08/18/2025
The Price of False Hope: How Functional Medicine Sells Survival
Ann was not only a patient, nor a simple clinical case; she was a dear friend, to me and to many in Vieques. Her laughter carried across seaside dinners, her presence filled rooms with light, and when cancer arrived it seemed inconceivable that such an intense vital force could be broken. At the time, I did not know much about what styled itself as “functional medicine.” The term sounded harmless, even progressive, with the promise of “looking deeper” where conventional physicians supposedly stop. When Ann chose that path, I had not yet understood what it means to move away from evidence and toward illusion. By the time I understood, it was too late: she was gone. My heart still bleeds for that loss.
The second shock came far from the Caribbean, in Italy, when I met a woman who was offering “tests” to some of my patients. She performed them with theatrical confidence, tracing arbitrary connections among vitamins, hormones, and invisible toxins, as if health were a deck of tarot cards to be reshuffled. Her claims were outrageous, her demeanor unperturbed, and the patients—hungry for answers—listened as if she guarded forbidden knowledge. Uneasy, I turned to a friend: an infectious-disease researcher, a professor at the University of Chieti School of Medicine. My questions were initially naïve, but his answers revealed a precise picture: invented diagnoses, unvalidated tests, claims recycled from a global script. What Ann had fallen into was not an isolated error but part of an immense industry, engineered to capture the vulnerable.
It was then that the threads drew together and the image became clear: functional medicine is not a parallel path to health, but an empire of false hope, built on expensive tests, unproven supplements, and therapies that steal not only money but time—the one resource no patient can afford to lose. What happened to Ann is repeated every day, in big cities and border towns alike, in luxury clinics and improvised offices, wherever fear can be converted into profit.
The most painful memory takes me back to San Diego, when Ann, in a tired and silent terminal, told me—with a tone halfway between defiance and fear—that she finally felt “seen.” Not by her oncologist, who spoke in probabilistic terms, but by a consultant calling from a clinic in Tijuana who spoke in certainties. He told her there were “natural immunotherapies,” that conventional chemotherapy “kills the patient to kill the cancer,” that for a set fee they could “reset” her immune system. Within 48 hours he sent her a glossy plan, complete with financing options. She forwarded me the PDF while riding the shuttle to the border: it looked like the brochure of an oceanfront resort. The price, however, was that of a luxury car.
That phone call was not accidental; it was the doorway into a well-oiled cross-border industry that has learned to translate fear into the language of hope. In Tijuana’s Playas district, the menu typically narrows to a few flagship brands: Oasis of Hope Hospital, founded in 1963 by surgeon Ernesto Contreras and now run by his son Francisco with grandson Daniel Kennedy; the Hope4Cancer centers, led by Antonio Jimenez, with a main hospital in Tijuana and an outpatient branch in Cancún; the Health Institute of Tijuana (HIT), licensed by the Gerson Institute to administer the infamous regimen of coffee enemas and hourly juices; and the CHIPSA Hospital, acquired in 2015 by American entrepreneurs Ed Clay and Scotty Nelson, now aggressively marketed to U.S. patients. These are not marginal storefronts, but sophisticated funnels that begin online and end in a private ocean-view room—if you can pay.
The numbers tell the harshest truth. Hope4Cancer openly publishes its rates: $40,000–$60,000 for three weeks, including room, board, and more than 200 therapy sessions. HIT charges $6,000 per week, for at least two weeks. Oasis of Hope does not publish prices, but third-party sources report $15,000–$30,000 for the initial stay, with further “cycles” recommended. CHIPSA offers $30,000–$40,000 for 3–4 weeks. Ann’s plan sat exactly in the middle. A 2024 review of patients’ online accounts estimated average per-patient spending at alternative oncology clinics at $48,234—figures that align with what Ann and many others experienced.
