Essiac-20

As with many who experience the frontiers of knowledge, Rene Caisse speculated about what many to this day do not understand.  She felt there was an undiscovered gland that was affected by Essiac, on that acts to inhibit the supply of the substances that nourish cancer cells.  The four herbs that everyone agrees are the cornerstones of the Essiac formula are fairly well understood.

All four herbs normalize body systems by purifying the blood, promoting cell repair, and aiding effective assimilation and elimination.  When combined, their seperate beneficial effects are synergistically enhanced.

Burdock is the main herb in the formula adapted from the Ojibwa tradition.  Interestingly, it is also a key herb in Hildegard of Bingen's 12th century internal tonic for cancer.  It is prized by many as a diuretic and even as the main herb to prevent angiogenesis, the formation of auxiliary arteries that feed tumors.

Burdock is actually a member of the daisy family.  It is native to Europe but grows almost anywhere, obviously in the Great Lakes area where the nurse's and the Ojibwa's paths met.  The Japanese, who call burdock "gobo", eat it as a sort of Zen austerity.  The root is long and thin, sort of like a carot without pigmentation.  It is definitely Zen and bland tasting.  The French prepare burdock like asparagus and some people prepare it as a potato substitute in soups, pancakes, and cutlets.  It is one of the main ingredients in most grain coffees, certainly a reason for cancer patients to switch to grain coffee.

It is the first year's growth of the roots that is used both for culinary and medicinal purposes.  The root is harvested before the purple flowers open.  Herbalists, who consider burdock to be tumor resolvent, use burdock primarily for uterine complaints and as a poultice to reduce swelling.  The leaves, being quite bitter, have a stronger hypoglycemic action than the roots, which are mucilaginous.

Scientific studies in Germany (1967) and Japan (1986) concluded that brudock has powerful antifungal and antibacterial actions.  It is such a good blood purifier that it can even be used with venomous bites.  Unlike the Ojibwas and Caisse, most herbalists combine burdock with yellow dock and sarsparilla...in which case it would have extremelyvaluable blood purifying actions.  Even by itself, it is highly regarded as the herb of choice for conditions such as eczema.

Research on burdock is sparse but consistent.  Hungarians found anti-tumor actions and the Japanese, who truly love this plant, have identified a desmutagen that they named B-factor in honor of burdock.  It is so powerful that it prevents cellular mutation in the absence of as well as presence of metabolic activation.

Slippery elm must be one of the most nourishing and protective herbs nature has to offer.  It is highly mucilaginous and soothing and is the primary ingredient in many Native American poultices, including the one used by Dr. Eli G. Jones, one of history's greatest cancer specialists.

Slippery elm has been used for gastrointestinal distress and recommended for people who are convalescing and wish to enrich a hot porridge with something that is mildly medicinal and nourishing.  It gives very fast relief for hyper acidic conditions and is truly remarkable in the manner in which it confers ease.

Though Sheep's sorrel can be found in most termerament zones, its medicinal uses were first learned from native Americans.  Like burdock, it is a diuretic and detoxifier.  Also, as with other docks, it has a laxative properties, quite gentle, but nevertheless useful for detoxification of the gastrointestinal tract.  It is a rich source of trace minerals.

Turkey Rhubarb is an astringent herb with a major purging effect.  It has a long history in China and many other parts of the world as a laxative and effective treatment for many gastrointestinal problems.  Due to the tannins (which cause the astringency), this herb is constipating in small doses and laxative in higher doses.  Therefore, a proper formula is needed to bring about the intended purging of the colon without cramping.  It has been used extensively for the treatment of cnadida albicans as well as bacterial infections, especially Staphylococcus aureus.  Studies suggest that one of its primary constituents, rhein, safely reduces infections in the eliminatroy system that contributes to inflammation.

Dr. Max Barlow added Water Cress and Blood Root to his Essiac-20 formula.  They are added in small but perfect quantities to make this a very effective herbal combination.

The world has become an infinitely more polluted place since the 1920's and '30's, when Rene Caisse did her pioneering work.  Carcinogenic, toxic chemicals and radioactive isotopes that pollute our water, air, and food also reside permanently in the cells of our bodies, weakening our natural immunity and possibly making the remission of cancer more difficult.  For these reasons, combining Essiac-20 with nutritional and other approaches make the most sense.

**These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Aministration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.