Essiac Essentials

both ancient Chinese and Greek physicians, medicinally the plant has been recorded as containing both astringent and laxative properties, having a truly cleansing action on the gut and then acting as an astringent with its antiseptic properties. More recent studies have shown potential antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and diuretic properties and extracts have been used to treat bleeding of the upper digestive tract. Rheum palmatum “has been demonstrated to have anti-tumour activity in the sarcoma 37 test system” (Beckin, M & Fitzgerald, D, Tumour Damaging Capacity of Plant Materials, N.C.I., 1952)
    The leaves and stems of this species are not edible — only the root is used in Essiac. Turkey rhubarb is not only medicinally more potent but has a much less bitter taste than the medicinally milder domestic rhubarb roots (Rheum rhapon-ticum) which Rene used when she first began experimenting with the recipe, until she discovered that the Turkey rhubarb root was easily available commercially and easy to grind into powder. The roots of Rheum rhaponticum contain rhapon-ticin, a glycoside which exerts a hormonal effect on humans and should be used with caution.
    The toxicity of rhubarb leaves of both species was once thought to be due to their high oxalate content but now it is thought to be due mainly to the high anthraquinone glycoside content of the leaves. In comparison, the roots display a lower oxalate and anthraquinone glycoside content.
     
    ANALYSIS
    Vitamins: Antioxidants A and C + P; some of the vitamin B-complex.
     
    Minerals : Free radical scourging copper, manganese, zinc; calcium; chlorine; iodine; iron; magnesium; phosphorus; potassium; silicon; sodium; sulphur.
     
    Other constituents : Organic acids such as gallic, malic, oxalic and tannic acids present; significant proportions of antioxidant anthraquinone glycosides which act as laxatives — including rhein, chrysphanic acid, rheochrysidin; aloe-emodin and catechins. Note: rhein has been shown to be effective in inhibiting the growth of disease-causing bacteria in the intestine and in treating the fungal Candida albicans. Rhein, aloe-emodin and catechins have all shown anti-tumour activity in some animal test systems. Pregnant and nursing women should not use anthraquinone laxatives.
     

Chapter Four

Preparing Essiac
     

     
    Many variations on Rene Caisse’s Essiac recipe have appeared in the years following her death. We give the recipe as verified by her trusted friend, Mary McPherson.
    Mary McPherson first met Rene when her mother was diagnosed with secondary cancer in 1935. Mary also collected signatures for the petitions gathered in support of Rene. Both she and her husband were successfully treated for cancer with Essiac in the 1940s. Always a loyal friend, she became a regular visitor at Rene’s home after her retirement in 1969.
    When the Homemakers magazine article about Essiac was published, life became hectic for Rene. All sorts of people started calling her and dropping by at her house. When Rene was expecting someone, she would call Mary who would come over and stand guard in the kitchen keeping an eye on things while the visitors were talking to Rene in the sitting room. Sometimes two or three people would visit together and one would keep Rene talking while the others took a quick look around the house, searching for the evidence that might reveal the identity of the herbs that she put into the tea.
    By then Rene trusted Mary enough to allow her to make up the tea with her. Rene would put the herbs into the water and Mary would do everything else, coming back the next morning to bottle it up. She visited Rene every day, quietly helping to ease the work load and no one ever realised she was doing it.
    Mary is a very important witness to Rene’s life and she has been badly represented in the media by people who have never met her and know nothing about her. One article referred to her as a servant, implying that Rene would never have left the recipe to someone like her. But if Rene hadn’t needed Mary, her friendship, her loyalty, her wisdom and her intelligence, Essiac may have just disappeared because she was the only person anyone could turn to for validity.
     
    It is important to note that Rene always specified that three of the constituent herbs in Essiac, Sheep sorrel, Slippery elm bark and Turkey rhubarb root should always be used in powdered form , while the remaining herb, Burdock root, should always be