Essiac is an herbal tea developed by a Canadian nurse in the 1920s. She claimed to have gotten the recipe from indigenous people who used the tea or some of the herbs for medicinal purposes. Many cures were attributed to the use of the tea, and it became a popular remedy for infections and cancer. Not all formulas being marketed now are authentic, which has created confusion and controversy. Consulting a health professional before embarking on any herbal regimen for any condition is always recommended.
Brief History of Essiac Tea
According to "The New Encyclopedia of Vitamins, Minerals, Supplements and Herbs," Essiac tea was developed by a Canadian nurse around the year 1925. Her name was Rene Caisse, and she chose her name spelled backward to designate the herbal tea. Caisse claimed to have gotten the recipe from an elderly female patient whom she cared for at a clinic in northern Ontario. The woman claimed she had survived breast cancer many years prior due to the herbal advice of an Ojibway medicine man. Caisse started to incorporate the tea into her nursing routine. Her results impressed numerous doctors, who not only sent her patients, but also petitioned the Department of National Health and Welfare in Ottawa for facilities and resources to do independent research. By 1938, the Canadian government was considering allowing Caisse to officially treat cancer patients with her tea, but the medical establishment refused to allow it. No peer reviewed studies have been conducted examining the tea's effect on human cancers.
Original Ingredients
Essiac tea is an herbal concoction composed primarily of four plants: burdock root, turkey or Indian rhubarb root, sheep sorrel, and slippery elm bark, as cited in "The Essential Book of Herbal Medicine." Some versions may contain other herbal ingredients, although Essiac is a registered trademark in Canada. Before the death of Caisse in 1978, she gave the formula to a company in Canada, which currently markets the original product. The original formulation of Essiac included 6.5 cups of cut burdock root combined with 16 oz. of powdered sheep sorrel, 1 oz. of powdered turkey rhubarb root and 4 oz. of powdered slippery elm bark.
Preparations
Preparation of Essiac tea involves measuring 8 oz. of the formulated dry herbal mix and adding it to 2 gallons of boiling distilled water within a stainless steel pot, as cited in "Medical Herbalism." The mixture is boiled for 10 minutes, then allowed to sit and cool for six hours. After six hours, it is stirred thoroughly and left for another six hours. The mixture is then re-boiled and strained into another stainless pot. The final product is immediately put into dark amber bottles and sealed while hot, although it is stored in a refrigerator. Before consuming, the concentrated mixture is combined with distilled water in a 50-50 ratio. Essiac should be taken at bedtime on an empty stomach, at least two hours after eating.
Essiac Uses
Rene Caisse used her tea on cancer patients and those with a variety of infections, as she believed that the tea had powerful antimicrobial properties. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not recognize these claims. Some alternative health practitioners use Essiac tea to help cleanse the blood and stimulate the immune system, especially if a patient has been on chemotherapy or radiation treatments. Essiac is not a recognized cure for any cancers or diseases, and caution should be exercised before embarking on any herbal supplement regimen.
References
- "The New Encyclopedia of Vitamins, Minerals, Supplements, and Herbs"; Nicola Reavley; 1999
- "The Essential Book of Herbal Medicine"; Simon Mills; 1994
- EssiacInfo.org: Original Essiac Formula
- "Medical Herbalism: The Science Principles and Practices of Herbal Medicine"; David Hoffmann; 2003
Member Comments