Alternative cancer treatment gets spotlight in Netflix's Apple Cider Vinegar. Can it work?
Advertisement
Ainscough instead turned to Gerson therapy, an alternative cancer treatment that involves patients following a strict two-year organic juice regimen – drinking up to 13 glasses of fresh juice a day, taking dietary supplements and having daily coffee enemas.
The theory which underlies it, and which has no scientific backing, is that disease can be cured by removing toxins from the body, boosting the
immune system and replacing excess salt in the body with potassium.
Ainscough – the inspiration for the character Milla Blake, played by Alycia Debnam-Carey in the Netflix series – claimed to have healed herself.
Alycia Debnam-Carey as Milla Blake in Netflix's Apple Cider Vinegar. Photo: Netflix
She became well known for her alternative medicine blog, published three e-books and promoted alternative treatments with her 'Wellness Warrior' events, inspiring countless cancer sufferers.
Advertisement
Yet Ainscough died when she was 29, less than six years after her diagnosis.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
22-06-2025
- South China Morning Post
How to create a morning ritual that rules, from breathwork to mindful matcha
How to create a morning ritual that rules, from breathwork to mindful matcha. Photo: Handout By now, Netflix's Apple Cider Vinegar has probably left anyone clutching celery juice or sprinkling adaptogen powders into their oat milk latte second-guessing their morning choices. The streaming giant's dramatised retelling of Australian influencer Belle Gibson 's wellness empire (built entirely on a fabricated cancer diagnosis) is an unsettling reminder that good intentions can quickly be overshadowed by seductive misinformation. Gibson's followers famously swapped chemotherapy for kale smoothies, trusting alternative methods over science – all because an influencer packaged fantasy more beautifully than reality. Warm lemon water at dawn, anyone? Photo: Trunk Archive Of course, most wellness trends today don't exactly involve high-level deception, but there's still a blurry line between routines that genuinely work and those that simply photograph well. Take, for example, the simple act of sipping warm lemon water at dawn, a ritual so beloved you'd think Gwyneth Paltrow had recommended it herself. While scientific support for its detoxifying or metabolism-boosting claims remains modest, lemons do reliably offer hydration, gentle digestive support and a welcome boost of vitamin C. At the very least, it's a pleasant, harmless way to brighten the all-important start of the day. Morning wellness enthusiasts often sing the praises of elaborate routines, but for the busiest among us, simpler strategies can hold equal power. Navi Hughes, psychiatric nurse practitioner and founder of Empower Mental Health, regularly coaches women whose calendars read like impossible jigsaw puzzles, insisting that even minimal efforts pay dividends: 'You can get to work a little earlier and go for a walk to set your intentions for the day. You can wake up just 15 minutes earlier or block time in your calendar for mind resets,' she says. Hughes also points out how even one or two minutes of gentle stretches, jumping jacks or brisk walking can upgrade a chaotic morning. 'Stepping outside for 30 seconds for fresh air, deep breaths and sunlight can truly set the stage,' she adds. Lumie wake-up lights simulate natural dawn and dusk. Photo: Handout And Hughes isn't exaggerating the transformative powers of movement. Any physical activity, however low-key, can flush anxiety from your system, lowering cortisol and boosting dopamine. Think of it as a spa day for your brain, minus the fluffy robes and cucumber water. 'The effects are phenomenal – it lifts your mood, brings clarity, energy, creativity, and increases productivity. And all it takes is 10 minutes of walking,' Hughes explains, adding that fresh air and sunlight – or even its chic alternative, luxury wellness lamps from brands like Lumie – can genuinely enhance our mood and mental clarity. For those craving more tranquillity than physical movement alone provides, breathwork and meditation have emerged as scientifically grounded practices. 'Both breathwork and meditation have been shown to help with regulating our stress levels in a sustained way, and the mechanisms behind these results are well understood,' says Anoushka Shenn, a London-based breathwork, meditation and Pilates teacher, and founder of the Office Yoga Company. She describes breathwork as a body-first approach, meaning it influences the body before it reaches the brain – either by slowing the heart rate or activating the calming parasympathetic nervous system. Journalling and intention setting have emerged as powerful rituals backed up by research. Photo: Handout Meditation, on the other hand, tackles stress head-on (quite literally). 'Meditation primarily works by affecting the circuitry of the brain – for example, by reducing activity in the amygdala or strengthening the prefrontal cortex,' Shenn says. With regular practice, these rituals deliver more than temporary relief; they effectively train the brain and body to handle stress. Additionally, journalling and intention setting have emerged as powerful rituals with surprisingly solid credentials. On one side, journalling provides a structured space to process emotions, fostering mindfulness, alleviating stress and offering clarity for the day ahead. Similarly, intention setting comes highly recommended by Hughes: 'Take a moment to set the tone for your day. What do you want to accomplish? How do you want to feel? How can you make the most of today? Starting with intention gives you direction and purpose,' she says.
