Behind the Bastards Part One: Laetrile: The Fake Cancer Cure That Birthed The Right-Wing Medical Grifting Industry
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Jul 22, 2025 Miles Gray, co-host of The Daily Zeitgeist, joins the discussion on Laetrile, a notorious fake cancer cure linked to right-wing alternative medicine. They explore how Laetrile’s promotion reflects broader issues in public health and the intersection with political ideologies. The history of Laetrile reveals absurd lengths people go for healing and critiques unethical medical practices. With humor, they dissect the dubious origins and marketing tactics behind Laetrile, highlighting the dangers of pseudoscience in healthcare.
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Laetrile Sparks Right-Wing Medical Quackery
- Laetrile was the first major fake cancer cure and marked the beginning of right-wing support for quack medicine.
- This movement linked alternative medicine to political agendas, influencing modern anti-vaccine activism.
Amygdalin: Toxic Seed Compound
- Amygdalin, found in apricot seeds, can release cyanide when broken down by enzymes.
- This toxic property led to early dangerous attempts at using it as a cancer treatment.
Krebs Sr.'s Shift During Influenza Pandemic
- Dr. Ernst T. Krebs Sr. turned to alternative medicine during the overwhelming 1918 influenza pandemic.
- He sought cures outside conventional science due to the devastating failures of existing treatments.