Essiac Tea

Essiac tea is an herbal tea that was named after the Canadian nurse, Renée Caisse (Essiac is Caisse backwards).

Essiac History
A traditional Native American doctor or healer in Ontario, Canada had reputedly treated the patient with the special herbal brew. The tea is thus presumed to have come from native Ojibway medicine, and all the herbs it contains are found in the Ontario region growing wild.

Essiac today
Nurse Caisse never published the exact formula for Essiac tea, so the exact original formula is impossible to verify. Furthermore, there are restrictions on the marketing and sale of Essiac tea in the US and Canada. Several companies sell Essiac tea, but the authenticity of their formulas should be checked carefully.

The tea
All the ingredients of Essiac tea can be found in the Canadian wilds. The four main ingredients are commonly: Burdock root, Slippery elm, Sorrel and Indian Rhubarb. Together it is claimed that these herbs can help to balance the body by purging and purifying the blood, ridding the system of toxins and aiding the reparation of cells.

Cautions
Some studies have found that Burdock root can be poisonous in high concentrations – you should always consult your health practitioner before starting to use herbal or any other treatments. In particular, pregnant or nursing women should check before embarking on a course of treatment. While there is much anecdotal evidence of the positive effects of Essiac tea on patients, there have been no clinical studies to prove the effects of the tea. You should also try to verify the quality and source of the tea – some suppliers may be more reliable than others.