed/lignans can favorably affect tumor biomarkers in breast cancer, and high‑fiber diets support gut health and may aid treatment tolerance.

More reading here…

Clinical Studies

Cancer is a serious, life-threatening disease that requires specialist help to address. While some have been able to obtain good results by doing the protocol without outside help, this is risky and definitely doesn’t work for everyone.

In order to get it right, and to have the highest possible chances for success, you need expert guidance on following the protocol, and addressing the root causes of cancer in a very personalized way, which you simply cannot get from reading some information only.

Thankfully, we have a remote program thanks to which we will teach you and help you to fully implement the Budwig Protocol in your individual case. You will have an expert Budwig naturopath supporting you every step of the way. Contact us for more information. 

While there are some exceptions, the day-to-day Budwig diet is mostly vegan if you exclude the Budwig Mix. Animal foods are generally discouraged due to the negative interaction with cancer. Limited eggs and wild fish from time to time are allowed.

On the remote program, we can discuss your individual situation in more detail and determine if you can have certain foods or if you should avoid other foods.

Outside the Budwig mix (which uses low‑fat cottage cheese/quark), the Budwig Protocol minimizes other dairy.

Maintain the original mix (for its oil‑protein chemistry) but generally avoid other dairy intake.

No—make fresh and eat immediately. Ground flax goes rancid quickly (~20 minutes). Store oil refrigerated.

Don’t pre‑grind seeds; keep the oil cold from extraction to your fridge; look for reputable suppliers.

There is no good replacement for low‑fat cottage cheese/quark in the Budwig Mix that can achieve the same benefits. Dr. Budwig’s original recipe uses low‑fat cottage cheese/quark for the sulfurated proteins that react with flax oil.

There is no good replacement for low‑fat cottage cheese/quark in the Budwig Mix that can achieve the same benefits. Dr. Budwig’s original recipe uses low‑fat cottage cheese/quark for the sulfurated proteins that react with flax oil.

Trust your senses: rancid oil smells/tastes “off” (bitter, paint‑like) and should be discarded; always keep it refrigerated. 

Buy from trusted vendors; keep sealed and cold; never heat it. 

Limit added sugars; whole fruit is generally fine and beneficial. The “sugar feeds cancer” idea is an oversimplification. 

Cancer cells use glucose, but so do healthy cells. Prioritize whole, natural foods and fiber. Natural sources of sugar such as honey are acceptable in moderation.

It can have a mild blood‑thinning effect; so it is advisable to stop the muesli ~10 days pre‑surgery—confirm with your surgeon. 

Flax products may interact with anticoagulant/antiplatelet medicines; always disclose usage to your medical team.

You want to avoid excessive radiation. If possible, ask for non-radiative tests first. If you must have a scan, PET is usually a good option. You’ll want to read more about how to choose the right scan here: https://budwigcenter.com/how-dangerous-are-cancer-scans/

An electric blender is preferred to ensure thorough emulsification; do not just stir by hand, otherwise you might not obtain the full benefit of the Budwig mix.

There are varying opinions online; the Budwig guide specifies an upright electric blender and stresses correct mixing.

More info here..

Making The Budwig Mix – Does the Type of Blender Matter?

Yes—do not stop prescription medicines unless your oncology team instructs you to.

Discuss all supplements and dietary changes with your clinicians to avoid interactions and ensure safe coordination. On our remote program, we will take into account everything else you are doing for your health, including the medication you are taking, to offer you a maximally effective, fully personalized approach.

We suggest chia seeds/oil as an alternative; or consider whey‑based adaptations if dairy intolerance is the issue.

Efficacy may differ from the classic mix; we can offer you personalized guidance on our remote program if substituting the original ingredients of the mix.

Yes—The Budwig Protocol uses fresh vegetable juices (e.g., carrot) and sauerkraut juice.

How long you should follow the Budwig Program depends on your individual situation. Generally, you want to follow the Budwig Protocol until you have achieved your desired outcome, or until you feel that your health is in a good place.

At that point, we recommend switching over to a maintenance program for a while to follow up on your health from time to time and make sure that you are on top of things.

We asses each person’s case individually, so we can guide you and help you to adapt your approach along the way.

Plan ahead: bring a portable blender, source cold‑stored oil at your destination, buy fresh low‑fat cottage cheese/quark, and grind the seeds fresh. 

