The 4 Essiac Herbs

http://www.algotto.com/herbs.htm
http://essiac-info.org
The 4 Essiac Herbs
Burdock Root (Arctium lappa)

Sheep Sorrel (Rumex acetosella)
Slippery Elm Bark (Ulmus fulva)

Turkey Rhubarb (Rheum palmatum)

Montana yew tips also is used in the 4 herbal tea the Montana yew tips is used in treating cancer and a host of other things. It is safe to use with chemo and radition any one can look this up on google. It takes 13 hours to make and bottle.

BURDOCK ROOT (Arctium lappa)
The burdock is a member of the thistle family and is a common pasture weed throughout North America that prefers damp soils. It grows to more than 3 feet tall and is also called Personata, Happy Major, Lappa, Fox's Clote, Thorny Burr, Beggar's Buttons, Cockle Buttons and Philanthropium.
The roots, young stems and seeds of the Burdock plant are edible. Young stalks are boiled to be eaten like asparagus, raw stems and young leaves are eaten in salads. Parts of the Burdock plant are eaten in China, Hawaii and among the Native American cultures of this continent.

It is the root of the Burdock plant that is harvested for folk medicinal use. The roots are about an inch wide but up to three feet long. The roots should be harvested in the fall of the first year or the spring of the second. Later during the second year the plant produces.

Burdock root contains vitamins B complex and E. Trace minerals are potassium, phosphorous, chromium, cobalt, iron, magnesium, silicon, zinc and sodium. It provides inulin, a helpful sugar for diabetics and hypoglycemics because it does not elicit rapid insulin production.

Both European and Chinese herbalists have long considered burdock root's

"lightly warming, moistening effect" an excellent tonic for the lungs and liver. It reportedly stimulates toxic waste through the skin and urine, improving digestion. The Chinese use Burdock Root as an aphrodisiac, tonic and rejuvenator. Some say it is good against arthritis and rheumatism.

The anecdotal beneficial effects of this herb includes increasing circulation to the skin, helping to detoxify the epidermal tissues. It has been used in treating psoriasis and acne, among other skin conditions. Burdock root has been reported to destroy bacteria and fungus cultures.

Anti-tumor properties have also been reported. Burdock is one of the finest blood purifiers in the herbal system. It is classified as an alterative, diuretic and diaphoretic. It helps the kidneys to filter out impurities from the blood very quickly. It clears congestion in respiratory, lymphatic, urinary and circulatory systems.

SHEEP SORREL (Rumex acetosella)
Common names are field sorrel, red top sorrel, sour grass and dog eared sorrel. It is a hardy perennial, and is much smaller than either French or Garden Sorrel. Is often tinged a deep red hue especially towards the end of the summer. It grows to about a foot high. It has narrow sharp pointed leaves and spikes of green flowers turning to red. Flowers in late spring.
Sheep sorrel grows wild in most parts of the world except the tropics.

Abundant in Canada and Britain, it is considered a common weed in the U.S. and thrives with little moisture in acidic soils. Do not buy or harvest more than a year's supply of Sheep Sorrel, as it loses it potency when stored longer. Fresh dry Sheep Sorrel will be green in color and have an aroma of sweet grass. To grow your own Sheep sorrel, there are seed sources on the internet and the seeds are inexpensive (200 seeds cost $3.00 or less).

Sheep Sorrel is high in vitamins A, B complex, C, D, K and E and the minerals include significant levels of calcium, iron, silicon, magnesium, sulphur, zinc, manganese, iodine and copper. Sheep Sorrel also contains beta carotene and chlorophyll; citric, malic, oxalic, tannic and tartaric acids and it is rich in potassium oxalate. Because of the oxalic acid it contains, Sheep Sorrel is sometimes not recommended for people who have a history of kidney stones. For more information, see discussion and opinions about this.

Young Sheep Sorrel leaves were popular as a cooking dressing and as an addition to salads in France several hundred years ago. Indians also use Sheep Sorrel leaves as a tasty seasoning for meat dishes and also baked it into their breads. In early days it was of use against scurvy.

Sorrel plants have been a folk remedy for cancer for centuries both in Europe and Asia, more recently in North America. Alleged to break down tumors and alleviate some chronic conditions and degenerative diseases, it is an astringent and diuretic. It has been anecdotally reported to be a fever reducer, aid digestion, relieve stomach hemorrhage and jaundice.

There are no scientific studies that prove Sheep Sorrel does anything of benefit for any health condition.