The ownership structures reveal how deeply rooted the business is. Oasis of Hope, with its 60 beds, was built on laetrile— a cyanogenic extract from apricot kernels, promoted in the 1970s as “vitamin B17.” Shown to be useless and dangerous, it nevertheless helped consolidate the brand. Today the Contreras family runs the hospital as a dynastic empire. Hope4Cancer presents itself as a luxury medical-tourism company, with U.S. marketing branches and professional video production. The Gerson Institute, a nonprofit based in San Diego, licenses its name to Tijuana’s HIT, run by Dr. Javier Meléndez. CHIPSA, under U.S. ownership, proclaims itself a “no-scam hospital” while selling immunotherapy cocktails unrecognized by mainstream oncology.
Scale the math and the empire is colossal. Oasis of Hope claims to have treated over 100,000 patients from 60 countries. Even conservatively estimating $20,000 per patient, that amounts to two billion dollars in total revenue. Hope4Cancer, with higher prices, lands in similar territory. This is not a fringe phenomenon, but a global industry.
Science, however, is implacable. A study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute showed that patients who turn to alternative medicine in place of conventional care have double the risk of death [1]. A meta-analysis published in the BMJ demonstrated that every four-week delay in treatment increases mortality risk by 6–13%, depending on the therapy [2]. Cancer does not stop while patients submit to juices, fasts, or “detoxifications.” Every day spent in the seaside clinics of Tijuana is a day subtracted from survival.
The same pattern repeats in men’s health. Middle-aged men are told that fatigue and reduced muscle mass are signs of hormonal collapse. Blood draws are performed at improper times, ensuring artificially low testosterone levels. Cortisol, DHEA, estrogens, and vitamin D are measured not to diagnose disease, but to construct imbalances. The practitioner announces: “You are in decline. But we can optimize you.”
Real endocrinology is far more rigorous: testosterone deficiency must be confirmed by both clinical symptoms and repeated low morning values [3,4]. Functional medicine ignores this prudence. It promises “optimization” to levels well beyond the physiologic range, with the implicit promise of youth and virility. The risks—heart attack, stroke, infertility, prostate complications—are seldom mentioned [3,4]. Supplements sold as “boosters” are often adulterated with undeclared pharmacologic substances [7].
The diagnostic mill is lucrative as well. IgG food-sensitivity panels are pitched as cutting-edge personalization. In reality, IgG reflects exposure, not intolerance, and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology explicitly discourages their use [9]. “Adrenal fatigue” is another invention, without scientific basis and rejected by endocrinologists [5]. “Leaky gut syndrome” is a marketing construct: although increased intestinal permeability exists in conditions like celiac disease, the syndrome itself is not validated [6]. “Provoked” urine tests for heavy metals produce false positives and are condemned as misleading [10]. Every diagnosis is invented; every cure is sold in-house.
The supplement empire is its crowning piece. By virtue of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994, supplements are not subject to prior FDA approval for safety or efficacy [10]. The industry was worth $177 billion in 2023 and is projected to exceed $300 billion by 2030. An analysis in JAMA Network Open identified more than 750 supplements adulterated with hidden drugs—including steroids and weight-loss stimulants [7]. In functional medicine clinics, patients are often prescribed 20–30 capsules a day, at a monthly cost of $300–$600. One study found that oncology patients at integrative centers took a median of seven supplements, with some exceeding twenty [8].
Psychology explains the compliance. Functional medicine practitioners spend more time with patients than conventional physicians, creating the perception of being heard. They provide unifying explanations—“inflammation,” “toxicity,” “imbalance”—that offer clarity amid chaos. They sell the illusion of control: the belief that health outcomes can be dominated by following the right rituals [12]. They frame purchases as empowerment, language that marketing research shows increases adherence [12]. They build communities, offering patients belonging and identity [12].
Ann’s clinicians in Tijuana did not only sell her therapies; they sold her a story, in which she was the heroine who defied a corrupt system and reclaimed her body. That story killed her.
