No clinical evidence exists to verify the efficacy or necessity of using Essiac herbal tea as a treatment for cancer. Essiac tea is a method of alternative medicine purported to strengthen the immune system, cleanse the blood, promote cell repair and eliminate toxins from the body. It is used as an alternative treatment for cancer as well as AIDS, diabetes and gastrointestinal disease. Consult your doctor before trying to prevent or treat any cancer with Essiac tea.
Use
Essiac herbal tea is also marketed under names such as Flor Essence, Tea of Life and Vitalitea. The American Cancer Society reports that preparation and dosage of Essiac tea vary by manufacturer, but a typical dose is 1 oz., taken up to three times a day. Essiac tea should be taken two hours before or after a meal. Treatment can last up to two years.
History
In 1922, Rene Caisse, a public health nurse from Ontario, Canada, began utilizing herbal tea containing burdock root, Indian rhubarb root, sheep sorrel and slippery elm, as a treatment for cancer patients. She got the idea from a patient who explained that taking an Indian herbal tea cured her of breast cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. Caisse named the tea "Essiac" by spelling her last name backward.
Marketing
Essiac tea is marketed as a dietary supplement, not a drug. Manufacturers of dietary supplements do not need to report detailed test results, health benefits or safety concerns to the Food and Drug Administration in order to sell their products because of the loophole that their products are not marketed as drugs or tested as drugs, according to the National Cancer Institute. However, manufacturers cannot claim that their supplements are a cure or a method of prevention or treatment for a specific health condition.
Warning
The American Cancer Society recommends speaking with your doctor before taking Essiac tea to ensure that the tea will not interact with any medications you may be taking. Side effects of Essiac tea include nausea, vomiting, kidney damage, low blood sugar, liver damage, frequent urination, increased bowel movements, slight headaches and skin blemishes. Using Essiac tea as your sole treatment for cancer or avoiding conventional medical care can be dangerous or fatal.
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