Cancer patients ‘deluge’ orchard

Press, 12 November 1977, Page 11

Cancer patients ‘deluge’ orchard

PA Dunedin Desperate cancer sufferers have “deluged” a Central Otago orchard with requests for apricot kernels in the belief that they contain a miracle drug which can cure them.

Most are former patients of the controversial therapist, Milan Brych, who now runs a clinic in Rarotonga. Their supplies of the drug, Laetrile, derived from apricot kernels, were cut off when Mr Brych left New Zealand.

Mr Brych got his kernels from Mr W. Ashton, who runs the Sunbury Orchard at Earnscleugh. Since this was made public, hundreds of cancer victims have written to or visited the orchard, in search of a cure. Mr Ashton said that Mr Brych had bought “virtually all” the kernels available at the Sunbury Orchard. In 1975-76, he had bought $3OO worth, and his last order, $lOOO worth, had been delivered in March this year.

Mr Ashton said the orchard no longer had any contact with Mr Brych, “as far as we can tell.” “That market has now dried up. Since then, we have had a great number o inquiries from his. forme: patients and others,” he said.

“They have written wanting to place orders or have called in. About 80 per cent of the inquiries have been from Mr Brych’s former patients.” “We have been deluged,’*' Mr Ashton said. Orders had also been received from health-food shops throughout New Zealand.

An Auckland man hat placed a large order for the kernels for the coming season after receiving a delivery last season. The kernels were sold in 451 b to 50ib bags for $lO a bag, Mr Ashton said. He will save stones again this year. “It is just as easy to save them as throw them away: they make very good fuel for an open fire,” he said.