At least for Franz Konz, until now known to the German public only as the best-selling author of his successful series of books on tax tricks, this is no longer a problem. He now presents us with his life’s work, which appears ready to revolutionise the entire way of thinking about medicine. His new book, overpowering in size and content, but easy to read and understand (it reads like a detective novel) is based on 40 years of study on traditional and alternative medicine.

In it, he reaches the surprising conclusion that there is no such thing as chronic illnesses or disorders that cannot be cured. And that each of us must and can take the treatment of his illnesses into his or her own hands in order to remain or become healthy. According to Franz Konz, traditional medicine is simply a form of deceit as far as all illnesses are concerned (he expressly agrees with the concept of emergency medicine) and every health care professional is a charlatan if, before beginning therapy, he or she does not free the patient’s body of stool residues (the buildup of many years which clings to intestinal walls) and poisonous substances from bad nutrition and pollution in blood vessels, tissue and lymph glands.

It should not surprise that the medical establishment has come under attack - it is arrogant, secretive and unaccountable. - Dr. Richard Horton, Editor of 'The Lancet'

Only after this has been achieved can therapy be successful in the long run, in his considered opinion. He views traditional medicine and its inevitable side-effects as follows: The doctor is worse than the illness. That doctors of traditional medicine are gnashing their teeth and this is easy to imagine - after all, their patients seem to be turning increasingly towards natural methods of healing. First, they saw to it that publicity for the book was prohibited. But Franz Konz won the case. Other cases are pending, however. The outcome should be interesting, since 'Der grosse GesundheitsKonz' is rather stunning in its extreme accusations of traditional medicine.

Since February 1999 there is a third edition. Konz demands that a thorough therapy approaches illnesses at their origins which is why he calls his new form of natural medicine 'Ur-Therapie' (original therapy). This concept is based on four premises:

The first premise: Guide the patient towards a stable, calm, self-sufficient personality, i.e. towards a complete liberation from any chemical medication, fear and dependence upon doctors.

The second premise: Take 'Ur-Medizin' (original medicine). This consists of a highly effective combination of different medicinal herbs, natural plants and fruits which need to be consumed at least six times a day - fresh. This is not very easy to do, but thus, after a thorough internal cleansing of the patient valuable vital substances, selected minerals, trace elements and an optimized selection of vitamins are supplied to the body. According to the author, this type of medicine improves the immune system more than any other method and leads to health because the substances are purely natural. An argument which sounds quite comprehensible and logical.

‘Specialists in nutrition have put such big blinkers on their eyes that they can no longer see that peoples on whole continents never ate any meat from the beginning of their history until about 100 years ago.’ - Franz Konz

The third premise: Carry out specific, primeval movements which help de-toxify the body through the blood, the lymph channels and glands and also stabilize the weight loss achieved thus far.

The fourth premise: The retracing of psychological difficulties and depression to their genetic, natural expression. This is to eliminate physical suffering and lead to constant well-being.

Thus, in this book, nature alone is used for self-healing and the prevention of illnesses. Franz Konz considers this to be the peak development of alternative natural medicine which is finally implemented in an effective, holistic form of treatment. Thus, 'UrTherapie' is a direct contradiction of traditional medicine which, as we all know, only treats the symptoms of illnesses and thus usually results in severe side-effects due to the chemical medication, dangerous rays etc. to which the patient is exposed, whereas the 'UrTherapie' goes to the root of the illness and gently dissolves the problem.

It is evident that this book is extraordinarily well thought out. The arguments are convincing and the reader keeps asking himself why no one before Franz Konz developed this effective and self-sufficient way of treating illnesses.

As the book progresses, the reader becomes more and more convinced that this type of therapy is the right and successful way of approaching all health problems. The tremendously large bibliography (400 pages long!) underpins all the surprising and generally unheard of claims of the author in sources and even quotes all the essential elements. Thus, the reader is always better informed than any doctor or surgeon he consults.

The many references of patients (and their full addresses) who healed themselves in this manner prove that this form of self-treatment must be extremely effective in treating every kind of illness.

‘The most dangerous weapon in the arsenal of homo sapiens is the table fork.’ - Howard Lyman

But: This type of therapy can only be recommended to those with the strong desire to follow the directions of the author, who healed his stomach cancer in this manner, consistently. The path suggested by Franz Konz is not an easy one. But, it is a path worth embarking upon in order to achieve lasting health. This book might just establish natural medicine at least on a level with traditional medicine and is especially recommended to people in poor health. But even to those who are still healthy, this book will afford completely new, surprising insights which will make everyone’s outlook on life clearer and making life more worth living.

The book is published by the UNIVERSITAS Verlag, München. The first edition was almost completely sold out after a mere three months. The second edition is not being distributed due to pending cases in court against medical associations. The third edition has been available since February 1998.

Translations into English and Japanese are planned. You will get a German version at a reduced price (68,DM) through a membership in the Bund für Gesundheit e.V., D-52525 Heinsberg, Germany or from any good bookshop.

- Sigrid De Leo

• Wild plant pioneer Franz Konz