HISTORY OF ESSIAC: 1930s TO PRESENT

Canadian Nurse, Rene Caisse, is the originator of this blend. She was born in Bracebridge, Ontario, Canada August 11, 1888. The name “essiac” came from the reversal of the letters in her surname. Rene completed her nurse’s training at age 22. In her mid-30s was when she first became exposed to the information that would later become her life’s mission and work. As the story goes, Rene was working as a head nurse when she noticed a patient with a severely scarred and disfigured breast. Toronto doctors had informed this woman that she had advanced breast cancer and that she should have her breast removed immediately. This woman apparently had a conversation with an Indian (Turtle Island People) Medicine Man, who told her she had cancer and that he could cure it. The patient opted for the more natural route. She was shown the herbs to brew a tea with, and to take it daily. After 30 years, the patient had no recurrence of breast cancer.

The patient told Nurse Caisse the names of the herbs. She wrote these down, not pursuing anything with the tea or herbs until 1924 when her aunt was diagnosed with inoperable stomach cancer, and given 6 months to live. Rene made arrangements with a physician she was working with, Dr. R.O. Fisher, and they began giving a tea to her aunt. Rene’s aunt lived an additional 21 years, with no recurrence of cancer—just as the lady with breast cancer had done. Dr. Fisher asked Rene to treat some of his terminally ill patients. At that time, the tea blend contained 8 herbs. Rene worked further with her blend until she refined it down to the four herbs commonly used today. By injecting mice with human cancer cells, she tested each herb until she was satisfied that she had the most potent blend. Rene experimented with injecting the Sheep Sorrel into muscle tissue, while administering the other three herbs by mouth. (Ed. Note: We strongly advise you against injecting this blend, or any preparation without the consent and monitoring of a physician. It can be extremely dangerous, and Rene performed this under a physician’s direction.)

For the next several years, Rene encountered resistance from many in the medical community. She persevered, in spite of threats, and attempts to persuade her to divulge her recipe. After having treated her mother in 1929 for cancer, she later opened a clinic in Bracebridge, in 1935 at the age of 47. She treated several hundred patients a week, as well as traveling to treat others. Rene married in 1938. She closed the clinic in 1941 at the age of 53. Dr. Charles A. Brusch set up animal and human studies of essiac, but a laboratory report dated April 1960 concluded that it was impossible to analyze. Interest in essiac once again grew in 1977, after an article, “Could Essiac Halt Cancer,” was published in Homemakers Magazine. In August 1977, a small, nearly bankrupt, pharmaceutical company contacted Rene, proposing to do human clinical trials, if she would give them exclusive rights for marketing essiac. She finally acquiesced to give them a version of the formula for one dollar, and immediately regretted her decision.

The company, Resperpin Corporation of Toronto, never fulfilled its promises to Rene, and all studies were terminated. Furthermore, Rene’s dream, always to make this formula available for all, was never realized by Resperpin. Their prices have been exorbitantly high, and the product continues to bring in large revenues—with no substantial formal trials, studies or price decreases. Despite a new company owning the rights to market this blend, not much has changed. Rene, sadly, left this earth on December 26, 1978, after never fully recovering from a fractured hip the previous September. Nor did she realize her dreams in how this tea could become recognized as a viable option for those facing cancer, arthritis, diabetes or other chronic illnesses.

For a more detailed history of Rene and this blend, please read the book:
“Essiac Essentials.”

This information is provided for educational purposes and to promote discussion only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat or claim cure for any disease or imbalance in the body.

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