SLIPPERY ELM (Ulmus fulva)
This elm tree is part of the Ulmaceae family; other members include nettles. It is a stately tree that reaches 60 feet. Its trunk bark is brown, but its branch bark is whitish. Its leaves are broad, rough, hairy on both sides, toothed, and the leaf buds are covered with a dense yellow wool. The flowers are stalkless. This tree is also known as red elm, moose elm, or Indian elm. It is a favorite shade and ornamental tree. It is found throughout Canada and the U.S.
The pinkish white inner bark of the tree contains the tree's healing properties. Slippery elm bark can be purchased in cut or powdered form from an herb supply house. Don't harvesting it yourself because Slippery Elm is close to becoming an endangered tree species.

Slippery elm bark contains, as its primary ingredient, a mucilage, as well as quantities of gallic acid, phenols, starches, sugars, vitamins A, B complex, C, K and P. It contains large amounts of calcium, magnesium, and sodium, as well as lesser amounts of chromium and selenium, and trace amounts of iron, phosphorous, silicon and zinc. The powder should be light beige.

According to herbalists, the powdered bark can be used as a nutritious drink for those with inflammatory bowel disease, or for bronchitis. It is healing and soothing to mucous membranes. Slippery elm's calcium content makes it a good calmative medicine for those with emotional or nervous problems. As a tonic it is known for its ability to soothe and strengthen the organs, tissues and mucous membranes, especially the lungs and stomach.

According to some herbalists, an antibiotic and anti-microbial effect has also been reported along with an ability to remove toxins from the body; therefore, it promotes faster healing of cuts, burns, ulcers and wounds. It is alleged to revitalize the entire body.

Allergic reactions are possible. Otherwise, the medical literature contains no reports of slippery elm causing harm. Again, use only reliable sources, it would be best to purchase this herb because the novice could kill a tree by stripping off bark carelessly. Note: sometimes the powdered commercial product is adulterated with flour or other starchy substances which create a gravy-like decoction, so beware.

TURKEY RHUBARB (Rheum palmatum)
Rhubarb is commonly used for pies, jams and as stewed rhubarb. Its red, bittersweet stems are found in supermarket produce shelves each spring and many people have it in their backyards. The Turkey Rhubarb is a member of the rhubarb family with roots which have a particularly strong and desirable potency.
The leaves of the Turkey Rhubarb are somewhat rough. The root is thick, of an oval shape, sending off long, tapering branches. Externally it is brown, internally a deep yellow color. It has a long thick root, brownish on the outside and full of reddish veins inside, similar to Garden Rhubarb. It flowers early to midsummer. It is also known as East Indian Rhubarb or China Rhubarb and has been used in China for more than 2,000 years.

Turkey Rhubarb must be purchased because its natural habitat is in China and Tibet. Rene Caisse preferred this variety to the common rhubarb because its medicinal properties were stronger and the taste less bitter.



The Turkey Rhubarb root contains vitamin A, many of the B complex, C, and P; calcium, chlorine, copper, iodine, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorous, potassium, silicon, sodium, sulfur, and zinc.

The rhubarb root exerts a gentle laxative action by stimulating the secretion of bile into the intestines. It also stimulates the gall duct to expel toxic waste matter, thus purging the body of waste bile and food. As a result, it is alleged that the liver is cleansed and chronic liver problems are relieved. In small doses, the powdered root is an astringent and checks diarrhea, but in larger doses it irritates the colon causing the bowels to evacuate (diarrhea).

If diarrhea or abdominal discomfort develops, contact a qualified health practitioner. It may be necessary to either lower the dosage until the body adjusts to it, or stop taking it.

Side Effects of this herbal medicine

Possible Side Effects and Cautions About Taking Essiac Tea

Compiled by Anne Harris, former owner of essiac-info.org

Essiac products containing four or more herbs are generally regarded as being benign concerning side effects, except for standard caution that anyone pregnant or nursing should not use it (which applies to any dietary herbal supplement). People react differently to pharmaceuticals and dietary supplements, while some users experience adverse side effects, other users have no problems. The "Possible Side Effects and Cautions About Taking Essiac Tea" are possible, not probable.

Cynthia Olsen says in Essiac, A Native Herbal Cancer Remedy, 2nd Edition page 61,

Though side effects are rare when taking Essiac, there are three general ones:

nausea and/or indigestion, generally caused by eating or drinking too soon before or after drinking the tea, severe intestinal or digestive discomfort, caused principally because as toxins dissolve, the body tries to eliminate them quickly, an increase in the size of an existing tumor, caused by the metastasized cells gathering at the original site, before the tumor softens and reduces in size.
Sheila Snow says in her book Essence of Essiac on page 48,
Here are three possible causes of adverse reactions:

A full stomach of undigested food or consuming beverage just before taking the remedy, especially tea or coffee.
Waste materials build up in the body, it attempts to eliminate them all at once. This could create extreme discomfort in the digestive tract, occasionally to the point of vomiting.

