The original 8-herb formula was given to Canadian Nurse Rene Caisse by Mrs. Johnson (or Johnston), a breast cancer survivor who received it from the Native American medicine man. It was originally 8 herbs. So why do we recommend the 4 herb blend Rene Caisse worked with?
8 herb blends TODAY are different than the original formula given to Rene Caisse. What? Yes, you read that correctly. 8 herb blends claiming to be Essiac do not provide the original formula Rene Caisse was given. Let’s take a look at the differences here:
Original 8 herb Formula given to Rene Caisse: (by Native American) [4]
Burdock (Arctium Lappa) 42%
Sheep sorrel (Rumex acetosella) 28%
Slippery elm (Ulmus Rubra) 7%
Turkey rhubarb (Rheum palmatum) 1.43%
Red clover (Trifolium pratense) 7%
Watercress (Rorippa nasturtium aquaticum) 7%
Periwinkle (Vinca major) 7%
Goldthread (Coptis trifolia) 0.57%
Current 8-herb Formulas: (by Dr Charles Brusch)
Burdock (Arctium Lappa)
Sheep sorrel (Rumex acetosella)
Slippery elm (Ulmus Rubra)
Turkey rhubarb (Rheum palmatum)
Red clover (Trifolium pratense)
Watercress (Rorippa nasturtium aquaticum)
Blessed Thistle (Cnicus benedictus),
Kelp (Laminariales)
Instead of Periwinkle and Goldthread we see Blessed Thistle and Kelp added to 8 herb blends, making them NOTHING like the original 8 herb formula Rene Caisse was given.
“It has become generally and erroneously assumed that the eight-herb formula promoted by Dr. Charles Brusch, which replaced the Periwinkle and Goldthread herbs with Blessed thistle and Kelp, is the authentic Tribal remedy. However there is absolutely no archive evidence to suggest that either of these herbs were included in Black Root medicine and both Mary and Sheila were adamant that Rene Caisse never used them in any of her Essiac formulae.” [6]
“Following Rene’s death, Dr. Brusch and his wife Jane exchanged a series of twenty-nine letters with Mary and Sheila from February 22, 1979 to the last letter from Jane Brusch to Sheila, July 14, 1994, nine months after the doctor’s death in October 1993. This correspondence clearly indicates that the Brusch eight-herb remedy – consequently marketed by Elaine Alexander – had been contrived in 1987 as the result of collaboration between the elderly doctor and his equally elderly herbalist friend, Elmer Grove. Privately both Mary and Sheila were shocked at the claims made by Dr. Brusch for this new formula. Sheila, in particular, felt that her years of friendship and support for the doctor in their mutual quest for the truth about Essiac and the original Tribal formula has been betrayed.” [7]
More Ingredients = More Risk?
While there may be additional enhancing phytonutrients in the eight ingredients blend, there are four more herbs to which potentially allergies may arise. Each additional ingredient adds a new plant family that may stimulate an allergic reaction. In addition to allergies, the chance for side effects is concurrently increased with larger numbers of ingredients.
Diabetics may need even closer blood sugar monitoring with additional phytochemicals working. The new phytosterols in the mixture may affect glucose levels.
Those pregnant or planning to become pregnant should not use the 8 herb mixture especially because the effects of red clover on the female reproductive system may jeopardize conception and pregnancy viability.
Watercress interferes with the cytochrome P450 drug metabolism enzyme system and may interfere with certain prescription drug use. If taking prescribed medications always check with a health care professional before starting any supplements.
Rene Caisse’s 4 herb blend
Rene Caisse understood some of the original herbs had side-effects and removed each ingredient until she ended up with the 4-herbs which could be used for the most number of patients. She even used sheep sorrel by itself at one point via injection which we DO NOT recommend. She isolated each herb to carefully study the properties of each on her patients, removing those she found less effective. She wanted to make Essiac injectable.
“When she [Rene Caisse] succeeded in isolating Sheep sorrel as the only herb that could be injected to work directly against cancer cells.” [5]
Ultimately, she removed red clover, watercress, periwinkle and goldthread to get to a 4 herb Essiac blend we know and use today.
Red clover: “Rene Caisse eliminated this ingredient first in 1926 following Doctor Fisher’s advice to eliminate the protein content from the formula with a view to producing a viable therapy for injection.” [1]
Watercress: “Rene Caisse was still using watercress occasionally during the 1970s. It may have been one of her ‘back-up’ herbs when other stocks were low.” [2]
Periwinkle:
Goldthread: “Contraindicated in pregnancy and in cases of high blood pressure.” [3]
The 4 Herb Blend used by Rene Caisse: (we recommend this blend). Check out authenticity of the formula here:
Burdock root (Arctium Lappa)
Sheep sorrel (Rumex acetosella) whole plant, roots included.
Slippery elm (Ulmus Rubra)
Turkey rhubarb root (Rheum palmatum)
The formula below is a word-for-word transcription of Mary McPherson’s affidavit:
6 ½ cups of burdock root (cut)*
1 pound of sheep sorrel herb powdered
1/4 pound of slippery elm bark powdered
1 ounce of Turkish rhubarb root powdered
Mix these ingredients thoroughly and store in glass jar in dark dry cupboard.
Take a measuring cup, use 1 ounce of herb mixture to 32 ounces of water depending on the amount you want to make.
I use 1 cup of mixture to 8 x 32 = 256 ounces of water. Boil hard for 10 minutes (covered) then turn off heat but leave sitting on warm plate over night (covered).
In the morning heat steaming hot and let settle a few minutes, then strain through fine strainer into hot sterilized bottles and sit to cool. Store in dark cool cupboard. Must be refrigerated when opened. When near the last when its thick pour in a large jar and sit in frig overnight then pour off all you [can] without sediment.
This recipe must be followed exactly as written.
I use a granite preserving kettle (10 – 12 qts), 8 ounce measuring cup, small funnel and fine strainer to fill bottles.
According to THE ESSIAC BOOK by Mali Klein (p. 29), the recipe can also be made in gram weight measurements as follows:
120 g Burdock (chopped)
80 g Sheep sorrel (powdered)
20 g Slippery elm (powdered)
5 g Turkey rhubarb
Use 15 g herb mix to 1.5 liters water
Boiling time: 10 minutes
Basic single daily does: 30 ml herbal tea diluted in either 30 ml or 60 ml hot water, taken at bedtime or when you get up.
MEDICAL DISCLAIMER
This web site is not designed to, and does not, provide medical advice. All content, including text, graphics, images and information available on or through this web site are for general informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. You take full legal responsibility for whatever decisions you make regarding your own health care. This material is offered solely for educational purposes. The suggestion is that you think clearly for yourself and make your own decisions, with the input of a licensed health professional should you choose to consult one.
Resources:
- The Complete Essiac Essentials, Sheila Snow and Mali Klein, pg 32
- The Complete Essiac Essentials, Sheila Snow and Mali Klein, pg 35
- The Complete Essiac Essentials, Sheila Snow and Mali Klein, pg 38
- Black Root Medicine, Mali Klein, pg 5
- Black Root Medicine, Mali Klein pg 7
- Black Root Medicine, Mali Klein pg 9
- Black Root Medicine, Mali Klein pg 11
Essiac Library 