Description: Essiac® was developed in the 1920s by Rene Caisse, a Canadian nurse, who claimed that her tea was an old Native American recipe. It contains four botanicals: burdock root, sheep sorrel, slippery elm, and rhubarb. Rhubarb and sheep sorrel contain compounds that stimulate peristalsis and mucous secretion, which may aid digestion. In laboratory experiments, rhubarb has been seen to suppress activity of part of the immune system and cause tumor death in mice, but these effects have not been shown in humans. Burdock root has been shown to lower blood sugar in animals. Scientists are uncertain how the combination of these botanicals acts in the human body, or if the amount of each in the prepared tea would be enough to elicit a biological response

Main constituents: See individual herbs

Properties: See individual herbs

Uses:To treat cancer
Rhubarb, one ingredient of Essiac®, causes tumor cell death in laboratory mice, but these results are not always transferable to the human body. There is no proof from clinical trials to support this use.

To stimulate the immune system
In laboratory studies, rhubarb, one ingredient of Essiac®, suppresses activity of part of the immune system, but these results are not always transferable to the human body. There is no proof from clinical trials to support this use.

Safety Considerations: DO NOT TAKE IF, You have kidney or liver problems or You are undergoing chemotherapy (In a single case report, levels of a chemotherapy drug were increased in the blood of a patient also taking Essiac®, with the potential for increased toxicity. This may be due to an inhibition of metabolism of the chemotherapy drug in the liver. Take with caution and ask your oncologist.)

SIDE EFFECTS: Nausea and vomiting, Diarrhea (Note: excessive diarrhea may cause abnormally low levels of potassium in the blood), Contact dermatitis (redness and inflammation of the skin), Anaphylactic shock (severe allergic reaction) has been reported after use of Essiac®.

Magical:

Folk Names: See individual herbs

Gender: See individual herbs

Planet:See individual herbs

Powers: See individual herbs

Uses: See individual herbs

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