A tumor may increase in size (as metastasized cells are gathered to original site) and could cause a blockage in some vulnerable area of the body before it softens and reduces in size.

"When any discomfort occurred, Rene always cautioned her patients to stop taking the decoction for several days until they felt better. Then they were told to begin again with just half an ounce every other day and gradually to increase the dose to one ounce each day. This usually corrected the problem."

Water Intake
Observations by essiac-info.org are that diarrhea, a mysterious lower-back kidney ache, flu-like symptoms or upset stomach may be caused by too high a dose and not drinking enough water.
Anyone taking Essiac should increase their water intake, based on the alleged "detoxification" properties of essiac, which is the release of toxins from tissues and blood, excreting them via the intestinal and urinary tracts. According to this theory, the toxins must be diluted as they are released from the body tissues or they become concentrated -- and you end up not feeling well. Hence, the advice to drink three of four quarts of plain water daily if you are taking Essiac tea. Soda pop, juice, tea, coffee (which is diuretic) and other beverages do not count in that amount.

Allergy
You may be allergic to one (or more) of the Essiac herbs if you become itchy, developing some itchy rash areas on your body, even itchy runny eyes, and / or you come down with an unaccountable case of hay-fever symptoms with sneezing, runny nose and eyes. Sheep sorrel is thought to be the allergen, according to Mali Klein (who happens to be slightly allergic to it). Try cutting dosage way down or stop taking Essiac for a while or stop altogether. Some people who take too much Essiac for too long a time may become finally very allergic to it. Case in point, the compiler of this page (grin) -- finally very allergic!
My opinion: if you have NO allergy-symptoms so far from taking Essiac, stick to a reasonable dosage. "Reasonable dosage" ranges from a minimum of one ounce per day to a maximum of no more than six ounces tea per day. Use minimum dose if you are just using Essiac tea as a tonic - use more tea up to the maximum dose only for "serious medical conditions".

When I owned essiac-info.org, I tried as many products and recipes as I could, one at a time for a few weeks each, following recommended maximum dosage (stupidly). In 1999, an Essiac recipe called "Medicine Wheel" initiated my allergic reactions.

Diarrhea
According to Chris Corpening R.N. (A Nurse's Herbal Tea),
"Diarrhea has been the main side effect I have seen, although it is not a common side effect. Gastrointestinal discomfort has also been reported to me on various occasions. According to herbal literature, turkey rhubarb is a laxative and if the body can not handle it, diarrhea will result. My colitis was resolved with this tea and I know of people with other serious gastrointestinal disorders expressing relief after taking this tea. My advice to those experiencing diarrhea or discomfort is to cut the dosage down to 1oz a day (or stop entirely) until the problems resolve, then gradually get yourself back to taking original amount."

Kidney Disease, Kidney Stones
If you have kidney disease or are prone to kidney stones, some sources advise not taking essiac because of the oxalic acid in sheep sorrel and turkey rhubarb. However, this discussion about the oxalic acid is informative and may be helpful to read.

Diabetes
Rene Caisse discussed diabetes here and there in her "I Was Canada's Cancer Nurse" booklet. The following phenomena has been reported by several credible, experienced Essiac producers:
"Diabetics who are insulin dependant may need to adjust their dosage, also those on anti-diabetes medications. All diabetics should monitor their blood sugar closely while on this tea. Some of the constituents in this tea can affect the way glucose and insulin are taken up in the cells and utilized. Many people find they need less medication while taking this tea. This is not always the case, but is worthy of mention."

About it being "not always the case", monitoring is critical because blood sugar might drop too low, or your blood sugar might shoot up too high, according to this June 2005 email comment:

You need a stronger warning for diabetics. I have been a well regulated insulin dependent diabetic for over fifty years. I followed all directions for making and drinking at proper time. I got very nauseated and my blood sugar shot up to 284 four hours later.

On inquiry, the respondent reported the dosage direction of the dry-mix product he purchased was 2 ounces twice a day (4 oz. per day).

Apparently his blood sugar shot up after the first 2 oz dose.

This is worth repeating.... "When any discomfort occurred, Rene always cautioned her patients to stop taking the decoction for several days until they felt better. Then they were told to begin again with just half an ounce every other day and gradually to increase the dose to one ounce each day. This usually corrected the problem."

So diabetics are advised to start with a tiny dose of 1/2 oz. tea (1 Tablespoon) every other day before gradually increasing dose to 1/2 oz. per day (1/2 Tablespoon twice a day) to 1 oz. per day (1 Tablespoon twice a day). Monitoring should reveal whether blood sugar level goes up or down.

Anyone starting this tea should begin with very small doses, regardless of product directions

http://www.algotto.com/herbs.htm
http://essiac-info.org