Monday, January 24, 2011

Essiac Tea Side Effects and Warnings

 Essiac is an herbal tea made up of  Burdock root, sheep sorrel and Indian rhubarb root. The tea may be purchased as dried herbs, or already brewed into tea, or extracted into tinctures, concoctions, or other liquid forms.
There is a belief among many people, that herbs must be better because they are natural. While I believe that natural can most definitely be better, we are wise to remember that many medicines have also come from plants, and that many plants are poisonous, or can cause some nasty side effects. Natural does not necessarily mean better. That is the most important reason that you should get any herbal remedies from a practitioner who understands the herbs and how they may affect people.
 Essiac  tea plays an important role in strengthening the immune system and reducing the tumor size.  It also helps to purify and detoxify the blood. When you are fighting cancer, there are 2 important considerations. The first is that your immune system was designed to kill cancer cells. If you have cancer then your immune system has failed in some way. Second, most cancers are as a result, or aggravated by, the prolonged or acute exposure to foreign chemicals and toxins.  There are also other purported benefits like cell repair and restoring the lost energy levels to cancer to cancer victims.
Despite the known benefits, there are also potential side effects one must be aware of.
Gastro-intestinal side effects-  nausea and constipation are possible but rare. Diarrhea and vomiting may be occur at the beginning of treatment, however if this does happen, Rene Caisse would recommend that you take a break for a few days from taking it, and then resume at a lower dosage.
Blood sugar issues- Some people show a decrease or increase in blood sugar levels when consuming the tea at the therapeutic dosage. If you are a diabetic, you should start with a small amount and gradually increase the dosage, while monitoring your blood sugars, and adjusting insulin if needed. As a caution, you should never self medicate with herbs. Always consult a practitioner who knows your medical history.
Many people will experience frequent urination. This is a symptom of detoxification, and is a welcome sign that the herbs are working. Drink plenty of water to replace fluids lost, and flush out toxins.
Easiac may cause blemishes  for some people. This is another sign of detoxification and is often transient. Continue to consume your tea, and you will likely find that your complexion clears up and is more radiant than ever.
Cough and cold are normal detox symptoms experienced at the beginning of any detox program.. not just with this combination of herbs. Persevere if you can. Most of these signs are early detoxification results,  and subsequently will disappear.
Of particular note... you must not take Essiac if you are pregnant. Some of the herbs could trigger uterine contractions.
Also if you have kidney stones, or are prone to kidney stone, you may want to avoid using this tea. The oxalic acid in rhubarb could increase the risk of stones. This is a balance however, as one of the herbs is said to dissolve kidney stones, so it is likely that this caution is of little consequence.
Over-all, essiac tea is a natural remedy for cancer, skin conditions, detoxification and more, which may be consumed daily over a period of time with very little risk.
Shelley Penney is a retired registered nurse with a continued, insatiable thirst for health and wellness information. Although Shelley hails from traditional medical training, she is always searching for ways in which the natural world of healing herbs, foods and supplements can intersect with traditional medicine and benefit us all.

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