The "press-pulse" strategy, proposed by Dr. Thomas Seyfried, is a metabolic approach to treating cancer that views the disease primarily as a disorder of cellular energy metabolism rather than just a genetic problem. Cancer cells for most cancers rely heavily on fermentable fuels, mainly glucose and glutamine, because their mitochondria are often dysfunctional. Normal cells, by contrast, can use alternative energy sources such as ketone bodies and fatty acids when glucose is limited.

The 'press' part of the strategy involves applying continuous metabolic stress that weakens cancer cells over time. This is usually achieved with a ketogenic diet, caloric restriction, and sometimes glutamine restriction. These interventions lower blood glucose, elevate ketone levels, and reduce glutamine availability, creating an energy environment in which cancer cells struggle to survive. Healthy cells are better able to adapt, so the 'press' selectively stresses tumors.

The 'pulse' part refers to intermittent, more aggressive assaults designed to kill cancer cells once they are metabolically vulnerable. Pulses might include hyperbaric oxygen therapy, drugs that block glutamine metabolism, or even carefully timed doses of conventional therapies like chemotherapy. Because the tumor is already weakened by the press phase, these acute hits are thought to inflict disproportionate damage on cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue.

This combination - sustained pressure plus targeted shocks - creates a hostile metabolic environment that cancer cells cannot adapt to, while the body’s normal cells remain resilient. Early studies in animals and limited human trials suggest potential benefits, but the approach is still experimental and requires validation through larger, controlled clinical studies.