Indigenous people were some of the first users of herbal teas for boosting health and well-being. Such is the case for essiac tea, which was used by the indigenous Ojibwa tribe of Canada. It wasn’t until 1922 that essiac tea became known, after a female nurse from Ontario named Rene Caisse reportedly obtained the recipe from the tribe.
Essiac, which is Caisse spelled backward,1 was then administered to the nurse's cancer patients, some of whom exhibited promising results. Because of this "breakthrough," essiac tea was promoted for mainstream use to the rest of North America. However, there was pushback from the medical establishment due to a lack of clinical drug trials, so, under U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidelines, it remains an unregulated supplement.2
Keep reading this article if you're curious about essiac tea's health benefits and how you can make your own essiac tea at home. You’ll also learn about the risk of potential side effects.
What Is Essiac Tea?
Essiac tea is an herbal remedy that originated from Canada. There are four herbs, which must be organic, that are typically used to make essiac tea: burdock root, sheep sorrel, slippery elm and Indian rhubarb root.
Essiac tea is available in powder form or as a liquid that can be mixed with water. Manufacturers say that you can take this tea for one to two years.3 When drinking essiac tea, dosages must be tailored carefully for your condition, because excessive amounts can cause negative side effects.
Essiac Tea’s Health Benefits
A 2007 article published in the journal Anticancer Research noted that essiac tea offered antioxidant, immunostimulant and anti-inflammatory capabilities. For starters, essiac tea appeared to have greater antioxidant activity compared to red wine, green and black tea, and cocoa. Researchers noted that it “exhibited significant immunomodulatory effects, specifically through stimulation of granulocyte phagocytosis, increases in CD8+ cell activation, and moderately inhibiting inflammatory pathways.”4
Essiac tea has also been noted for its potential in helping combat cancer because of the herbs in this drink, mainly:
Sheep sorrel — According to the book “A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs of Eastern and Central North America,” this antioxidant-rich herb5 may assist with targeting cancer cells and lowering risk of cancer development.6
Burdock root — Animal studies showed that burdock root has apoptotic effects on cancerous cells,7,8 and that a compound called benzaldehyde found in the root helped inhibit tumor prevention in animals.9
Indian rhubarb root — It not only has anti-inflammatory properties,10 but its extract is said to have anticancer properties.11
Slippery elm — This may aid in reducing inflammation,12 detoxifying the body,13 helping soothe respiratory infections and cutting through phlegm and mucus.14,15
Take note that while some studies on essiac tea have yielded positive results, modern medical practitioners remain skeptical about calling essiac tea a “cure” for cancer.16
Nutrition Facts of Essiac Tea
There isn’t sufficient information regarding the nutrition content of freshly brewed essiac tea without consulting nutrition databases of the individual herbs used to make the tea. Therefore the nutrition value will vary depending on the herbs used to make the tea, and how much of each herb is used.
Caffeine Content in Essiac Tea
Unlike other types of teas, essiac tea doesn’t caffeine, even in trace amounts.17
How to Make Essiac Tea Using the Traditional Recipe
An interesting fact about essiac tea is that the original formulation is still kept secret after being sold to a private company.18 Most researchers have debated on the amounts actually needed to make a batch of this tea, although the most common recommendations include:19
1.5 pounds burdock root
1 pound powdered sheep sorrel
1/4 pound slippery elm
1 pound rhubarb root (some recipes use Turkish rhubarb root)
When using fresh herbs, make sure that they are all certified organic. The website Essiac Facts provides some guidelines on selecting the best herbs for essiac tea:20
Sheep sorrel — Considered the most important of these herbs, purchase sheep sorrel that’s been harvested in the late spring (May to mid-June) before its flowers open.
Burdock root — It must be purchased and chopped fresh. Dried burdock root tends to become hard and difficult to chop.
Slippery elm — Its inner bark is best bought powdered.
Indian rhubarb root — You may buy rhubarb root in small pieces or powdered form.
Aside from these herbs, you'll need these tools to make essiac tea:21
Two glass or stainless steel pots (one with lid)
Stainless steel fine mesh strainer
Large stainless steel or wood stirring utensil
Stainless steel funnel or 2-cup glass measuring cup
Dark amber glass bottles with air-tight caps, or Mason jars with air-tight lids (for storage)
Refrain from using pots made of aluminum and copper, or those coated with Teflon, because the tea can react with these materials. Use just one pan for making essiac tea. If you have to use different pots, thoroughly scrub and sterilize them by filling with warm water, boiling with the lid on for 10 minutes and pouring out the water afterward.22
Now that you have your herbs and materials ready, you can make essiac tea by following these steps suggested by “Essiac: A Native Herbal Cancer Remedy:”
https://articles.mercola.com/teas/essiac-tea.aspx
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Originally posted by Elen
“El revolucionario: te meteré la bota en el culo"
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