Essiac Tea: An Example of How Herbal Knowledge Grows and Changes

Continuing the ideas I mentioned in the last blog, let’s use Essiac tea as an example of how herbal knowledge grows and changes, helping you make better decisions about alternative/complementary treatments.

Essiac tea, also called Flor Essence, Tea of Life or Vitalitea, is an herbal formula promoted by many websites as a cure for cancer. The formula for the tea, which includes burdock root, slippery elm inner bark, sheep sorrel and Indian rhubarb root, comes from a Canadian nurse named Rene Caisse, who opened a health clinic in 1924 and treated thousands of patients with the formula.

Caisse said she got the formula from on Ojibwa medicine man, which may be true, although there is no evidence to support her assertion. Ancient people developed many medicinal formulas using herbs, many of which have been passed down through the centuries, so it is possible that this is actually an old herbal blend.

The principal ingredient in Essiac tea, burdock root, has historically been used to treat conditions like arthritis, diabetes and hair loss. Rene Caisse claimed it could cure cancer. All of these ideas are based on tradition. The question is, does modern science support those uses? Has research discovered any important uses for traditional herbs not known before?    

As for its ability to cure cancer, research indicates Essiac tea is not effective. Does that mean the formula is useless? No. In fact, research has discovered that “Essiac tea possesses potent antioxidant and DNA-protective activity, properties that are common to natural anti-cancer agents,” according to the January 2006 "Journal of Ethnopharmacology.”  In an article published in the November-December 2007 “Anticancer Research,” authors reported that Essiac has “significant antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties as well as neoplastic-cell-specific cytotoxicity, “ particularly mentioning ovarian epithelial carcinoma cells.  Authors of an article published in the June 2010 “Journal of Food Science” agree that burdock contains antioxidants, which help to block free radical molecules that damage your cells. Research indicates that ingredients in Essiac tea may also lower blood sugar and alleviate the severity of liver damage from carbon tetrachloride or acetaminophen.

What’s my point? Well, many of the herbs that have been used for centuries to treat disease are validated by modern research; although the research doesn’t always support traditional uses, it reveals new uses. Essiac tea, for instance, may be more effective for preventing cancer than curing it. 

A final word: if you want to use herbs along with mainstream medical treatment, or instead of it, be aware that not all herbs have been studied for effectiveness or safety. Also, herbs are quite potent and can interact harmfully with other medications you may be taking. Do your research, so you make better decisions. The previous blog post listed several places you can find more information about herbs and alternative treatments, and there are many more reliable sites online that can give you information.

"Am J Chin Med"; Hepatoprotective effects of Arctium lappa on carbon tetrachloride- and acetaminophen-induced liver damage; Lin SC et al.; 2000;28(2):163-73

"Anticancer Res;" In vitro analysis of the herbal compound Essiac; Seely D, Kennedy DA, Myers SP, Cheras PA, Lin D, Li R, Cattley T, Brent PA, Mills E, Leonard BJ; 2007 Nov-Dec

"Eur J Cancer;" How useful are unconventional cancer treatments?; Ernst E, Cassileth BR; Oct 1999

"J Altern Complement Med;" Trial of Essiac to ascertain its effect in women with breast cancer; Zick SM, Sen A, Feng Y, Green J, Olatunde S, Boon H; Dec 2006

"J Food Sci"; Antioxidant Activity and Chemical Composition of the Fractions From Burdock Leaves; Lou Z, Wang H, Li J, Chen S, Zhu S, Ma C, Wang Z; June 2010

"Journal of ethnopharmacology;" Essiac tea: scavenging of reactive oxygen species and effects on DNS damage; Leonard SS et al; Jan 2006

"Nutr Cancer;" Evaluation of the antiproliferative effects of Essiac on invitro and in vivo models of prostate cancer compared to paclitaxel; Eberding A et al; 2007 188-96

"Oncol Rep"; In Vitro Comparison of Essiac and Flor-Essence on Human Tumor Cell Lines; Tai J, Cheung S, Wong S, Lowe C; Feb. 2004

“Am J Chin Med “; Lin CC, Lu JM, Yang JJ, et al. Anti-inflammatory and radical scavenge effects of Arctium lappa. 1996;24(2):127-137.

“Am J Chin Med “; Lin SC, Chung TC, Lin CC, et al. Hepatoprotective effects of Arctium lappa on carbon tetrachloride- and acetaminophen-induced liver damage. 2000;28(2):163-173.

“J Biomed Sci “; Lin SC, Lin CH, Lin CC, et al. Hepatoprotective effects of Arctium lappa Linne on liver injuries induced by chronic ethanol consumption and potentiated by carbon tetrachloride. 2002;9(5):401-409.

“Mutat Res “; Morita K, Kada T, Namiki M. A desmutagenic factor isolated from burdock (Arctium lappa Linne). 1984;129(1):25-31.