Irritable bowel syndrome affects as many as one in every five Americans, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. The disorder causes significant abdominal pain and cramps as well as irregularities in bowel movements. Treatments for the disorder vary significantly from prescription medications to herbal remedies. One suggested herbal remedy is Essiac tea. Discuss Essiac tea with your doctor before using it to attempt to treat any health condition.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Commonly referred to as IBS, irritable bowel syndrome is a disorder of the gastrointestinal system. As described by the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, symptoms typically include bloating, pain and cramps in the abdomen and irregular bowel movements. While some people experience predominantly constipation, others experience predominantly diarrhea. While no one cause for the disorder is known, it is suggested that poor bowel motility, poor immune system functioning, lowered levels of serotonin, stress or certain foods may play a role in the presence of the disorder.
Essiac Tea
Originally, the use of Essiac tea was suggested by a cancer patient of a Canadian nurse, Rene Caisse. A Native American shaman gave the patient the remedy, and she recovered from cancer. Rene Caisse named the remedy Essiac and began using it to treat patients. Despite her reported success, the tea was never found to have clinical benefits for treating cancer. Currently, no clinical trials have demonstrated the effectiveness of this remedy for cancer treatment or the treatment of any other disorders.
Ingredients in Essiac Tea
Originally, the tea included four ingredients, burdock root, sheep sorrel, slippery elm and turkey rhubarb. Burdock root is an herb that may help cleanse the liver, remove toxins and increase beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract. Sheep sorrel contains essential vitamins and may help boost the immune system, remove toxins and regenerate cells. Slippery elm produces a gel that coats the intestinal tract and protects it, making it useful in treating disorders such as IBS. It also helps minimize inflammation in the digestive tract and the symptoms of bowel disorders. Turkey rhubarb may be helpful in regulating diarrhea and constipation and removing toxins as well. Additional ingredients in later preparations include watercress, blessed thistle, red clover and kelp.
Benefits of Essiac Tea
Purported benefits of Essiac tea include strengthening the immune system, overcoming diarrhea and constipation, controlling cholesterol levels, cancelling out the impact of heavy metal toxins, increasing red blood cell production, cleansing the liver and reducing toxins. It has been reported that Essiac tea may help with numerous health conditions including cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome. The tea is thought to provide benefits mainly by cleansing the body and enhancing the immune system so it can fight off infection.
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