Jessica Ainscough, a self-described "wellness warrior" who attempted to stave off a rare form of cancer with natural healing, has died at age 30.

Ms Ainscough's blogs had a large following on social media, and posts to her website drew praise from sufferers of many forms of illness as well as criticism from those who did not agree with her alternative remedies.

Ms Ainscough was diagnosed with epithelioid sarcoma in 2008, and the cancer spread through her left arm, which she later refused to have amputated.

Chemotherapy worked initially, but when that failed, Ms Ainscough turned to Gerson Therapy, which claims to promote the body's own healing abilities, and began to report on her progress online.

She left her high-flying job as online editor for Dolly magazine and moved back to her home town of the Sunshine Coast.

Despite Cancer Council advice that Gerson Therapy was not proven to work, Ms Ainscough persisted, embarking on an alcohol-free vegan diet, drinking raw juices, taking vitamin supplements and undergoing coffee enemas daily.

She made videos explaining how to administer enemas and posted them on YouTube, although that video is now marked private.

When Ms Ainscough's mother, Sharyn, was diagnosed with breast cancer, she followed her daughter's lead and put her faith in Gerson Therapy.

Sharyn died in October 2014.

Cancer 'absolutely brought me to my knees'

Ms Ainscough wrote only two months ago that she had gone into a period of "self-care hibernation".

"For the last few months, I've been pretty much bedridden," she wrote.

"This year absolutely brought me to my knees.

The notice announcing Jessica Ainscough's death.

"I've been challenged, frightened, and cracked open in ways I never had before.

"After my mum died at the end of last year, my heart was shattered, and it's still in a million pieces.

"I had no idea how to function without her, and it turns out my body didn't either."

An online message announcing Ms Ainscough's death on Thursday read: "On February 26th, 2015, the world lost one of its brightest sparks."

What is Gerson Therapy? Developed by Dr Max Gerson in the 1930s

Developed by Dr Max Gerson in the 1930s An alternative dietary therapy, it purports to cure cancer and chronic degenerative diseases

An alternative dietary therapy, it purports to cure cancer and chronic degenerative diseases Diet eliminates animal protein and includes organic juices and dietary supplements

Diet eliminates animal protein and includes organic juices and dietary supplements Patients also undergo regular enemas with coffee

Patients also undergo regular enemas with coffee Therapy not medically proven and Australian authorities have warned against so-called anti-cancer diets, saying there is no evidence to support them

The Gerson Institute said on its website that its whole-body approach "reactivates" the body's "magnificent ability to heal itself with no damaging side effects".

It said the therapy, developed by Dr Max Gerson in the 1930s, boosts the body's own immune system to heal cancer, arthritis, heart disease, allergies, and many other degenerative diseases.

The Cancer Council has previously warned on its website that there no evidence showed that anti-cancer diets such as the Gerson diet or macrobiotic diet could prevent, treat or control any type of cancer.

Cancer Australia released a statement saying that "most alternative therapies have not been assessed for efficacy or safety, while some have been studied and found to be harmful or ineffective".

"For many people affected by cancer, feeling that they can assume some control of the treatment of their disease can be psychologically empowering," it said.

"However, the issues of effectiveness, safety and cost need to be explored with all patients considering the use alternative therapies.

"Cancer Australia encourages clinicians to discuss the use of alternative therapies with those affected by cancer in an open, evidence-based and patient-centred manner."