How It Works
Bottom Line: Essiac has not been shown to treat or prevent cancer.Essiac was developed in the 1920s by Rene Caisse, a Canadian nurse. It contains four botanicals:
burdock root,
sheep sorrel,
slippery elm, and
rhubarb. Laboratory studies have shown that Essiac has antioxidant and cytotoxic properties. But results are conflicting on Essiac's antiproliferative effects. Essiac prevented growth of prostate cancer cells but stimulated growth of breast cancer cells. In a study of breast cancer patients, Essiac did not improve health related quality of life. Well designed clinical trials are needed.
Purported Uses
To treat cancer
Laboratory studies showed conflicting results. One observational study of breast cancer patients showed no improvement in quality of life with Essiac.
To treat HIV and AIDS
No clinical evidence supports this use.
To stimulate the immune system
In laboratory studies, rhubarb, an ingredient of Essiac, suppressed activity of part of the immune system, but these results are not always transferable to the human body. There is no proof from clinical trials to support this use.
As a tonic
No scientific evidence supports this use.
Warnings
Because it is not regulated by the FDA, this product may be contaminated with other botanicals and/or the concentration listed on the label may be inaccurate.
Do Not Take If
You have kidney or liver problems.
You are undergoing chemotherapy (in a case report, levels of a chemotherapy drug were increased in the blood of a patient also taking Essiac, with the potential for increased toxicity. This may be due to inhibition of metabolism of the chemotherapy drug in the liver.)
Side Effects
Nausea and vomiting
Diarrhea (Note: excessive diarrhea may cause abnormally low levels of potassium in the blood)
Contact dermatitis (redness and inflammation of the skin)
Anaphylactic shock (severe allergic reaction) has been reported after use of Essiac.
Brand Name
Essiac, Vitaltea®, Flor-Essence®
Clinical Summary
Essiac was developed in the 1920s by Rene Caisse, a Canadian nurse. It is a formulation of four botanicals: burdock root, sheep sorrel root, slippery elm bark, and rhubarb root (1) (2). Despite insufficient clinical evidence (13), many cancer patients use Essiac tea as an alternative treatment based on anecdotal evidence.
Essiac demonstrated antioxidant (12) and cytotoxic properties in vitro (6) (11), but stimulated growth of human breast cancer cells both via estrogen receptor (ER) dependent and ER independent pathways (3). Data is conflicting on Essiac's antiproliferative effects on prostate cancer cells (7) (8). A retrospective study of breast cancer patients found that Essiac did not improve quality of life or mood (10). Well designed clinical trials are needed to evaluate Essiac.
Because Essiac inhibits cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes (6), it can interfere with some chemotherapy drugs (4). Cancer patients should use caution.
Purported uses
Cancer treatment
Health maintenance
HIV and AIDS
Immunostimulation
Constituents
Sheep sorrel (Rumex acetosella)
Slippery elm (Ulmus fulva)
Burdock (Arctium lappa)
Rhubarb (Rheum palmatum)
Mechanism of Action
Rhubarb and sheep sorrel contain anthraquinones that stimulate secretion of mucosa and water, as well as stimulate peristalsis. Additional activities of anthraquinones isolated from rhubarb show stimulation of IL-1, IL-6, and TNF in vitro and tumor necrosis against sarcoma 37, breast cancer, and Ehrlich cell lines in mice. Burdock root can induce hypoglycemia in animal models. Tannin extract may induce macrophage response and the lignan and sesquiterpene extracts were shown to inhibit platelet activating factor (PAF) in vitro
(1) (2). Essiac was also shown to inhibit cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes in vitro
(6).
Contraindications
Theoretically, patients with renal or hepatic insufficiency should not consume this product.
Adverse Reactions
Reported: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, hypokalemia due to chronic diarrhea, contact dermatitis, and anaphylaxis
(3)
Herb-Drug Interactions
Cytochrome P450:
Case report: Decreased clearance of an experimental chemotherapy drug was reported in a patient taking Essiac. This may be due to inhibition of cytochrome P450 isoenzymes by Essiac
(6).
(4)
References
- Tamayo C, et al. The chemistry and biological activity of herbs used in Flor-essence herbal tonic and Essiac. Phytotherapy Res 2000;14:1-14.
- Locock RA. Essiac. Can Pharm J 1997;130:18-19,51.
- Kulp KS, Montgomery JL, Nelson DO, et al. Essiac and Flor-Essence herbal tonics stimulate the in vitro growth of human breast cancer cells. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment 2006; 98:249-259.
- Geyer C, et al. Dose-schedule optimization the hexacyclic camptothecin (CPT) analog dx-8951f: a phase I and pharmacokinetic study with escalation of both treatment duration and dose (meeting abstract). Proc Annu Meet Am Soc Clin Oncol 1999;18.
- Kaegi E. Unconventional therapies for cancer: 1. Essiac. The Task Force on Alternative Therapies of the Canadian Breast Cancer Research Initiative. CMAJ 1998;158:897-902.
- Seely D, Kenney DA, Myers SP, et al. In vitro analysis of the herbal compound Essiac. Anticancer Res 2007;27(6B):3875-82.
- Ottenweller J, Putt K, Blumenthal EJ, et al. Inhibition of prostate cancer-cell proliferation by Essiac. J Altern Complement Med 2004 Aug;10(4):687-91.
- Eberding A, Madera C, Xie S, et al. Evaluation of the antiproliferative effects of Essiac on in vitro and in vivo models of prostate cancer compared to paclitaxel. Nutr Cancer 2007;58(2):188-96.
- Al-Sukhni W, Grunbaum A, Fleshner N. Remission of hormone-refractory prostate cancer attributed to Essiac. Can J Urol 2005;12(5):2841-2.
- Zick SM, Sen A, Feng Y, et al. Trial of Essiac to ascertain its effect in women with breast cancer (TEA-BC). J Altern Complement Med 2006 Dec;12(10):971-80.
- Taj J, Cheung S, Wong S, Lowe C. In vitro comparison of Essiac and Flor-Essence on human tumor cell lines. Oncol Rep 2004 Feb;11(2):471-6.
- Leonard SS, Keil D, Mehlman T, et al. Essiac tea: Scavenging of reactive oxygen species and effects on DNA damage. J Ethnopharmacol 2006 ;103(2):288-96.
- Kaegi E. Unconventional therapies for cancer: 1. Essiac. The Task Force on Alternative Therapies of the Canadian Breast Cancer Research Initiative. CMAJ 1998;158(7):897-902.
