Rene Caisse, a Canadian nurse who died in 1978, was famous for an herbal tea blend that she named after herself: Essiac tea. She claimed that Essiac tea was an Ojibway treatment for cancer. Caisse opened a clinic in Bracebridge, Ontario, where she treated cancer patients with Essiac tea from 1934 to 1942. She kept her herbal formula secret until just before her death, when she sold it to Resperin Corporation, Ltd.
Ingredients
According to an affidavit reportedly filed with the city of Bracebridge, Ontario, by Mary McPherson, Rene Caisse's employee, the formula for Essiac tea required 1 part rhubarb root, 4 parts slippery elm bark, 16 parts sheep sorrel and 24 parts burdock root. The herbal mixture was boiled in water and patients drank about an ounce of the resulting tea every day.
Expert Insight
According to the American Cancer Society, there are no published clinical trials in conventional medical journals showing the effectiveness of Essiac in the treatment of cancer. Medline Plus reports that Essiac tea is alternative treatment for cancer and that it is sometimes recommended for HIV, diabetes and other diseases, as well as being recommended as an immune stimulant to help prevent these diseases. However, there is no scientific evidence to support these claims. In fact, a website that is owned and maintained by Altramed Health Products Inc., a supplier of Essiac products, has this disclaimer: "No extensive clinical studies have been performed as yet which would provide conclusive evidence that Rene Caisse's herbal formula will alleviate, cure or prevent any disease or condition."
Side Effects
According to the American Cancer Society, serious side effects are uncommon. Medline Plus reports that "Potentially toxic compounds present in Essiac include tannins, oxalic acid and anthraquinones. Tannins, present in burdock, sorrel, rhubarb, and slippery elm, may cause stomach upset and in high concentrations may lead to kidney or liver damage." Little is known about interactions with prescribed medications and the tea may not be safe for a pregnant or nursing woman.
Considerations
Although Mary McPherson only listed four ingredients for Essiac tea, there are many different formulations available. There is no scientific evidence available to show that any of these formulas can prevent or cure cancer or any other disease, although the herbs do show evidence of antioxidant properties, according to the "Journal of Ethnopharmacology."
Warning
If you have been diagnosed with cancer or any other serious disease, you should definitely seek treatment based on clear scientific evidence. One of the reasons that people in the past used herbal medicines is that they didn't have access to modern medicine; herbs were all they had. If you want to combine alternative therapies with conventional treatment, discuss the specific herbs with your physician to rule out interactions with prescribed medications.
References
- "Journal of Ethnopharmacology;" Essiac tea: scavenging of reactive oxygen species and effects on DNS damage; Leonard SS et al; Jan. 2006
- The History of Essiac and Nurse Rene M. Caisse
- The Authentic, Original Essiac Tea Formula & Recipe
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