What Are The Health Benefits Of Essiac?

Essiac, also referred to as Vitaltea and Flor-Essence, was developed in the 1920s by a Canadian nurse named Rene Caisse. It is a tea made from four herbs and purported to confer a variety of health benefits, including helping cure cancer. The health benefits of Essiac are based primarily on anecdotal evidence and preliminary research. However, Essiac may interact with certain medications. As such, you should consult your healthcare practitioner before supplementing with Essiac.

List of Purported Benefits

Essiac is a formulation of four botanical herbs called burdock root, sheep sorrel root, slippery elm bark and rhubarb root. Essiac has antioxidant properties and helps prevent free radical-induced damage in your body. In addition, Essiac is purported to lower blood sugar levels, prevent and treat ulcers, stimulate digestion, promote detoxification and help prevent disease. It also is used to support and boost the immune system. For this reason, HIV and AIDS patients sometimes drink it to prevent infections and maintain health.

Cancer Prevention and Treatment

Throughout the 1930's nurse Rene Cassie administered Essiac to cancer patients orally and by injection. According to NaturalNews.com website, hundreds of cancer patients were successfully treated by Essiac, which has cytotoxic properties. Preliminary research suggests that Essiac helps prevent the growth and proliferation of tumors. However, clinical trials done on Essiac as a cancer treatment have shown conflicting results. One even found that Essiac stimulated the growth of human breast cancer cells.

Burdock Root Benefits

The exact mechanism of action of Essiac is unknown, but it may be due to a synergistic effect of the four herbs. Burdock root has antioxidant, antibacterial and antifungal properties, and it has been consumed traditionally to purify the blood and liver and clear them of toxins. According to "Nursing Herbal Medicine Handbook," burdock has also been used in folk medicine as a cancer remedy. It appears to have an anti-mutagenic effect, which means it helps prevent cells in your body from mutating and becoming cancerous. The research is preliminary but some studies have found that burdock root may also help prevent the growth of tumors.

Sheep Sorrel, Slippery Elm and Rhubarb Benefits

Sheep sorrel is purported to have anti-cancer properties. In addition, sheep sorrel and rhubarb contain anthraquinones. The anthraquinones found in sheep sorrel and rhubarb as well as the fiber-like mucilage found in slippery elm stimulate the secretion of mucosa and water in the body, which is beneficial because the mucus acts as a protective agent in the body's membranes. For instance, in the gut, the mucus lubricates and protects the intestinal lining, stimulates the digestion and elimination of food, and helps prevent ulcers. In the nose, throat and lungs it acts as a barrier, preventing bacteria from penetrating the body, and thereby helps prevent infections such as colds and flu.