Essiac tea is an herbal mixture with a long medicinal history. The original formulation is credited to a Canadian nurse by the name of Rene Caisse. Interestingly, Essiac tea was so named as it is “caisse” spelled backwards.
Like many medicinal
organic teas, Essiac tea contains a mixture of herbs. The commonly used mixture includes burdock root (Arctium lappa L.), slippery elm inner bark (Ulmus fulva Michx.), sheep sorrel (Rumex acetosella L.), and either Turkey or Indian rhubarb root (Rheum palmatum L.). It is believed this formulation has roots in the traditional medicine of Canada’s Ojibwa people. The individual elements of Essiac tea also boast a history of medicinal applications. Sheep sorrel, for example, has long been considered a traditional folk remedy in both Europe and Asia.
As is the case with many organic herbal teas used in traditional medicines, herbs featured in Essiac tea are believed to work in conjugation to promote health. Some feel Essiac tea may be helpful in strengthening the immune system, detoxifying the body and relieving pain. In addition, some feel the organic tea’s properties may be useful in fighting cancers as well as diseases effecting the immune system. Rene Caisse, in fact, long used Essiac tea in her clinic in Bracebridge, Ontario where she treated critically and terminally-ill cancer patients.
Essiac tea is best used in loose form. As such, use of
tea strainers for herbs is the best method of preparation, allowing the herbal components to steep without infiltrating the tea with excess matter.
