The Best Ways to Prepare Essiac

Essiac is a therapeutic combination of four herbs: burdock root, sheep sorrel, slippery elm and turkey rhubarb. It was refined and publicized as a cancer remedy by Rene Caisse, a nurse who learned the formula from Native Americans in 1922. Besides cancer, the remedy is used for diabetes and multiple sclerosis. Essiac must be properly combined and prepared.

The Herbs

• Burdock root (Arctium lappa), is known as a blood purifier; it supports the liver to eliminate toxins. Burdock is rich in vitamins, minerals and other phytochemicals that improve appetite, and may have antiviral properties.

  Rumex acetosella, also known as sheep sorrel, is purported to shrink tumors and put even metastasized cancer in remission. Aloe emodin, an anti-leukemic substance, is found in sheep sorrel roots. The whole plant is an essential ingredient in Essiac.

  The inner bark of Ulmus fulva, or slippery elm tree, is soothing to mucus membranes and has long been a favorite remedy for sore throat. It has anti-inflammatory properties and contains anti-cancer chemicals beta sitosterol and grifolan, a polysaccharide.

  Similar to garden rhubarb but less tart and having a mild laxative effect, turkey rhubarb root (Rheum palmatum) contains antioxidants that may inhibit tumor growth.

Formula Preparation

• After the death of the secretive Rene Caisse, her best friend Mary McPherson described in writing exactly how herbs for Essiac must be combined and prepared. The amounts and forms of dried herbs are listed in Ms. McPherson's affidavit as 6 1/2 cups of cut burdock root, 1 pound of powdered whole herb sheep sorrel, 1/4 pound of powdered slippery elm bark and 1 ounce of powdered Turkish rhubarb root.

  Thoroughly mix herbs and store in a tightly covered glass jar in a dry, dark cupboard. When making a therapeutic infusion, use 8 ounces of dry herb mix per 32 ounces of water. Cover and bring to a rolling boil for ten minutes and let stand overnight. In the morning, heat the mixture to steaming and allow a few minutes for plant parts to settle. Using a funnel and fine strainer, fill sterile glass jars and top with lids. Jars must be refrigerated after opening.

  Essiac infusion made this way is strong; initially a dose of only two ounces twice a day on an empty stomach is recommended. If higher doses are desired, work up to them slowly under the advice of a naturopathic physician or other health care practitioner.

Considerations

• Research done in 2004 did find that prostate cancer cells were reduced in animal studies using Essiac. Previous studies by the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City did not find any immunostimulatory or chemotherapeutic affect of Essiac in tumors and leukemia with animals. Analysis of individual herbs in Essiac found antioxidants, cytotoxins and anti-inflammatory properties that can inhibit tumor growth. Sheep sorrel, however, also contains phytoestrogens that may increase proliferation of cancer cells in certain hormone-dependent malignancies, such as breast cancer. Seek the advice of a health care professional before using herbal remedies for the treatment of these types of cancer.