Evidence points to Essiac Tea as potent cancer fighter even as medical community shuns it!

Essiac tea and its apparently potent cancer-fighting abilities have been in the spotlight for nearly 90 years as the tea's proponents and critics continually exchange ideas and insights on its true efficacy.

Essiac tea is recommended by proponents of alternative healthcare as a treatment for various forms of cancer. It is also used to alleviate symptoms and side effects of conventional cancer therapy. Essiac Tea is currently considered to be a "Phase III cancer treatment", meaning it is of sufficient strength to help in fighting moderately advanced cancer but not enough to be integral to the treatment of cancer in higher stages. However, this does not preclude its future addition to "Stage IV" treatment if conditions are warranted.

The medical community, on the other hand, has consistently refused to embrace the use of essiac tea as cancer treatment, even as some prominent physicians were among its strongest backers in 1938, when they pushed for the tea blend's legalization before the Canadian parliament.

Critics argue that some cancers considered as incurable suddenly go into remission without adequate medical explanation. Others say that the placebo effect - the belief that the treatment is working makes it effective rather than the treatment itself - may help explain some of the successes encountered by essiac tea in treating cancer. Consequently, treatment of cancer via essiac tea is not approved by the American Medical Association or the American Cancer Society.

Essiac tea is a blend of 4 herbs that was used by nurse Rene Caisse in the 1920s as a treatment and possible cure for cancer. The word 'essiac' is her surname spelled backward. The four component herbs of essiac tea are burdock root (arctium lappa), turkey rhubarb root (rheum palmatum), sheep sorrel (rumex acetosella), and the inner bark of slippery elm (ulmus fulva or ulmus rubra).

The sheep sorrel and the burdock root are the herbs known to kill and destroy cancer cells while the turkey rhubarb root and the slippery elm bark help build the immune system and aid in the detoxification of the affected organs.

Caisse first heard of the formula for essiac tea from a patient who met a Native Canadian Ojibwa healer. The healer said that the blend was intended to purify the body and balance the spirit. After hearing several more first-hand accounts of its curative effects on cancer, Caisse began giving the essiac tea to patients and found it to have remarkable healing abilities.

Caisse was totally convinced that essiac tea could cure cancer. She believed the tea had the ability to purify the blood, to strengthen the immune system, and to allow the healthy cells to kill the cancerous cells. She said that tumors not destroyed by essiac tea would be shrunk and could be surgically removed after six to eight weeks of treatment. She recommended at least three months of additional weekly essiac treatments to ensure that any malignant cells that remained after the first phase and surgery were totally destroyed.

Caisse's own mother, Friseide Caisse, was given essiac tea treatment after she was diagnosed with liver cancer at the age of 72. After being told that she only had days to live, her mother was said to have recovered quickly and after a few months of treatment with the essiac tea, her cancer was gone. She lived to be 90.

Caisse reported that essiac tea had been the reason that hundreds of her patients had been cured of their cancers. She sometimes administered the tea as intramuscular injections. Most of the patients came to her after conventional cancer treatments have already failed. Indeed up to this day, testimonials keep pouring in on from many patients relating how the essiac blend have totally rid their bodies of cancer.

Still, the medical community seems very adamant in their objections to essiac tea as a viable cancer treatment. In 2008, the U.S. National Institute of Health's Medline said that "there is not enough evidence to recommend for or against the use of this herbal mixture as a therapy for any type of cancer." They said that none of the individual herbs in Essiac has been tested in rigorous human cancer trials. Even as testimonials and reports from manufacturers are available on the Internet, these cannot be considered scientifically viable as evidence. They concluded by recommending that individuals with cancer should not delay treatment with "more proven therapies".

It should be remembered that persons should consult with their physician first before treating any condition with essiac tea. It is also important to remember that essiac is often used in combination with traditional cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery.

So while the general public still weighs the arguments for and against essiac tea, it is worthwhile to note that both sides have valid points, and that no side holds a monopoly on the truth regarding essiac tea's efficacy on cancer.

