Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Hoxsey treatment actually work?

Harry Hoxsey believed it did—and modern science is proving him right. The complete Hoxsey formula has never been tested in a clinical trial, not because it failed, but because the medical establishment refused to test it. They chose to suppress rather than investigate.

Here's what the evidence shows:

• 8 of 9 herbs in the internal tonic have demonstrated antitumor activity in laboratory and animal studies (USDA assessment, HerbalGram 1988)
• Berberine (from barberry) reduced colorectal adenoma recurrence by 23% in a 1,108-patient randomized controlled trial (PubMed)
• The external paste works. Morris Fishbein—Hoxsey's greatest enemy—admitted this under oath. The formula is nearly identical to what became Mohs surgery, now the gold standard for skin cancer.
• Tens of thousands of patients were treated, and many testified to positive outcomes. Fifty patients testified at the 1949 libel trial with before-and-after evidence.
• Ten independent physicians inspected the Dallas clinic in 1954 and concluded the treatment was "superior" to conventional methods.

The 1990 OTA Report to Congress concluded: "More recent literature leaves no doubt that Hoxsey's formula does indeed contain many plant substances of marked therapeutic activity." The question isn't whether the herbs work—it's why they were never given a fair chance.

Is the Hoxsey treatment safe?

The internal tonic contains ingredients with real risks. This isn't something to take lightly:

• Poke root is toxic. It has caused deaths in children. USDA botanist James Duke identified this as the only potentially dangerous herb in the formula.
• Licorice root can cause hypertension and potassium depletion at high doses.
• Red clover has estrogenic effects and may stimulate ER-positive breast cancers.
• Cascara and buckthorn are laxatives that can cause electrolyte problems with long-term use.

The external paste is caustic. It destroys tissue on contact—cancerous and healthy alike. Without microscopic verification (which Mohs surgery provides), there's no way to confirm complete tumor removal. Cases of recurrence and metastasis after escharotic treatment are documented.

We believe in informed consent. If you're considering this treatment, you deserve to know both the potential benefits AND the risks. The Bio-Medical Center in Tijuana can provide more specific information about their protocols.

Is the Hoxsey treatment legal in the United States?

No. The FDA banned the Hoxsey treatment in 1960 and called it "worthless and discredited." It is illegal to sell, distribute, or administer the Hoxsey formula in the United States.

However, you can legally:

• Travel to Mexico for treatment at the Bio-Medical Center
• Purchase many of the individual herbs as dietary supplements (though not marketed for cancer treatment)
• Read about and research the treatment

The FDA ban is one of the reasons the formula has never been properly tested in the US—it's legally impossible to conduct clinical trials on a banned substance.

What happened to Harry Hoxsey?

Harry Hoxsey was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1967, at age 66. He tried his own treatment first. When it didn't work, he underwent conventional surgery.

He spent his final seven years as an invalid and died in December 1974. He was buried without an obituary in Dallas newspapers.

Critics point to his death as proof the treatment doesn't work. We see it differently:

• He was honest. He tried what he believed in. When it failed for his specific cancer, he sought other options. That's intellectual honesty, not hypocrisy.
• The formula may have limitations. It might work for some cancers but not others. Without proper testing, we don't know.
• His death doesn't erase the evidence. The court victory, the Fitzgerald Report, the 10 physicians' endorsement, the USDA assessment—these remain.

Sources: Texas State Historical Association, WETA Boundary Stones

Where can I get the Hoxsey treatment?

The Bio-Medical Center in Tijuana, Mexico has offered the Hoxsey treatment continuously since 1963. It was founded by Mildred Nelson, Hoxsey's head nurse, with his blessing and his original formulas.

The clinic is located less than three miles from the US border and is currently operated by Liz Jonas, Mildred Nelson's sister. They claim to have treated over 80,000 patients since opening.

We are not affiliated with the Bio-Medical Center. This website provides historical and educational information. If you're considering treatment, contact the clinic directly for current information about their protocols, costs, and requirements.

What does the treatment cost?

We don't have current pricing information. The Bio-Medical Center would need to provide specifics based on your situation.

Historically, one of Hoxsey's selling points was that his treatment was far less expensive than conventional surgery and radiation. In the 1950s, treatment at his Dallas clinic cost a fraction of hospital care. Whether that remains true today, we cannot say.

What do mainstream doctors say about the Hoxsey treatment?

Major medical organizations oppose it. The FDA calls it "worthless." The American Cancer Society says there's "no evidence of effectiveness." Memorial Sloan Kettering does not recommend it.

However, there's an important caveat: None of these organizations have conducted clinical trials on the Hoxsey formula. They state there's no evidence, but they haven't generated evidence by testing it.

The 1953 Fitzgerald Report to Congress directly addressed this pattern:

"Public and private funds have been thrown around...to close up and destroy clinics, hospitals, and scientific research laboratories which do not conform to the viewpoint of medical associations."

Memorial Sloan Kettering does acknowledge that individual Hoxsey herbs contain compounds with demonstrated anticancer activity. The question of whether the complete formula works remains unanswered—because nobody has been willing to answer it.

Why wasn't the Hoxsey formula ever tested in clinical trials?

This is the central tragedy of the Hoxsey story. Multiple factors prevented proper testing:

• Institutional opposition. The AMA targeted Hoxsey from the beginning. Morris Fishbein's "Bureau of Investigation" labeled the treatment as fraud without testing it, then spent decades lobbying for its prohibition.
• The 1960 FDA ban. Once the treatment was banned, conducting clinical trials in the United States became legally impossible.
• No patent protection. The herbs in the Hoxsey formula cannot be patented. Pharmaceutical companies have no incentive to fund expensive trials for treatments they can't own.
• Limited resources in Mexico. The Bio-Medical Center operates outside FDA jurisdiction but lacks the funding for large-scale clinical research.

The result is a formula that was dismissed as worthless while its individual components went on to be validated by modern research. Whether the complete treatment works remains unknown—not because it was tested and failed, but because the will to test it never existed.