ESSIAC---? for Sue

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Sue: I recall you mentioning ESSIAC on another thread some where on LUSENET. I've heard of it but don't have a clue as to what it is. Would you elaborate? Thanks!

-- Anonymous, May 30, 2001

Answers

Essiac is a very powerful herbal healer... but instead of my explaination... this site should help... http://essiac-info.org/

-- Anonymous, May 30, 2001

John, I'm a big believer in the stuff, which is why I sell it. If you wish to discuss it (it has many delicious controversies), you can visit my site wisespirit.com and please feel free to ask questions, point fingers, challenge assertions, etc! I have pretty much every book on the subject.

The company who makes the essiac I sell is run by a wacky New Zealander who now lives in the UK; he tends to piss people off sometimes cuz he's very opinionated and eccentric, and I've had my run-ins with him too, but he's very passionate about the tea, and has gobs of knowledge about and experience with it. Since I'm not allowed legally to 'give medical advice', he does the clinical counseling for me, so I can make it available to people here without interference from the FDA. He works closely with oncologists in Europe doing continual ongoing studies on its efficacy, and the results have been fantastic,something to my knowledge not being done much, if at all, in this country. Pressure from drug companies is strong the world over, but no where as badly as here.

-- Anonymous, May 31, 2001


Well, its pretty much been summed up already. I ran across it in an article on cures for cancer, years ago. As I remember the story, the original preparation was a Native American (Canadian) cure for all sorts of things. Among the illnesses they claimed it would help with were heart disease, diabetes, cancer, allergies (I use it for that), and some modern herbalists claim it will help with AIDS. Originally, the US FDA banned its use here and lumped it with all the 'patent' cure-alls. There is NO alcohol in it....

There were originally only four herbs, among them Turkey Rhubarb. Later, corporate concoctions added others, among them watercress. When tested, this new prep did fairly well in the tests, but all the empirical evidence suggests that the original was better. Also, watercress causes severe allergic reactions in some people, so it is not considered safe.

A lady in Canada - forget if she was a nurse or a doctor - used it for hundreds of people, and, of course, kept great notes on their progress. She introduced it originally in this country, early in the 1900's. When it was banned, she mounted a campaign to reverse the decision, and was eventually successful. Only then was any testing done, and the results were somewhat mixed. However, no one who has used it (to my knowledge) has had anything bad to say, and there are many testimonials (somewhere) on it. I'm sure a search on the web would turn up more information on this.

I have known many people who used it, and all thought it was the greatest thing since the wheel. I can only vouch for the fact that I no longer suffer from allergic pneumonia, though I have several pets I am highly allergic to. While I'm at it, I should also mention that I stopped taking OTC vitamins about the same time I started on Essiac, so it could be one or the other, or even both things that have helped me. I am a firm believer that OTC vitamins should be used for health problems and not everyday. Overloading on certain vitamins (which is EXTREMELY easy - especially if you grow your own food) is a health hazard... Even science says so.

There have been several fairly recent attempts to get this off the market, but none have been successful.

Somewhere I have the ingredients, but haven't looked for them in a long time, as I have a bag full that I use as needed. Suppose I should really get to it, lol -

It is quite expensive if you purchase it in liquid form... last time I paid $40 per quart. There is no color, and extremely little taste. I prefer the liquid to the capsule when I have to buy it. Normal dosage is 1 - 3 teaspoons in an 8 ounce glass of water once per day. Same dosage, but more often is used depending on the illness being treated. It can be mixed with just about any non-alcoholic liquid... even orange juice.

Any healthfood store will carry or be able to order it, the company marketing the original formula is Floralife. Hope this helps -

-- Anonymous, May 31, 2001


thanks sue, for your info.......

Since this is one of my 'thangs', I'm gonna respond with my two cents here and there, so the following is my opinion only, based on the last two years of research and experience:

It is still illegal to sell essiac in this country, Canada and many other whom the pharmacuetical companies control as a CURE OR TREATMENT FOR ANY DISEASE. It's a huge threat to the powers that be, cuz it works, and has no side effects and is way cheap compared to their precious drugs. Also, because people can actually produce it for themselves in their backyards in many parts of this country, with sufficient horticultural experience.

So we sell the tea as a nutritional supplement and an immune system builder and a detoxifyer, which is basically what it is. It aids the body in healing itself naturally. Any medical claims can get us shut down fast.

I have never heard of Floralife......and could find nothing on a search.......where did you find them? I've heard of Flor-Essence, who adds other herbs to theirs.

Kinda hard to figure how an essiac formula could have little taste. Its just an herbal tea, and it has a distinct taste, not great, not terrible, but definitely there! And how could it be clear??