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Rooibos Tea shown to protect against cancer onset!

Research on the anti-cancer potential of Rooibos tea (red tea abundant in South Africa) has yielded promising results.

The research has indicated that Rooibos tea seems to offer protection against one of the first steps in the potential onset of cancer: mutagenesis. Mutagenesis is the process whereby the genetic material (or DNA) of a cell is altered by excessive exposure to mutagens (cigarette smoke, sunlight or chemical substances such as hydrogen peroxide). This change in the DNA is known to be a major cause of cancer.

Rooibos tea offers cancer protection in various ways. It is a potent anti-oxidant, which means that it 'mops up' free radicals. These are highly reactive molecules that are also produced during normal bodily processes. Free radicals can damage the DNA of cells, but anti-oxidants bind to the free radicals and try to de-activate them before they can cause any damage.

Rooibos tea also increases the level of natural anti-oxidants in the liver, which means that the liver's anti-oxidant status is increased.

The main flavonoids in rooibos are dihydrochalcone aspalthin, rutin, and orientin. Another flavonoid is rooibos herb is chrysoeriol (luteolin 3'-methyl ether). This flavonoid is known for antioxidant, antiinflammatory, antitumor, antimicrobial, and antiviral properties.

Furthermore, the tea stimulates the liver enzymes that metabolise (break down) carcinogens when they enter the body. Carcinogens are cancer-causing substances.

Researchers are quick to point out, however, that rooibos tea and other herbal teas aren't magic bullets. While they say that rooibos tea provides a natural, rich source of compounds beneficial to people's health, they should see these herbal teas as part of a healthy, sensible lifestyle that could alleviate the risk of cancer, and reduce its possible extent.

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Reishi tea may be a potent and viable cancer fighter, studies show!

The reishi mushroom has long held a distinct place in the annals of traditional Chinese medicine as being a potent herb for the achievement of overall well-being and longevity.
The mushroom is increasingly being mentioned as one of the herbs with a potential to be considered a viable anti-tumor and anti-cancer fighter in the modern age.


Known by its official name of ganoderma lucidum and its Chinese name of lingzhi, the reishi mushroom is mentioned in Shen Nong's Herbal Classic - one of the most celebrated and monumental works in Chinese medicine - as being the top-ranked of all herbs in the superior category.
The superior category is reserved for herbs that are effective for multiple diseases, are responsible for the maintenance and restoration of the body's balance, and can be taken for long periods of time without serious side effects.
By virtue of it being picked as the most superior of all the herbs, it has enjoyed special reverence amongst practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine


The reishi mushroom has a rich content of organic polysaccharides and triterpenes (known as ganoderic acid).
These natural nutrients have been proven to enhance the body's immune functions and hold the potential for the treatment and prevention of many types of cancer.


Studies of reishi in cancer research have been largely conducted in Japan and China .
In 1986, Dr. Fukumi Morishige, M.D., Ph.D, a renowned Japanese surgeon and a member of the Linus Pauling Institute of Science and Medicine, found that reishi may be used as part of cancer treatment for cases given up as hopeless.


He found that the active anti-cancer constituent in this mushroom is a polysaccharide called beta-D-glucan, which is thought to stimulate or modulate the immune system by activating immune cells, as well as enhance the immunoglobin levels to produce a heightened response to foreign cells.



Meanwhile, two successive studies by Chinese scientists in 2008 found that reishi mushrooms, combined with green tea, results in synergetic effects that inhibited the growth of tumors and delayed the time of death in mice with sarcomas.


As studies mount that show reishi mushrooms may be potentially viable in the treatment for cancer, it won't be far-fetched to conceive of a future where even Western cancer medicine may come to embrace this ancient herb.
The process may have already begun as reishi has recently been added to the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia and Therapeutic Compendium.


However, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not yet approved the use of reishi as a form of medical treatment.
Observers note that it may take a several more years for the requisite tests and trials to be completed before the herb is approved for medical use. But certainly, more than 2 millenia's worth of knowledge gained from human observations would have a profound impact on any course of action that the authorities of Western medicine may take as regards this highly exalted herb.


And who knows, the reishi tea infusion or decoction might even approach the popularity of green tea, black tea or oolong tea as more people discover the healing anti-cancer properties of the mushroom.

As mushrooms possess chitin, a polymer that locks up the medicinal constituents, preparations of the reishi are unlikely to be medicinally active unless there has been a prolonged extraction in hot water.

As such, taking reishi tea is a recommended method upon which to derive the health benefits of the mushroom. To make reishi tea, add a handful of thinly sliced or pulverized reishi (either fresh or dried) to a pot of boiling water.

Let the mix simmer for about two hours. The resulting reishi tea should be fairly bitter in taste but packs in it a wallop in terms of health benefits, especially ones that fight tumors and cancers.

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Turmeric tea shows promise in anti-cancer fight!

When you think of India, chances are that bright orange-yellow is the color that almost immediately crosses your mind. That flashy color is often associated with either the fabric of the native sari dresses or the fiery curry dishes that the country is famous for.

The rich yellow hue is also the color of one of India's most famous spices, the turmeric, which is a key ingredient in many of the sub-continent's popular gastronomic treats, including the venerable curry.

But did you know that the turmeric also imparts countless health benefits? For centuries, turmeric has been recognized in the realm of Ayurvedic medicine as a potent antiseptic and antibacterial agent. Turmeric has often been used as a paste and topically applied to patients suffering from bruises, cuts, eczema and even psoriasis. It has also been used to treat those with mumps, measles and chickenpox. It is also known to have effective anti-inflammatory properties, and hence is extensively used to relieve arthritic pain.

But an area where turmeric is thought to have promising health prospects is in cancer prevention and treatment. It had been observed that people whose diets are rich in turmeric seem to have generally lower rates of breast, lung, colon and prostate cancer. In Okinawa where turmeric tea is very popular, the people there have some of the world's longest average life expectancy rates.

This is largely attributed to the substance known as curcumin. It is known as the principal curcuminoid of the popular spice. The curcuminoid is an antioxidant polyphenol compound which is believed to help the body's cells resist damage brought on by free radicals.

In studies involving mice, researchers found that curcumin helped stop the spread of breast cancer cells to the lung. The U.S. National Institutes of Health had undertaken clinical trials on possible curcumin treatment for pancreatic cancer, multiple myeloma and colorectal cancer.

While turmeric is primarily ingested through its inclusion as a spice in curry dishes, it has also been increasingly consumed as a tea. To make, boil about 4 cups of water into a small pot. Then add 1 tsp. of turmeric and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes. This process will extract the curcumin from the turmeric. Ginger, honey or lemon may be added to enhance the flavor of the.

So the next time you enjoy a nice hot plate of curry, remember that its cheerful yellow color is derived from the spice that has a great potential in preventing, treating and possibly healing cancer. And while you can't possibly eat curry every single day, you can derive the health benefits of the turmeric spice via a nice hot cup of tasty turmeric tea.

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Green Tea may be effective against cancer and leukemia, recent study suggests!

Several studies have suggested that green tea and green tea extract have cancer-fighting abilities, possibly because the tea's concentration of antioxidants such as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) help minimize the cell damage that can lead to cancer. EGCG is considered to be the most active component in green tea and is the best researched of all the green tea polyphenols.


A recent study conducted at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota has demonstrated the benefits of green tea in adult sufferers of leukemia. EGCG (the key antioxidant in green tea) has been shown to kill cancer cells taken from leukaemia patients and put in a test tube.


Doctors at the clinic reported that four patients had started using green tea on their own last year, after hearing media reports about its health benefits. All four patients had CLL (chronic lymphocytic leukemia). In the months after they started drinking green tea or taking green tea extracts, three of them showed measurable improvements in their condition. The fourth patient who did not show an improvement in her cancer overall, still exhibited an increase in her white blood cell count.


