Many natural health experts believe that essiac, or four-herb tea, is a cure for cancer. Its ingredients (burdock root, sheep's sorrel, turkey rhubarb, and slippery elm) are even used separately by healers and herbalists to treat other conditions and diseases other than cancer.
Originally, four-herb tea is said to have been an eight-herb tea given to Rene Caisse's former patient by a Native American medicine man. Caisse omitted three ingredients immediately for unknown reasons, keeping a fourth, golden thread, for some patients. Golden thread is quickly disappearing in North America due to its habitat being destroyed by modernization even though this herb is a pure bitter and is very helpful in a cleansing, healing treatment.
The Ingredients Omitted from Today's Essiac
The other three ingredients that were discarded early on were red clover, watercress and periwinkle. All three of these herbs have a healthy, cleansing effect on the body in one way or another.
Red clover is generally thought of as an alterative and is used to reduce swelling of glands, tumors and other growths. Although safe for most people, red clover can thin the blood and should not be used by people with low blood pressure, on blood thinners or when pregnant. Red clover's blood thinning properties might be one reason for its omission from today's essiac blend.
Watercress contains significantly high amounts of iodine, iron, calcium, folic acid, and vitamins A and C. This aquatic herb acts a stimulant, diuretic and an antioxidant. Most commonly used to fight lung cancer, watercress is also used to aid sufferers of hypothyroidism due to its high iodine content.
Periwinkle is commonly used to clarify liquor and tan leather but its health benefits outstrip either of these abilities. Known to possess laxative, hypotensive, antibiotic, antibacterial, and analgesic properties, periwinkle has been used to aid memory, prevent cancer, treat headaches and constipation, and improve blood circulation.
Caisse's Decoction Recipe
This recipe is for a one year supply of essiac decoction.
- 6 1/2 c. burdock root chopped finely
- 1 pound sheep's sorrel powdered
- 1/4 pound slippery elm bark powdered
- 1 ounce turkey rhubarb root powdered
Mix ingredients thoroughly. When storing the herb mix, they should be kept in an air tight, glass container and kept in a cool, dark place.
Use one cup of herb mix per two gallons of distilled water, giving 224 liquid ounces of essiac tea.
Pour water into pot and bring to a rolling boil, stir ingredients into boiling water and boil for 10 minutes. Turn off the heat and stir mixture thoroughly before replacing the lid and letting the mixture sit over night or for 10 to 12 hours. The ending result should be pale to mid-brown, never dark brown. If the mixture is bright green, this is due to the burdock root and is not a cause for alarm.
To bottle, reheat till the mix is steaming hot but do not boil again. The decoction should never be boiled a second time. Take off heat and allow time for the herbs to settle before pouring the mix through a sieve to catch sediment, and funneling into sterilized glass jars or bottles. Allow bottled decoction to cool before placing the lids.
There are other recipes for creating essiac; however, they are without the background and history that Caisse's recipe has nor are they part of the Canadian essiac trademark. Essiac herbs are also available today in tincture form where the herbs are concentrated with alcohol.
Most essiac or four-herb tea recipes agree that the tea should always be made with certified organic herbs and should never be made in an aluminum, copper or Teflon-coated pot, preferring ceramic or stainless steel. Most also agree that the tea should be refrigerated and/or stored in amber glass bottles as the ingredients are somewhat light sensitive.
Essiac should be taken on an empty stomach, always before eating, one to three times a day; three times for serious conditions, twice for chronic, and once for maintenance.
Since essiac has many detoxifying properties, many herbalists and natural healers recommend that it be taken with plenty of spring water. Some herbalists, like Marijah McCain of Herbal Healer Academy, may recommend other herbs with essiac depending on the condition of the patient (i.e. dandelion for liver disorders or St. John's Wort for those chronically depressed due to their condition).
December Fields - I am a student of herbalism, aromatherapy, alternative health, alternative subculture, and life. I Chose Health ...
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