What is Essiac Tea?

Essiac Tea

Also known as: Essiac, Flor Essence, Tea of Life, Herbal Essence, Vitalitea, Medicine Man Tea, Ojibway Tea, and others.

Description

Essiac is a mixture of powdered herbs that are combined to make a blend which is then brewed as a tea and consumed. The original formula included burdock root (Arctium lappa), slippery elm inner bark (Ulmus fulva), sheep sorrel (Rumex acetosella), and rhubarb root (Rheum palmatum). Watercress (Nasturtium officinale), blessed thistle (Cnicus benedictus), red clover (Trifolium pratense), and kelp (Laminaria digitata) were added to later recipes to enhance the effectiveness of the mixture.

Overview

Some of the specific herbs contained in the essiac mixture have shown anti-cancer effects in laboratory experiments.

What is it commonly used for?

Many users claim that essiac tea strengthens the immune system, improves well being, relieves pain, increases appetite, reduces tumor size, and extends survival. Some also claim that it cleanses the blood, promotes cell repair, restores energy levels, and detoxifies the body. The different herbs are thought to relieve inflammation, lubricate bones and joints, stimulate the stomach, and eliminate excess mucous in organs, tissues, lymph glands, and nerve channels.

It was originally thought that essiac tea might work by changing tumors into normal tissue. Proponents claimed a tumor would become larger and harder after a few doses of essiac, then it would soften, shrink, and be discharged by the body.

Essiac is also sometimes used to treat acquired immunodificiency syndrome (AIDS) and a variety of digestive system problems.

What does it consist of?

Essiac is available in dry and liquid formulas (though we sell only the powdered blend here, believing it to be more economical and potent), and there are different methods of preparation and dosage according to various manufacturers. Some recommend spring or non-fluoridated water, and most require refrigeration after brewing. A typical dose is 1 ounce taken 1 to 3 times per day. Practitioners advise that essiac tea should be taken on an empty stomach, 2 hours before or after meals for at least 1 to 2 years.

Essiac tea is commonly sold as a dietary supplement in the United States and as a health tonic in Canada.

What is the history behind essiac?

In 1922, a nurse named Rene Caisse from Ontario, Canada learned about essiac from one of her patients. This patient claimed to have recovered from her breast cancer by taking an Indian herbal tea developed by an Ojibwa medicine man.

Nurse Caisse obtained the recipe and reportedly treated her aunt's stomach cancer with the tea.

In 1924, Rene opened a clinic and began to offer cancer patients treatment with her herbal formula, which she named essiac (her last name spelled backwards). She treated thousands of patients using her secret formula both as a tea and as an injection.

Caisse gave her formula to a manufacturer in Toronto in 1977, one year before her death, with the intent of having it tested and sold for a reasonable cost. Unfortunately this testing was never completed.

What is the evidence?

Although there have been many positive testimonials, there have been no clinical trials testing the effectiveness of essiac.

Some components of essiac have been tested individually in test tube and animal studies. Some of these studies identified substances with anti-tumor or anti-inflammatory properties.

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