Hoxsey Health Dictionary

Harry M. M.D. Cancer specialist. Great Grandson of John Hoxsey, American physician, who in 1840 observed one of his horses with cancer cure itself by foraging for certain herbs. Noticing the herbs (Alfalfa, Red Clover, etc) he gathered them and fed them to other animals with the disease with conspicuous success.

The Hoxsey Cancer Clinic was founded in Dallas, which became a mecca for the herbal treatment of that disease. However, he received such persecution from the American Medical Association that he was persuaded to sign a contract transferring to them his herbal formulae, medicines and ointments, and to abandon his practice. This he did in good faith but the opposition continued. Worn out by long prison sentences for practising medicine without a licence, he died a broken man.

Though it is still illegal to offer the Hoxsey treatment in the United States, his main formula is still used by individuals left to their own resources.

Formula. Liquid Medicine: Red Clover, Burdock root, Queen’s Delight root, Barberry root, Liquorice, Poke root, Cascara sagrada, Potassium iodide, Prickly Ash bark, Buckthorn powder.

Pills: Red Clover, Queen’s Delight root, Poke root, Buckthorn, Pepsin.

A popular version revised by Paul Bergner, American Medical Herbalist reads: Liquorice 4 parts; Red

Clover 4 parts; Burdock 2 parts; Queen’s Delight 2 parts; Mountain Grape 2 parts; Poke root 2 parts; Prickly Ash bark 1 part; Frangula bark 1 part. (P. Bergner, ‘Botanic Medicine: Alterative Medicine’. Townsend Letter for Doctors, Nov. 1988, No 64, p487-8)