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A Brief History of Essiac

Rene Caisse was born in 1888, one of a catholic familly of eleven children and died in 1978. In 1922, she was head nurse at an hospitan in Haileybury, Ontario, Canada. One evening, she noticed that one of the patients that she tended had an oddly scarred breast and asked the elderly woman how it had happened. The woman told Rene that over 20 years earlier, she had travelled from England to join her prospector husband in Northern Ontario. Soon after her arrival, a hardened mass appeared on her breast. The area in which they were camping was inhabited by a Native American tribe called the Ojibwe and one of the Indians whom they had befriended was an old Indian medicine man. When he was made aware of her condition, he offered to help heal her and offered her a tea which was an ‘holy drink that would purify her body and place it back in balance with the great spirit’. The woman was grafteful for his concern and whilst respecting the Indian’s own beliefs, decided to return to Toronto for orthodox diagnosis and treatment.

She was shocked to be told that she had cancer and that the breast would need to be removed immediately. The woman was reluctant to have this operation because a close friend of hers had died recently after a radical mastectomy. She decided to return to the Ojibwe medicine man and take him up on his offer. He gave a tea to drink twice a day until her body was back in balance and showed her how to make the tea on her own. When Rene Caisse met the woman more than 20 years later, her breast was scarred but not cancerous. Rene asked the patient for the recipe for the tea. Her thought was that if she should ever develop cancer, she would gather the necessary herbs and brew the tea for herself. Two years later, Rene used the tea to treat her favourite aunt who had been diagnosed as having terminal cancer of the stomach and liver. She asked permission of her doctor, Dr. Fisher, who reluctantly agreed as he could do nothing further. In two months, her aunt got better. She lived for another 20 years.

Rene and Dr. Fisher decided to try treating other patients diagnosed as having terminal cancer. They too showed improvements when treated with the herbal tea and the word spread. Renee Caisse never charged for her treatment, she existed purely on donations. Over the years, news of her work spread and so began many years of harassment and persecution by the Canadian Ministry of Health and Welfare. The story of her work and her struggles with the authorities was told throughout the country in newspapers and by word of mouth and eventually, in 1937, The Royal Cancer Commission conducted hearings about Essiac. In 1938, fifty five thousand signatures were collected on a petition presented to the Canadian Parliament in a move to legalise the use of Essiac. It failed to be approved as an officially sanctioned cure for cancer by three votes.

In the 1960’s, Rene worked with Dr. Charles A. Brusch, physician to President John F. Kennedy After ten years work, Dr. Brusch stated that ‘Essiac is a cure for cancer – period’. In fact, when he himself was diagnosed as having cancer, he cured himself with Essiac. He said in 1990 - ‘I have taken Essiac every day since my diagnosis (1984) and my recent examination has given me a clean bill of health’.

During the 1960 and 1970s, Rene Caisse approached several pharmaceutical companies to convince them to become involved in Essiac. Her only stipulation was that it should be continued to be used to treat cancer patients. None of the companies were interested. In 1977, shortly before her death, Rene decided to sell the herbal formula to the Resperin Corporation in Toronto. She also gave the formula to two friends, Mary Macpherson and Gilbert Blondin. She also signed over the formula to Dr. Cfharles A. Brusch. It is due mainly to these people that Essiac is again used by many people throughout the world to support treatment of a wide variety of complaints.

The name ‘Essiac’ has apparently been trademarked by the Resperin Corporation and, cetrtainly in the U.K. their representatives aggressively dissuade any one else from using the name on their products. Variations in the names of the Objiwe herbal tea include: Caisse Tea, Essiac, Four Herb, Objibwe herbal tea, Tea of Life, Essyac, Flor-essence, Vitalitea – to name but a few.

Over the years Rene with her helpers, refined the original formula and in some cases, the addition of small quantities of Watercress, Red Clover, Kelp and Blessed Thistle was sometimes made. There are several versions of “Essiac” available, ass based on the four herbs in their stated proportions; all variations are beneficial.

Although it is not possible (legally) to make claims about the efficacy of this popular herbal tea, the original mixture of herbs has been said to have helped thousands of people who have suffered from cancer, Chronic Fatigue(ME), Lupus, AIDS, and other illnesses. It is said to help rebuild the immune system and aid detoxification of the body. Many people find it supportive when recovering from invasive surgery or recuperating between bouts of chemotherapy and radiography. It is also said to be helpful in restoring energy levels and boosting the immune system.

All of this from a simple Native American Herbal Remedy freely given to help another human being.

THE FOUR HERBS

Burdock Root – Arctium Lappa – 24 parts
Sheep Sorrel – Rumex Acetosella – 16 parts
Slippery Elm Bark – Ulmus fulva – 4 parts
Rhubarb Root – Rheum palmateum – 1 parts

BURDOCK ROOT (Arctium lappa) alterative, diuretic, diaphoretic, nutritive. It is regarded as one of the best blood cleansers with the ability to neutralize poisons and cleanse also the symph system. It is a tonic for the lver, kidney and lungs and a strengthener for the immune system. Conditions affecting all skin surfaces, whether inside or outside the body, benefit from its use. Externally, a decoction of the root may be used as a skin wash for burns, ringworm, acne, eczema, psoriasis and rashes. Contains calcium, phosphorus, iron, sodium, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin and vitamin C.

SHEEP SORREL (Ryumex acetosella) diuretic, refrigerant, diaphoretic. It is said to improve liver, intestinal and bowel functions. It is regarded as preventing the destruction of red blood cells. It contains chlorophyll which may help to carry oxygen through the bloodstream which strengthens cell walls. The chlorophyll may also help to reduce damage caused by radiation.

SLIPPERY ELM (Ulmus fulva) demulcent, emolient, expectorannt, diuretic, nutritive. It is said to soothe enflamed tissue in all the major organs and promotes relaxation of tension in the bowel, easing both diarrhoea and constipation. It is nourishing and assists in all fluid elimination supports the liver, spleen and pancreas.

RHUBARD ROOT (Rheum palmateum) astringent, tonic, stomachic, aperient. In small doses it is used to relieve diarrhoea and stimulate the appetite as well as the digestive juices throughout the digestive system. Larger doses produce a laxative effect. It is said to stimulate the colon, promote the flow of bile and tone and restore stomach functions. It is also used to cleanse the liver, cool, disperse and invigorate stagnant blood. The leaves are very poisonous and can cause liver and kidney damage. The herb contains oxalic acid and is best avoided if pregnant or lactating.