Essiac, given its name by Rene Caisse ("caisse" spelt backwards), consists of four main herbs that grow in the wilderness of Ontario, Canada. The original formula is believed to have its roots in native Canadian Ojibway medicine.
The four main herbs that make up Essiac are Burdock Root, Slippery Elm Inner Bark, Sheep Sorrel and Indian Rhubarb Root.
The four herbs may help normalize body systems by cleansing the blood, purging toxic build up, promoting cell repair and aiding in effective assimilation and elimination. When combined it is believed that their separate beneficial effects are enhanced.
DIRECTIONS FOR USE:
One unit (1.5 oz) of ESSIAC, the original proprietary herbal formula makes approximately 72 oz of ESSIAC. Store unopened in a cool dry place.
PREPARATION BY DECOCTION:
ESSIAC herbal powder comes with easy-to-follow instructions. A large pot (no aluminum or Teflon pots) with a lid, a metal stirring spoon and two glass quart jars to store the ESSIAC tea in are required. Please make sure all tools have been properly cleaned and sterilized in hot water.
Take one bottle of ESSIAC herbal powder (1.5oz container) and pour the herbal powder into a large soup pot. Add 88 ounces ( of distilled water purchased from your local grocery store. Please do not use tap water as the chlorine and the fluoride in the water may decrease the effectiveness of the tea.
Heat the batch over the stove stirring frequently, letting the batch simmer at a low boil for 10 minutes. Please watch the pot to make sure the herbs do not form a bubble on top of the water and boil over. Stirring the pot while the tea is warming up and while boiling will prevent the tea from boiling over.
After boiling the tea for 10 minutes, turn off the stove, cover the pot with the lid, and let the batch sit for 4 hours.
After letting the batch sit to steep for 4 hours, remove the lid and turn the stove back on. Bring the ESSIAC tea to a low boil for another 5 minutes. Do not let the tea boil over. Heating up the batch for the second time is to help prevent bacteria and mould from forming on the tea. Once you have boiled the ESSIAC tea for the second time, you should have a minimum 72 ounces of ESSIAC tea. The 72 ounces will last approximately two to three weeks depending on the dosage.
Let the ESSIAC Tea cool down before pouring the ESSIAC Tea into glass jars, (make sure the jars do not break). No special jars are required to store the concentrated ESSIAC tea. Just make sure the jars will not break when you are pouring the hot tea into them. A simple jar with a lid may be used. Once again make sure the jar is very clean to keep mould from developing on the top of the ESSIAC tea. ESSIAC is a natural product with no preservatives. Let the sediment on the bottom of batch settle for 16 hours before use. (The sediment will not harm you if you drink it) Please keep in mind, some people like to drink the sediment along with the tea, giving the bottle a good shake before pouring 2 ounces into a glass. Others prefer not to drink the sediment and will separate the essiac tea off from the sediment before storing the tea in the refrigerator.