Contact accommodations about a fridge, locate health‑food stores, carry whole seeds (not pre‑ground), and keep a printed recipe card.

Yes—garlic is among the optional additions to the muesli.

Many find a high‑fiber, plant‑rich Budwig pattern supportive of digestive issues; you’ll want to introduce changes gradually and get personalized advice.

Budwig included fermented foods (e.g., sauerkraut juice) that may aid gut function. Please feel free to reach out to us to get personalized advice.

You should consider the Budwig Protocol if you’re seeking a natural approach to cancer that stands above all the other approaches out there. If you’re looking to address the root causes of cancer and want lasting health, without following an overly strict and overly complicated approach.

Yes, the Budwig Protocol allows cold‑filtered whey as an alternative for those who cannot tolerate quark/cottage cheese but it may be less effective than the original mix. 

She warned that refined/hydrogenated oils lack vital components and may impair cell membranes, essentially suffocating cells and depriving them of oxygen; Instead, she recommended cold‑pressed oils.

More reading here…

The Healthiest Oil For Cooking in The World

Unfortunately, from our experience, most insurers don’t want to cover natural care.

While some insurers may cover part of the cost of the care received from the Budwig Center, most are unwilling to work with natural providers like us. Because of this, we have tried our best to keep our programs as affordable as possible while offering top-level care.

We can supply documentation on request.

You can use optional add‑ins like berries, parsley, garlic, ground nuts/seeds, vanilla, cinnamon—be creative while keeping the core recipe intact.

Make sure to add such additional ingredients after properly mixing the flaxseed oil and cottage cheese/quark.

We never recommend using pre-ground flaxseeds. When you grind flaxseeds, the most beneficial fatty acids – the threefold unsaturated fatty acids – spoil within 10-15 minutes. For this reason, it is never recommended to buy flaxseed that are already ground or to pre-grind flaxseeds for later use. Ground flaxseeds quickly oxidate and lose their beneficial properties. 

No, honey isn’t essential. Dr. Budwig introduced it in Linomel to protect ground flaxseeds during manufacturing. While honey has health benefits, its addition to the muesli mainly serves as a healthy sugar alternative. It’s optional, and some prefer to omit it. If used, choose raw organic honey. 

For ease of grinding, use a regular coffee grinder. We suggest that you have a coffee grinder that is dedicated exclusively to the grinding of flaxseeds, for best quality and taste. Flaxseeds oxidate – go rancid – in approximately 15 minutes. For this reason, we recommend that you always keep your coffee grinder clean; you can use a small paint brush to get all the old ground flaxseeds out before pouring in the fresh flaxseeds.

Yes, there is no problem as the Budwig diet is a very healthy diet that will provide excellent nutrition for the mother and the baby.

Dr. Budwig used Eldi Oil for enemas in specific cases, typically when patients were too weak to consume the Budwig mixture. Eldi Oil R, composed of Flaxseed Oil and Wheat Germ Oil, was utilized. These enemas were administered to patients deemed beyond hope by doctors, aiding in restoring strength and digestive function. Dr. Budwig did not advocate for coffee enemas, as they conflicted with her philosophy, though they are known for liver cleansing. Notably, rectal cancer patients should avoid enemas altogether.

Home care for cancer patients involves providing medical and non-medical support in the comfort of their home. It is designed to help manage symptoms, assist with daily activities, and improve the patient’s quality of life. This type of care can be provided by family members, caregivers, or professional home healthcare providers.

The Budwig Center offers a Remote Cancer Program to help cancer patients identity the root causes of cancer and achieve the best results possible using the Budwig Protocol.

People with cancer normally have parasites in their system. In our programs, we provide information about effective herbal remedies for parasites. In addition, we encourage our patients to de-parasite their pets and to always wash their hands after touching an animal. Another helpful step is to wash your fruits and vegetables with apple cider vinegar and rinse with pure water.

No. Dr. Johanna Budwig’s Protocol has reportedly been helpful with over 50 of the most common illnesses. It can be helpful for cardiovascular health, liver and pancreas function, joint health, digestive and skin health as well as immune response.

Yes. Our home-based natural cancer care program is designed for those who wish to make full use of the Budwig Center’s experience and expertise from the comfort of their home.

Our remote cancer care program offers a personalized approach to address your needs. You will then receive personalized natural remedies and treatments to help you get to the root of the problem. Click the link to learn more about our home-based cancer care program. 

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