In one case, a patient had been showing progressive swelling in her lymph nodes before she starting taking green tea capsules twice a day. Swelling of the lymph nodes is one of the characteristic symptoms of CLL. However, over the next year the patient's lymph nodes steadily reduced in size.


Other research has come up with an explanation for why regular green tea drinkers have a low incidence of gastric and oesophageal cancers. Researchers have found that EGCG, the anti-cancer compound in green tea, works in a similar way to the anti-cancer drug methotrexate. Both work by blocking the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase, which is essential to the growth of tumour cells. However, the benefit of EGCG over methotrexate is that it has far fewer side effects.


The same study also showed that blocking the dihydrofolate reductase enzyme lowers folic acid levels. This side effect could explain the increased risk of birth defects and explains why some studies suggest green tea increases the risk of birth defects such as spina bifida.


However, in a study conducted at Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program of Northern California in Oakland , researchers found that women who drank more than one half cup of caffeinated green tea every day doubled their odds of conceiving. Women seeking to conceive or who are already pregnant are advised to consult their medical practitioner about the risks associated with drinking green tea.

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Tea For Cancer

Cancer or malignant neoplasm is a class of diseases in which a group of cells display uncontrolled growth (division beyond the normal limits), invasion (intrusion on and destruction of adjacent tissues), and sometimes metastasis (spread to other locations in the body via lymph or blood).

There are many herbs that can be made into tea that are effective in treating cancer. The tea infusion can help and aid in combating cancer through several ways:

• They stimulate the immune system,
• They break up accumulations (tumors)
• They stimulate blood circulation
• They assist in the detoxification process.

It should be made clear that it has not been conclusively proven that tea and other herbal tea infusions are a "cure" for cancer. Nevertheless, they can be a beneficial aspect in the overall efforts to treat cancer.

Oncologist will tell always tell cancer patients that only the body itself can assure a complete recovery from cancer but the herbs and teas are meant to strengthen the body and aid in that effort.

Here are the teas that have been widely considered as helpful in the overall efforts to treat and combat cancer:

1. Green Tea
2. White Tea
3. Black Tea
4. Oolong Tea
5. Ginseng Tea
6. Rooibos Tea
7. Agaricus Tea
8. Anamu Tea
9. Andrographis Tea
10. Angelica Tea
11. Ashwagandha Tea
12. Bilberry Tea
13. Birch Tea
14. Blackberry Tea
15. Black Cohosh Tea
16. Boswellia Tea
17. Burdock Tea
18. Bupleurum Tea
19. Calendula Tea
20. Cardamom Tea
21. Cat's Claw Tea
22. Chaga Tea
23. Chai Tea
24. Chaparral Tea
25. Chicory Tea
26. Cleavers Tea
27. Cordyceps Tea
28. Cranberry Tea
29. Curculigo Tea
30. Dong Quai Tea
31. Echinacea Tea
32. Eleuthero Tea
33. Essiac Tea
34. Eucommia Tea
35. Fennel Tea
36. Figwort Tea
37. Flax Tea
38. Goji Tea
39. Goldenseal Tea
40. Gynostemma Tea
41. Iceland Moss Tea
42. Jasmine Tea
43. Lemongrass Tea
44. Lovage Tea
45. Milk Thistle Tea
46. Mistletoe Tea
47. Olive Leaf Tea
48. Oregon Grape Root Tea
49. Pau D'Arco Tea
50. Periwinkle Tea
51. Quassia Tea
52. Reishi Tea
53. Safflower Tea
54. Sage Tea
55. Sheep Sorrel Tea
56. Slippery Elm Tea
57. Tribulus Tea
58. Turkey Rhubarb Tea
59. Turmeric Tea
60. Wheatgrass Tea
61. Yerba Mate Tea

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