With Pat Tuholske, Naturalist
Essiac – A Native Herbal Remedy
Essiac, a Native Herbal Remedy, is a blend of four herbs that is the most effective alternative cancer treatment I have seen. In the over twenty years I have offered it, Essiac has helped cancer of the liver, breast, lymph system, lung, colon, prostate, skin and others. Essiac also aids conditions such as hepatitis C, diabetes, irritable bowel, arthritis, West Nile Virus, Epstein Barr, fibromyalgia and HIV.
The recipe was given to Rene Caisse, a Canadian nurse, in 1920 by a Chippewa Indian medicine man. Rene used the tea to help hundreds of patients. The current decades-long revival of Essiac is evidence of the medicine in native plants.
As an herbalist, I am privileged to have these beneficial healers growing abundantly on our 500 acre Native Plant Sanctuary. Each spring or fall I gather Burdock Root, Sheep Sorrel, Slippery Elm Bark and Rhubarb Root from organic garden and wild plant plots.
Burdock Root works profoundly on the lungs, kidneys, stomach and joints. It is a nutritive tonic rejuvenating the immune system and detoxifying the blood and liver.
Sheep Sorrel checks tissue degeneration and reduces swelling and inflammation. It shrinks tumors and helps the blood purify the body. It alleviates vomiting and improves the appetite.
Slippery Elm Bark soothes and strengthens tissues, organs and mucous membranes. Being highly nutritious, it prevents wasting away.
Rhubarb Root is a simple, safe purgative helping the intestines absorb nutrition and achieve healthy elimination.
To make the tea: Brew one cup of the dried herbs in two gallons of purified water. One cup of the dry mix brews twelve 16 oz. bottles (a one month supply taken twice daily). Keep the tea refrigerated.
To make the tincture: Soak the dried herbs in one quart of vodka for four to six weeks. The tincture is convenient when traveling and situations where refrigeration is unavailable. In my personal experience, the tincture works just as well as the tea. And it’s much easier to make. And much more economical as one stock bottle will last from 6 months to one year.
Those who are consistent and committed to taking the correct dosage find themselves feeling stronger, vital and energetic. These powerful herbs build the immune system, remove toxins and strengthen the body to heal itself.
Buy your herbs from a reputable herbalist to ensure fresh, unaltered, organic ingredients. If you choose to prepare the tea or tincture, educate yourself and celebrate the making of your own medicine. This Native Herbal Remedy is a powerful step in your healing process.
Check out Pat Tuholske’s “Nature Chronicles” for musings on the Human-Nature relationship at pattuholske.com. See her Wild Wreaths, Wheels, Twigs and Native Herbal Remedy (aka Essiac) crafted from Ozark native plants online at her website at willowrainherbalgoods.com.