How to avoid her fate? First, verify credentials: functional medicine is not recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties. Demand peer-reviewed data, not testimonials. Remember: time is tumor—every four-week delay worsens survival [2]. Be wary of packages: if the person making the diagnosis also sells the cure, it is a business model. Request costs in writing; vague cycles and undefined bundles are red flags. Consult the FDA and FTC lists of fraudulent cancer cures [10,11]. And above all, never confuse compassion with evidence. An empathetic demeanor can coexist with predatory intent.
Functional medicine prospers because conventional medicine has grown rushed and impersonal. The solution is not only to unmask the fraud, but to restore empathy and time to evidence-based care. Until then, the least we can do is strip functional medicine of the illusion of legitimacy. Hope without evidence is not harmless: it is fatal.
Ann did not die of ignorance; she died because she was convinced that certainty and compassion necessarily coincided with truth. She deserved better. We all do.
References
1. Johnson SB, Park HS, Gross CP, Yu JB. Use of alternative medicine for cancer and its impact on survival. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2018;110(1):121–124. doi:10.1093/jnci/djx145
2. Hanna TP, King WD, Thibodeau S, et al. Mortality due to cancer treatment delay: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ. 2020;371:m4087. doi:10.1136/bmj.m4087
3. Bhasin S, Brito JP, Cunningham GR, et al. Testosterone Therapy in Men With Hypogonadism: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2018;103(5):1715–1744. doi:10.1210/jc.2018-00229
4. Mulhall JP, Trost LW, Brannigan RE, et al. Evaluation and Management of Testosterone Deficiency: AUA Guideline. J Urol. 2018;200(2):423–432. doi:10.1016/j.juro.2018.03.115
5. Bornstein SR, Allolio B, Arlt W, et al. Diagnosis and Treatment of Primary Adrenal Insufficiency: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2016;101(2):364–389. doi:10.1210/jc.2015-1710
6. Fasano A. Leaky gut and autoimmune diseases. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol. 2012;42(1):71–78. doi:10.1007/s12016-011-8291-x
7. Cohen PA, Avula B, Khan IA. Adulterated dietary supplements: an emerging public health problem. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(2):e2149716. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.49716
8. Velicer CM, Ulrich CM. Vitamin and supplement use among U.S. adults with cancer: a systematic review. J Clin Oncol. 2008;26(4):665–673. doi:10.1200/JCO.2007.13.5905
9. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI). Position statement on IgG testing for food sensitivity. 2018. Available at: https://www.aaaai.org
10. U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA). Tainted products marketed as dietary supplements. Available at: https://www.fda.gov
11. Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Cancer treatments and cures: a consumer guide. Available at: https://www.ftc.gov
12. Cialdini RB. Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion. HarperCollins; 2006.
Appendix — How the Deception Works: Psychology, “Functional Tests,” and Legal Cases
1) The Persuasion Script
In functional medicine clinics, the sale begins long before the “treatment.” Initial consultations last longer than usual, delivered in a warm and empathetic tone, framing suffering into a neat narrative (“inflammation,” “toxins,” “imbalances”). The language is repetitive, full of emotional anchors and implicit promises of control. Here are excerpts of the recurring “speech” (collected in the field and from marketing brochures):
• “We look at root causes that conventional medicine ignores.”
• “Your problem is the gut-brain axis: there is chronic inflammation from food, metals, mold.”
• “I’ll propose comprehensive functional analyses: IgG food sensitivity panels, dysbiosis and intestinal permeability (‘leaky gut’) profiles, provoked urine heavy-metal tests, nutrigenomic/genetic panels, urinary mycotoxin screening.”
• “Your cortisol is out of balance, this is so-called ‘adrenal fatigue’; your testosterone is ‘sub-optimal.’ We can optimize it.”
• “Our natural immunotherapies don’t have chemotherapy’s side effects; we reset the immune system.”
• “We have a complete package with discounts, payment plans, and proprietary supplements to support healing.”
