Iowa Court Shuts Facility That Claimed to Cure Cancer Without Any Licensed Staff
A rural Iowa retreat that claimed to treat cancer, Lyme disease, and heart disease has been temporarily shut down by court order after operating without medical licenses for six years. District Court Judge Crystal S. Cronk issued a temporary injunction barring Old Cabin Retreat in Centerville, Iowa, and its owner, Eddie Gingerich, from practicing medicine, dentistry, or dietetics without a license.
“A danger to the public.”
Judge Crystal S. Cronk, Appanoose County District Court, July 2026
Old Cabin Retreat has been in business since 2020, yet none of its staff hold medical licenses. The facility advertised a “100% success rate” with hiatal hernias and seizures, and claimed proven results with cancers, Lyme disease, and autoimmune disorders. Gingerich, 36, told Appanoose County law enforcement he has treated more than 70 cancer patients at the retreat. Court filings show he did not progress past the eighth grade in school.
6 Years of Unlicensed Operation Before State Boards Acted
The state’s enforcement gap is central to this case. The facility opened in 2020, yet formal civil proceedings were not launched until July 27, 2026, when the Iowa Board of Medicine, Iowa Dental Board, and Iowa Board of Dietetics filed suit seeking a permanent bar against Gingerich and two alleged business partners, Jake Gingerich and Dan Helmuth.
State licensing boards told the court that Eddie Gingerich “is practicing medicine without any license” and is doing so with the assistance of Jake Gingerich and Dan Helmuth. The retreat has also been the subject of at least one death investigation in recent years, according to the Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Criminal Charges Pending, Trial Set for September 2026
Appanoose County prosecutors criminally charged Eddie Gingerich in April 2026 on four counts: ongoing criminal conduct, money laundering, practicing medicine or dentistry without a license, and violating state hospital regulations. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
A jury trial is scheduled for September 15, 2026. Gingerich’s legal situation shifted briefly in June 2026 when his attorneys filed motions to withdraw, citing his desire to represent himself. The court approved the withdrawal, then days later both attorneys filed new appearances and resumed representation.
The civil injunction is temporary. The three licensing boards are pursuing a permanent ban, but that case is still moving through the courts.
What You Can Do Now
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Contact the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL) at (515) 281-6325. Ask how the state plans to close the enforcement gap that allowed this facility to operate for six years. Ask specifically what triggers a licensure investigation for unlicensed care facilities.
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Call your Iowa state legislators through the Iowa Legislature’s main line at (515) 281-3221. Ask them to support mandatory reporting mechanisms and faster civil enforcement timelines when unlicensed medical facilities are flagged. The current case shows a six-year lag between opening and court action.
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If you or someone you know received treatment at Old Cabin Retreat, contact the Iowa Board of Medicine at ibm.iowa.gov or call (515) 281-5171. Patient reports directly strengthen the licensing boards’ case for a permanent injunction.
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Check Iowa DIAL’s license verification portal at dia.iowa.gov before seeking care at any alternative or wellness facility. You can verify whether providers hold active Iowa licenses in medicine, dentistry, or dietetics.
Sources
Iowa Capital Dispatch: Judge Declares Old Cabin Retreat Operators a Danger to the Public Iowa Board of Medicine: License Verification and Complaint Process Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing: Consumer Complaint Resources