Essiac

Essiac or Essiac Tea is a blend of herbs used to make a tea that is believed^[1] by some and questioned by others^[2] to have cancer-treating properties. It was discovered by a Canadian nurse, Rene Caisse, who named it after her last name spelled backwards. The original formula is believed to have its roots in native Canadian Ojibwa medicine and contains greater burdock root (Arctium lappa), slippery elm inner bark (Ulmus rubra, formerly known as Ulmus fulva), sheep sorrel (Rumex acetosella), and Indian or Turkish rhubarb root (Rheum officinale)^[3].

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Caisse set up a free clinic in Bracebridge, Ontario which ran from 1934 to 1942. During that time a number of petitions were presented to the Legislature in Ontario, in 1938 calling for Rene to be allowed to practice throughout Ontario, but such permission was not granted.

One form of essiac contains eight herbs in addition to the four already mentioned: red clover, watercress, blessed thistle, and kelp. There is some debate over which formula is more effective, and which one is authentic.^{[citation needed]}

Some people take essiac tea on occasion for general health purposes or for healing of various ailments, not just cancer^{[citation needed]}. Other ailments it may possibly be used for are diabetes, immune system disorders, and liver problems^{[citation needed]}.

Rene Caisse sold her rights in Essiac to Resperin Corporation in 1977. These rights were subsequently transferred and are currently in the ownership of Essiac Products Inc. ESSIAC is a registered trade mark of Essiac Products Inc.

References

1. ^ http://theherbs.info/
2. ^ http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/cancer.html#Essiac
3. ^ www.essiacinfo.org

• ISBN 0-9620364-0-4 "Calling of an Angel" by Gary L. Glum. 1988
• ISBN 1-890941-00-X "Essiac: A Native Herbal Cancer Remedy" by Cynthia Olsen, 1998
• ISBN 0-7171-3228-5 "Essiac: The Secrets of Rene Caisse's Herbal Pharmacy" by Sheila Snow and Mali Klein, 2001
• ISBN 0-404-13262-6 "The New Medical Follies: An Encyclopedia of Cultism and Quackery in These United States" by Morris Fishbein, 1995