Essiac is a combination of four separate herbs, blended to make a tea. Popularized by a Canadian nurse who discovered an old Canadian Indian formula and began using it to treat her patients in the early 1900s, essiac is available today in health food stores or as a homemade preparation. This herbal blend is a naturopathic remedy, intended to treat illness without the use of drugs and surgeries. Consult your doctor before using any naturopathic remedy.
History
Rene Caisse, the nurse who began using essiac to treat her cancer patients, reported hundreds of near-miraculous cures, according to the Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. The original name of the formula is unknown, but Caisse reversed the letters in her last name to arrive at the name essiac.
Formulation
Essiac comes in dry tea form or as a liquid to mix with water. Alternately, the Gale Encyclopedia suggests you may reproduce the formula at home. The ingredients in essiac are 1 lb. of powdered sheep sorrel, 1 oz. of powdered rhubarb, 4 oz. of slippery elm and 6.5 cups of pulverized burdock root. Mix the dry ingredients and stir them into 2 gallons of water, bringing the mixture to a boil and simmering for 10 minutes. After steeping for 6 hours, drain the liquid and keep it in the refrigerator until ready to use. Mix 1 oz. of essiac liquid with 1 oz. of plain water. Adults may drink up to 4 oz. of the liquid daily. Consult a doctor for a child's dosage.
Purpose
Essiac is a primarily a remedy for cancer, as recommended by Caisse, but it is also taken for other medical conditions, including AIDS, diabetes, reduced liver function, swelling, diarrhea, chronic fatigue syndrome, stomach ulcers and high cholesterol, according to the Gale Encyclopedia. Testing has not confirmed the effectiveness of essiac in treating these conditions.
Theories
Only clinical research can determine whether essiac is beneficial in treating cancer or other conditions, and so far only anecdotal evidence of cures is available. However, PubMed, a branch of the National Institutes of Health, cites a 1995 abstract on the use of essiac for AIDS patients. In the report, health professionals claim that sorrel, an ingredient in essiac, "destroys cancer cells," and the remaining herbs in the formula are "blood purifiers."
Considerations
Essiac usually will not produce serious side effects at the recommended dosage, although patients with a history of allergies to plants should not consume the mixture unless directed to do so by their physician. Essiac is not for pregnant women or for breastfeeding mothers. Storing the prepared liquid in sunlight or freezing it may render it useless, reports the Gale Encyclopedia. Cancer patients should notify their doctors before incorporating essiac into their treatment program.
References
- "Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine, Volume 2"; Jacqueline L. Longe; 2005
- EssiacInfo.org: Who Was Rene Caisse?
- PubMed: Essiac -- AIDS
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