The message is calibrated to convert into purchase: broad and fuzzy diagnoses → proprietary “tests” → supplements and therapeutic cycles. The effect is an illusion of certainty that replaces clinical uncertainty with a coherent — and costly — story.
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2) The Lexicon of “Functional Tests” (and What the Evidence Really Says)
a) “Food sensitivities” with IgG panels.
These measure IgG against dozens of foods and are used to prescribe exclusion diets. Allergy and immunology societies explicitly discourage IgG use for diagnosing intolerance or sensitivity: IgG reflects exposure/tolerance, not disease【1】.
b) “Urinary mycotoxins” for “mold illness.”
The CDC documented the rising use of unvalidated tests: there are no FDA-approved urinary mycotoxin tests for diagnostic purposes; low-level positives can appear in healthy individuals, leading to misdiagnosis and unnecessary treatments【2】.
c) Heavy metals with “provoked urine.”
The American College of Medical Toxicology issued a position statement: post-chelation urine metal testing is invalid for diagnosing “hidden intoxications” and should not guide chelation therapies【3】.
d) “Leaky gut” panels.
Intestinal permeability is real in certain conditions (e.g., celiac disease); but “leaky gut syndrome” as an all-encompassing diagnosis is not validated nor diagnosable with commercial panels; clinical reviews urge caution【4,5】.
e) “Adrenal fatigue.”
Not a recognized diagnosis: systematic reviews and endocrine societies define it as a myth without evidence; risk lies in missing genuine conditions (e.g., adrenal insufficiency)【6,7】.
f) Male hormone “optimization.”
Endocrine Society and AUA guidelines require consistent symptoms + two separate low morning testosterone measurements before therapy; supraphysiologic targets, empirical cycles, or improper screening are not evidence-based【8,9】.
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3) The Missing Link: Supplements and Adulteration
The pathway almost always culminates in proprietary supplements sold in the same clinic. The FDA and peer-reviewed literature have documented hundreds of “natural” products adulterated with undeclared pharmaceuticals (steroids, weight-loss stimulants, sildenafil, etc.)【10,11】. The line between “wellness” and fraud is blurred when the same hand that diagnoses also sells the “cure.”
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4) The Economic Incentives Driving the Model
Platforms and vendors promote functional medicine as a high-margin, cash-based model (packages, memberships, mark-up on tests and supplements). Industry guides and practice blogs openly emphasize the financial leverage of the “wellness package,” the role of tests as plan generators, and the importance of “closing” at the first consult【12,13】. Narrative identity and extended consult time function as sales tools as much as care.
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5) “pH,” Molds, and Court Cases: When Rhetoric Costs Millions
The rhetoric of “alkaline pH” remains a narrative magnet (disease framed as “acidity” to be neutralized). The Robert O. Young (“pH Miracle”) case is emblematic: in 2018 a San Diego jury ordered Young to pay $105.3 million to a breast cancer patient after selling her “alkalinizing” treatments that delayed effective care【14】.
On reimbursement and insurance fraud, U.S. courts have sanctioned practices tied to fabricated diagnoses and unnecessary tests/treatments:
• Janette J. Gray, M.D. (San Diego, 2024): $3.8M False Claims Act settlement for improper billing, unbundling, and unnecessary procedures【15】.
• Charles Adams, M.D. (Georgia, 2022): >$27M judgment (treble damages + penalties) for fraudulent heavy-metal poisoning diagnoses and unnecessary chelation【16】.
• Robert Burkich, M.D. (Georgia, 2025): $700K settlement for false claims tied to hormone tests and unnecessary therapies【17】.
The FTC has also sanctioned deceptive “pro-health” claims: in 2016, Mercola tanning beds were banned with up to $5.3M in refunds ordered for false cancer-prevention claims; payouts were distributed in 2017【18,19】.
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6) Why It’s Dangerous: Survival Numbers
When unproven therapies replace (or delay) effective care, the harm is measurable:
• Cancer patients refusing conventional treatments in favor of alternatives face significantly higher mortality (up to ~2.5× overall; >5× in breast and colorectal cancer)【20】.
