Essiac: From Folk Roots to Evidence-Based Knowledge

Essiac is unique by being a herbal remedy whose historical roots date far back into indigenous folk herbalism while at the same time being backed in modern science.

From traditional use among Canada’s indigenous population to widespread
popularization by Canadian nurse Rene Caisse to being used and disputed in
Canadian clinics and universities, Essiac has seen it all.

Although the traditional knowledge and history of Essiac have their place and importance, we are now entering an era of Essiac as an evidence-based herbal remedy.

This is exactly what makes Essiac so hard to characterize—it’s a bridge
between the old and new. Herbalism fans tend to be distanced from modern
Essiac research while people taking an evidence-based approach tend to be
wary of its “alternative” label.

By acknowledging Essiac’s past and diving deep into the science behind it, we are able to see this remedy for what it is:
a complex herbal formulation with tremendous health potential.

The Four Foundational Herbs on Essiac.

Essiac® is a botanical formulation of four herbs. It was popularized in the 1920s by the Canadian nurse Rene Caisse (Essiac is Caisse spelled backward) It is believed that Caisse obtained the formula from a patient who allegedly cured her breast cancer with the mixture, which she learned about from an Ojibwa healer.

The Ojibwa (Anishinaabe) are an Indigenous people in Canada and the United States with a rich history of traditional medicine. Proponents claim that Essiac can help detoxify the body, strengthen the immune system, and produce a positive inflammation response, and reduce oxidative stress.

Researchers have identified antioxidant and immune-balancing compounds in Essiac and its individual herbs. However, few clinical trials have been published.

Essiac’s Herbal Components:

1. Burdock root (Artium lappa)

2. Sheep sorrel (Rumex acetosella)

3. Slippery elm inner bark (Ulmus rubra)

4. Indian or Turkey rhubarb root (Rheum officinale Baillon/Rheum
palmatum L.)

Published Peer- Reviewed Essiac Research

Following her “discovery”, Caisse attracted the attention of medical doctors and health authorities over the next couple of decades.

However, it wasn’t until the mid-70s that the first research studies on Essiac took place While case reports and small human studies suggest potential benefits, clinical evidence supporting Essiac’s effectiveness is still lacking.

Notable studies include animal studies on Essiac published in 2018 and on roundworms and 5 cancer cell lines was published in 2021 (Kabeel et al., 2018; Ruiz et al.,2021 )

Takeaway

Studies confirm that Essiac contains antioxidants, nutrients, and other active compounds that support a healthy immune response and good digestion. Future research should include randomized controlled trials to assess the health effects and safety of Essiac in an evidence-based manner.

Visit www.essiac.com to get “A Patient’s Guide to Essiac” or click in this link to direct Download

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