Essiac tea is used by some to detoxify the body, enhance immune function and treat certain diseases. There is much controversy over the effectiveness of this traditional herbal blend. Some claim Essiac tea is the cure for cancer. The research is dubious, but experts cannot deny that the herbs in the Essiac tea formula can have powerful health-promoting benefits.
History of Essiac Tea
In the 1920s, Canadian Nurse Rene Caisse discovered the formula after encountering a woman who claimed it cured her breast cancer. This led Caisse to cultivate the herbs and open a cancer hospital, successfully treating hundreds of patients. Caisse would spend the rest of her life fighting the Canadian medical community. They were very suspicious of her formula. Though many researchers claim that the formula is ineffective, people still use Essiac tea to help enhance immunity and fight disease.
Ingredients
The four herbs in Essiac tea have been used by the Ojibway Indians to treat many diseases. Essiac tea contains burdock root, slippery elm, sheep sorrel, and Indian rhubarb root. Burdock root may increase gastrointestinal health and immunity, with a diuretic effect promoting detoxification through the skin. Slippery elm contains beneficial tannins and muclilages that may reduce mucus and improve lung function. Indian rhubarb balances and heals by increasing liver function, promoting the removal of toxins. Containing natural chemicals said to kill cancer cells, sheep sorrel is thought to cool the body and detoxify through sweat.
Benefits
Anecdotal accounts credit Essiac tea for everything from curing colds to cancer, and even AIDS. However, there is little clinical evidence to support these claims. A decrease in mucus and subsequent increase in T cell numbers seems to indicate benefits for the immune system. For cancer patients, some claim Essiac tea will shrink and even heal tumors. Essiac is said to decrease heavy metal toxins by purifying the blood. Some report a decrease in pain and swelling, due to anti-inflammatory properties. Essiac is known by many as a cleansing and detoxifying formula that can help to rejuvenate cells and improve overall well-being.
Studies and Controversy
Studies on Essiac tea sharply contradict the anecdotal evidence. Some attribute this to a conspiracy to keep "a cancer cure" secret. Despite the controversy, the clinical research seems conclusive. A study on Essiac tea by the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in the 1970s showed no anti-cancer effect on mice. Another study conducted by the National Cancer Institute in 1983 concluded the same. In 2004, a study at Indiana University and Purdue University showed that Essiac slowed tumor growth in prostate cells. Researchers claim that the chemicals in the Essiac formula can prevent cell damage, reduce swelling, and kill cancer cells. However, it is unknown whether or not the amounts in the Essiac formula provide this benefit.
Side Effects
Though little benefit was seen in experiments with mice, high dosages of Essiac tea were fatal. Proponents claim that Essiac tea is harmless and that warnings from conventional medicine are merely scare tactics. However, Essiac has been shown to cause nausea, vomiting, increased bowel movements and urination, swollen glands, skin blemishes, flu symptoms and headaches. If you intend to drink Essiac tea, start with a small serving and work up to larger dosages. For serious diseases, always consult with a qualified physician first.
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