• Each 4-week delay in starting cancer treatment increases mortality by 6–13%, depending on therapy【21】.
Compassion is a duty; evidence saves lives. Confusing the two — or monetizing them — is what makes this system lethal.
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References (Vancouver)
1. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. The myth of IgG food panel testing [Internet]. Milwaukee (WI): AAAAI; 2025 Apr 15 [cited 2025 Aug 18]. Available from:
2. Kawamoto M, Page E. Notes from the Field: Use of Unvalidated Urine Mycotoxin Tests for the Clinical Diagnosis of Illness—United States, 2014. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2015;64(6):157–8.
3. American College of Medical Toxicology. ACMT Position Statement: Post-Chelator Challenge Urinary Metal Testing. J Med Toxicol. 2021;17:321–3.
4. Cleveland Clinic. Leaky gut syndrome: symptoms, diet, tests & treatment [Internet]. [cited 2025 Aug 18]. Available from:
5. Fasano A. Leaky gut and autoimmune diseases. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol. 2012;42(1):71–8.
6. Endocrine Society. Adrenal fatigue [Internet]. 2022 Jan 25 [cited 2025 Aug 18]. Available from:
7. Cadegiani FA, Kater CE. Adrenal fatigue does not exist: a systematic review. BMC Endocr Disord. 2016;16:48.
8. Bhasin S, Brito JP, Cunningham GR, et al. Testosterone Therapy in Men With Hypogonadism: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2018;103(5):1715–44. doi:10.1210/jc.2018-00229.
9. Mulhall JP, Trost LW, Brannigan RE, et al. Evaluation and Management of Testosterone Deficiency: AUA Guideline. J Urol. 2018;200(2):423–32.
10. Tucker J, Fischer T, Upjohn L, Mazzera D, Kumar M. Unapproved pharmaceutical ingredients in dietary supplements associated with US Food and Drug Administration warnings. JAMA Netw Open. 2018;1(6):e183337.
11. U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Health Fraud Product Database [Internet]. 2025 [cited 2025 Aug 18]. Available from:
12. Rupa Health. How to Start a Functional Medicine Practice [Internet]. [cited 2025 Aug 18].
13. Practice Better. Starting a Functional Medicine or Health Coaching Practice [Internet]. [cited 2025 Aug 18].
14. Winton R. ‘pH Miracle’ author who pushed alkaline diet ordered to pay $105 million to cancer patient. Los Angeles Times. 2018 Nov 2 [cited 2025 Aug 18].
15. U.S. Department of Justice, Southern District of California. San Diego Physician Agrees to Pay $3.8 Million to Resolve Civil False Claims Act Allegations. Press release. 2024 May 20 [cited 2025 Aug 18].
16. U.S. Department of Justice, Northern District of Georgia. Federal Court Enters Judgment of More Than $27 Million Against Roswell Physician for Ordering Medically Unnecessary Tests and Treatments and Taking Kickbacks. Press release. 2022 Oct 28 [cited 2025 Aug 18].
17. U.S. Department of Justice, Northern District of Georgia. Physician and Practice Agree to Pay $700,000 to Settle Alleged False Claims Act Violations. Press release. 2025 Mar 6 [cited 2025 Aug 18].
18. Federal Trade Commission. Marketers of Indoor Tanning Systems to Pay Refunds to Consumers. Press release. 2016 Apr 14 [cited 2025 Aug 18].
19. Federal Trade Commission. FTC Providing Full Refunds to Mercola Brand Tanning System Purchasers. Press release. 2017 Feb 7 [cited 2025 Aug 18].
20. Johnson SB, Park HS, Gross CP, Yu JB. Use of Alternative Medicine for Cancer and Its Impact on Survival. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2018;110(1):121–4.
21. Hanna TP, King WD, Thibodeau S, et al. Mortality due to cancer treatment delay: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ. 2020;371:m4087.