South China Morning Post
22-06-2025
- South China Morning Post
Morning rituals that rule: say goodbye to elaborate wellness routines with no basis in fact – these habits come complete with breathwork, meditation, movement and mindful matcha
By now, Netflix's Apple Cider Vinegar has probably left anyone clutching celery juice or sprinkling adaptogen powders into their oat milk latte second-guessing their morning choices. The streaming giant's dramatised retelling of Australian influencer Belle Gibson 's wellness empire (built entirely on a fabricated cancer diagnosis) is an unsettling reminder that good intentions can quickly be overshadowed by seductive misinformation. Gibson's followers famously swapped chemotherapy for kale smoothies, trusting alternative methods over science – all because an influencer packaged fantasy more beautifully than reality. Warm lemon water at dawn, anyone? Photo: Trunk Archive Of course, most wellness trends today don't exactly involve high-level deception, but there's still a blurry line between routines that genuinely work and those that simply photograph well. Take, for example, the simple act of sipping warm lemon water at dawn, a ritual so beloved you'd think Gwyneth Paltrow had recommended it herself. While scientific support for its detoxifying or metabolism-boosting claims remains modest, lemons do reliably offer hydration, gentle digestive support and a welcome boost of vitamin C. At the very least, it's a pleasant, harmless way to brighten the all-important start of the day. Advertisement Morning wellness enthusiasts often sing the praises of elaborate routines, but for the busiest among us, simpler strategies can hold equal power. Navi Hughes, psychiatric nurse practitioner and founder of Empower Mental Health, regularly coaches women whose calendars read like impossible jigsaw puzzles, insisting that even minimal efforts pay dividends: 'You can get to work a little earlier and go for a walk to set your intentions for the day. You can wake up just 15 minutes earlier or block time in your calendar for mind resets,' she says. Hughes also points out how even one or two minutes of gentle stretches, jumping jacks or brisk walking can upgrade a chaotic morning. 'Stepping outside for 30 seconds for fresh air, deep breaths and sunlight can truly set the stage,' she adds. Lumie wake-up lights simulate natural dawn and dusk. Photo: Handout And Hughes isn't exaggerating the transformative powers of movement. Any physical activity, however low-key, can flush anxiety from your system, lowering cortisol and boosting dopamine. Think of it as a spa day for your brain, minus the fluffy robes and cucumber water. 'The effects are phenomenal – it lifts your mood, brings clarity, energy, creativity, and increases productivity. And all it takes is 10 minutes of walking,' Hughes explains, adding that fresh air and sunlight – or even its chic alternative, luxury wellness lamps from brands like Lumie – can genuinely enhance our mood and mental clarity. For those craving more tranquillity than physical movement alone provides, breathwork and meditation have emerged as scientifically grounded practices. 'Both breathwork and meditation have been shown to help with regulating our stress levels in a sustained way, and the mechanisms behind these results are well understood,' says Anoushka Shenn, a London-based breathwork, meditation and Pilates teacher, and founder of the Office Yoga Company. She describes breathwork as a body-first approach, meaning it influences the body before it reaches the brain – either by slowing the heart rate or activating the calming parasympathetic nervous system. Journalling and intention setting have emerged as powerful rituals backed up by research. Photo: Handout Meditation, on the other hand, tackles stress head-on (quite literally). 'Meditation primarily works by affecting the circuitry of the brain – for example, by reducing activity in the amygdala or strengthening the prefrontal cortex,' Shenn says. With regular practice, these rituals deliver more than temporary relief; they effectively train the brain and body to handle stress. Additionally, journalling and intention setting have emerged as powerful rituals with surprisingly solid credentials. On one side, journalling provides a structured space to process emotions, fostering mindfulness, alleviating stress and offering clarity for the day ahead. Similarly, intention setting comes highly recommended by Hughes: 'Take a moment to set the tone for your day. What do you want to accomplish? How do you want to feel? How can you make the most of today? Starting with intention gives you direction and purpose,' she says.
RTHK
18-06-2025
- RTHK
Tokyo feels heat as sweltering temperatures take toll
Tokyo feels heat as sweltering temperatures take toll The heat wave has taken a toll on at least 57 people in Tokyo on Wednesday and 169 people on Tuesday. Photo: AFP Sweltering temperatures prompted heatstroke alerts in multiple Japanese regions on Wednesday, with dozens of people seeking emergency medical care in the capital Tokyo. The hot weather was headline news in the country, which last year experienced its joint warmest summer ever as climate change fuelled extreme heatwaves around the globe. Record temperatures were logged in 14 cities for June, the Japan Meteorological Agency said, while in central Tokyo the mercury hit 34.4 degrees Celsius. Doctors treated at least 57 people for heat-related malaise in the capital on Wednesday, adding to the 169 people seen on Tuesday. At least three heat-related deaths were reported in other parts of the country this week. Some Tokyo residents wore heat-repellent clothing to beat the high temperatures, like Junko Kobayashi, 73, who showed off her cooling scarf. "I soak it in water and then wrap it around my neck. It feels refreshing. And I use this umbrella too. It blocks the light and heat so it feels cooler," she said. Other elderly residents said they were trying to take it easy so as not to risk heatstroke, while 80-year-old Naoki Ito said he was making sure to regularly drink water. "I don't need to take a big gulp, just a small sip here and there. It's important to remember that," Ito said. Every summer, Japanese officials urge the public, especially elderly people, to seek shelter in air-conditioned rooms to avoid heatstroke. Senior citizens made up more than 80 percent of heat-related deaths in the past five years. Japan is also experiencing a record influx of tourists, with foreign visitors up 21 percent year on year in May. "It's been pretty stinking," said 31-year-old Australian tourist Jack Budd, who was trying to find shade whenever possible with his travel partner. "The breeze is quite warm so it's hard to get out of it unless you go inside," he said. (AFP)
