Essiac Tea

What is essiac tea?

Essiac tea is prepared from essiac, an herbal mixture comprising of burdock root, sheep sorrel, slippery elm inner bark, and Indian rhubarb root or Turkey rhubarb root. The other mixtures may also comprise of red clover, watercress, kelp, and blessed thistle  Due to the health-boosting properties of its individual ingredients, it is believed to be beneficial for improving several health conditions.

History and origin

Long back, a Canadian Ojibwa healer prepared essiac and used it for purification of the body. It was only after 1920 that the herbal mixture started gaining popularity. It was named after Rene Caisse, a Canadian nurse responsible for promoting the herbal drink as an anti-cancer treatment.

Essiac tea health benefits: What is it good for

For cancer

As the herbal infusion is claimed to have immune-boosting properties, its consumption might be useful for lowering the risk of cancer. Moreover, it may have the potential to reduce the growth of cancerous tumors, manage weight loss issues at later stages of cancer, and minimize some of the side effects of chemotherapy. However, there are no specific scientific studies, supporting these benefits.

For the digestive system

The mucilage, one of the components of slippery elm inner bark, might help in improving bowel movements, thereby cleansing the colon. It has also been shown to promote the growth of useful bacteria in the intestine that aids in digestion. As the herbal drink facilitates smooth passage of stools, neutralizing the stomach acids, its consumption may soothe the gastrointestinal tract, reducing ulcers and heartburn.

Detoxifying properties

In addition to counteracting the effects of lead and mercury poisoning, its detoxifying effects maintain the oxalic acid levels in the kidneys, removing the potassium and calcium oxalates from the body, lowering the risk of stone formation. As it improves the functioning of kidneys, liver, and urinary bladder, it has a positive impact on the pancreas as well, stimulating the normal secretion of insulin, thereby controlling diabetes.

Besides cleansing the blood, the herbal decoction may help in boosting the production of red blood cells.

Additional health benefits of essiac tea

Essiac tea is believed to have the following benefits, but there are not enough scientific evidence to support them.

• Accelerating healing of wounds
• Promoting production of antibodies for a strong immune system
• Increasing the body’s capacity to absorb oxygen, helping the cells and tissue work better
• Enhancing appetite
• Boosting mood
• Maintaining normal blood cholesterol levels
• Boosting the energy levels by helping in fat and sugar metabolism
• Clearing the respiratory system by expelling mucus
• Alleviating joint inflammation and stiffness due to its pain-relieving properties
• Strengthening muscles and tissues
• Increasing the flexibility of bones, ligaments, and joints for protection from stress injury
• Stimulating the central nervous system
• Preventing unnecessary accumulation of fats in the kidneys, liver, heart and arteries

How to make essiac tea

As it takes 10-12 hours to steep the herbal decoction, it is better to make multiple servings for regular use. Having a shelf life of 2-3 weeks makes essiac tea ideal for long-term storage. The following step by step procedure is for making 1 gallon of the herbal drink.

• Boil 1 gallon of water in a pot
• Pour 1/2 cup of dried essiac tea herbs into the pot, cover, and boil for 10 minutes
• Let it steep for 12 hours at room temperature
• Reheat the mixture but do not boil it
• Allow the tea to settle down for few minutes
• Use funnel and strainer to pour off the liquid from the pot into a canning jar
• Cover the jar with lid and let it cool prior to storing in the refrigerator

If you are taking less water, make sure to decrease the amount of the tea leaves according to the amount of water.

How to drink

Dilute 1 ounce (30 ml) of the herbal decoction in 2 ounces (60 ml) of warm water and have it.

Safety and Precautions

Side effects

Having the recommended amount of essiac tea does not cause any adverse effects. However, its overconsumption has been linked to nausea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, and allergic reactions.

During pregnancy

Pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers are generally advised to avoid its consumption.

Where to buy

Essiac tea and tea bags can be purchased from any herbal tea shop or online retail store.