| The healing benefits of essiac tea have been a | | | | blend. In spite of their efforts, the medical community |
| controversial topic for over 90 years. Drinking essiac | | | | refused to acknowledge the success of essiac tea as |
| herbal tea as a treatment for cancer or in | | | | a treatment against cancer. |
| conjunction with chemotherapy and radiation | | | | More on the Essiac Tea Controversy. Is Essiac Herbal |
| continues to be a very controversial subject today. | | | | Tea for Cancer Treatment and Prevention Effective? |
| If you are not familiar with the benefits of this herbal | | | | U.S. National Institute of Health, in 2008, reported |
| tea, let me explain about this alternative treatment | | | | that "there is not enough evidence to recommend |
| that many holistic practitioners recommend for many | | | | for or against the use of essiac herbal tea mixture as |
| forms of cancer. This tea is a blend of four herbs; | | | | a therapy for any type of cancer." The report went |
| burdock root (arctium lappa), turkey rhubarb root | | | | on to say that "none of the individual herbs in this |
| (rheum palmatum), sheep sorrel (rumex acetosella), | | | | herbal tea blend have been studied and tested in |
| and the inner bark of slippery elm (ulmus fulva or | | | | extensive human cancer trials." |
| ulmus rubra). | | | | This four herb blend is presently being considered as |
| In the early 1900's a young Canadian nurse, Rene | | | | a "Phase III cancer treatment". This means that it is |
| Caisse was treating patients with cancer. She met an | | | | a strong enough treatment to assist in fighting the |
| elderly female that had been diagnosed with | | | | more moderately advanced cancers, but not strong |
| advanced stage breast cancer. This woman was | | | | enough to be utilized for the treatment of later |
| recovering in spite of her poor prognosis. Her secret | | | | stages of cancer. Of course, this does not mean that |
| was an herbal tea given to her by an Ojibwa Indian | | | | future research will not advance the level of this |
| healer. Nurse Caisse was so impressed she started to | | | | herbal tea to first line of treatment if results prove it |
| investigate others that had tried this tea to fight | | | | a worthy opponent against cancer. |
| cancer. She found that this tea had significant healing | | | | It is important to note that this herb blend is all |
| powers. | | | | natural and does not contain any preservatives. It is |
| The important ingredients in this herbal blend are: | | | | important that any individual that starts treating |
| - Sheep sorrel | | | | themselves with essiac tea, should consult their |
| - Burdock root | | | | physician. Herbs, just like any medication, can cause |
| - Turkey rhubarb root | | | | adverse reactions or interact with other medications. |
| - Slippery elm Nurse Caisse spent the next 50 years | | | | Just because it is an all natural product, does not |
| treating others with this tea. The sheep sorrel and | | | | mean that it is safe when mixed with other |
| the burdock root are the ingredients that have been | | | | chemicals. |
| found to kill cancer cells. The turkey rhubarb root and | | | | If you are an individual that is receiving traditional |
| the slippery elm bark help enhance and boost the | | | | cancer treatments, you may discuss how essiac tea |
| immune system. | | | | may be used in combination to enhance your |
| Nurse Caisse treated both her mother and her aunt | | | | treatment. |
| with essiac tea, as both were diagnosed with late | | | | While the medical community and the public debate |
| stage forms of cancer. Both survived and lived into | | | | the pros and cons of essiac tea, keep in mind that |
| their 90's after being successfully treated with this | | | | both sides have validity. The jury is still out on the |
| herbal blend. Many cancer patients sought this | | | | benefits of this type of tea. Herbalists consider this |
| treatment as a last effort to overcome their cancer. | | | | to be a very healthy drink that it good for your |
| Many were noted to be rid of their cancer after their | | | | body, whether it prevents cancer or not.. It must be |
| treatment with essiac. | | | | left up to you to be the judge of Essiac tea in |
| In 1938, many prominent physicians in Canada | | | | regard to your own health. |
| supported legalization of Nurse Caisses' herbal tea | | | | |