As to the original formula, we sell the original formula, the same four herbs as were used by the Ojibwa, nothing more, nothing less. As for the rhurbarb, that is one of the controversies.....we absolutely believe that Indian rhubarb was in the original formula, and turkey was used somewhat later. There is not a huge difference in their efficacy, but the Indian is, according to the Asians, (more info on this history on our website) more potent, and it definitely is more expensive, which is likely why Turkey is used in most company's versions instead.

Last time I looked into this, the only other company selling a comparable product true to the original (besides the one I sell) is Resperin, in Canada, which is the company Rene Caisse sold the recipe to. The formula, however, is no secret. Has been available to the public for a long time, regardless of what outfits try to tell ya.

Hope this helps someone.....

-- Anonymous, May 31, 2001


Thanks Guys! I knew ya'll would have something to offer. Whats Indian Rhubarb?

-- Anonymous, May 31, 2001


Here's info on the rhubarbs, John:

the herbs

-- Anonymous, May 31, 2001


"Native American"? Three of the four herbs did not grow in North America until brought here by the palefaces from Eurasia. (Slippery elm - U. rubra, rather than U. fulva, is the preferred name, incidentally - is native. If this stuff is marketed like snake oil, my first impulse is to think that's what it is. And it may be great medicine. I use a number of herbal remedies, and I certainly don't look to the AMA and FDA for advice on medicine.

-- Anonymous, June 01, 2001

Well Sam, I understand if your 'first impulse' is to think I am the sort of person to market 'snake oil', or perhaps if my intentions are honorable, that I am a silly, vulnerable and ignorant woman who knows not what she is doing. This is, after all, the reaction that the vast majority of the poplulace has to all alternatives. Your reference to it saddens me, however, since on this forum we try to expect the best of each other. I was always reluctant on CS to say much about the website, because there were certain individuals who seemed to loudly proclaim the feeling that selling anything is wrought with some kind of evil intent. I assumed it was the old 'poverty is beautiful' mentality so prevalent in some homesteading circles and let it go. I did feel safe to do it here, however, when appropriate and possibly helful to someone.

In response to your truth challenges, which I welcome, incidentally (keeps me on my toes): When you refer to ULMUS RUBRUM as the 'preferred name', my question to you would be, "preferred by whom?" I have literally hundreds of herbal books, and the two terms are used interechangeably, especially in this country. In fact, ULMUS FULVA is used about I would estimate 75% of the time, so its use is widely common with herbalists, although they are apparently both correct.

As to the inference that essiac cannot be NATIVE AMERICAN because the plants havent been growing here for thousands of years:

Would you contend that many Native Americans cultures were not masters of the art/science of horse breeding, training, handling, because they never saw one until the Spanish brought them over? The Native people of these continents had hundreds of years to learn how to adopt new plant varieties to their already brilliant herbal healing modalities, just as they learned how to utilize the ponies to their peoples' benefit. While its true that to the best of our knowledge these plants 'originated' on other continents, most of us are also aware of how this is true of millions of species, and although many times they bring trouble with their importation, most actually acclimate so well that they have long since become a part of our natural world.

Blessings,

-- Anonymous, June 01, 2001


Hey, Earthmama, I guess I came across pretty hardnosed, and for that I apologize. I certainly didn't mean to question your motives or your knowledge of herbs. I'm just not good at tact. I will now bend over and invite you to give me a swift kick.

Ouch! That's better. I guess what I was trying to say is that the woods & fields are full of plants that really are good medicine, and they don't need the mystique of an aboriginal origin to justify them. When the chemical companies took over medicine in this country, and brainwashed people to think a shiny pill from the lab is always superior to an herbal tea, their task was made easier by some people who made extravagant and often unfounded claims for herbal and other alternative remedies. Now, I know nothing about you and less about essiac. I have no reason to doubt it's efficacy. In fact, I look forward to learning more about it. And I hope if I need some, I can get it from you.

Meanwhile, I'll try to polish my social skills before Jim throws me out of here.

-- Anonymous, June 01, 2001


Nice people! Being polite! I love seeing that! :-)

-- Anonymous, June 01, 2001


Meanwhile, I'll try to polish my social skills before Jim throws me out of here.

Nah! You ended up handling the situation just fine, Sam.

-- Anonymous, June 03, 2001


Say Sam, I'd love to oblige you on your kickin offer, but alas, I am rather a pacifist...aint much good at kickin, except for my occassional tongue-lashings! Guess I could make you the same offer actually, for me havin a thin-skinned kinda day.

I know what you're saying about the 'mystique of an aboriginal orgin to justify them". Fact is though, its a wonderful, long and colorful true story, and I like to share it.

So no hard feelings.......I'm sure we agree on herbs/medical issues anyway for the most part!

Blessings,

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2001


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