Essiac tea

Essiac tea is a popular herbal tea mixture promoted as an alternative treatment for cancer and other illnesses. Originally developed in the 1920s by Canadian nurse Rene Caisse (who named the tea by spelling her last name backwards), the classic formulation consists of four primary botanical ingredients: burdock root (*Arctium lappa*), sheep sorrel (*Rumex acetosella*), slippery elm bark (*Ulmus rubra*), and Indian rhubarb root (*Rheum officinale*). A modified eight-herb version, known as Flor Essence, also includes watercress, blessed thistle, red clover, and kelp. Despite widespread claims of its anticancer, immune-stimulating, and detoxifying properties, extensive laboratory and animal testing by organizations such as the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center have shown no clear evidence of anticancer efficacy. In fact, some in vitro studies suggest it may stimulate the growth of breast cancer cells. Essiac tea is marketed globally as a dietary supplement rather than an approved pharmaceutical drug.

Brand names

EssiacFlor Essence

Other names

Burdock FormulaCaisse's teaOjibwa teaRene Caisse's Essiac TeaRene Caisse's Original Herbal Tea Remedy