Humans, time and again have looked to the offerings of nature to bring wellness into their lives.

While advancements in science and modern medicine have made humans less dependent, there are many gifts from mother nature that continue to be discovered, often outside of mainstream scientific communities. 

One such gift is the Essiac or the Ojibwa Tea. Essiac tea is a popular herbal tea that is used for its anticancer, detox and immunity stimulating properties.

To learn more about the Essiac tea, one needs to understand its origins and the history behind the tea. 

Looking for alternative health solutions? Check out New Day Health’s organic tea and supplements.

Origin Of Ojibwa Tea

Essiac tea finds its origin from the Ojibwa tribe that lives in the Midwestern United States and Canada. The Essiac tea or Ojibwa tea is a blend of natural herbs that were used by Ojibwa people as a natural remedy. 

The tea is a mixture of burdock root, Indian rhubarb root, sheep sorrel, and slippery elm, all used in a specific proportion and either in a powdered or cut form.

The herbal tea blend was made famous in the 1920s by a Canadian cancer nurse named Rene Caisse who promoted the Objiwa tea as a natural treatment for cancer. Of course today, there is no confirmed treatment for cancer, but at the time Caisse’s tea was the closest to a “treatment” 1920’s Canada had. 

This is why the tea is also called Essiac, which is Caisse spelled backward. 

It is said that she found out about the blend for a patient who had received it from an Ojibwa medicine man. Due to her extensive work with the blend that continued until the 1970s, the blend gained immense popularity. 

She followed the same recipe while helping some patients and is also said to have yielded positive results. She was even allowed by the then Canadian Health Minister to treat terminal cancer patients in her own clinic located in Bracebridge, Ontario, Canada.

Related: What to know about coffee and gout

What is Ojibwa Tea made of?

The original four-herb tea recipe of Ojibwa tea includes Burdock root, Indian rhubarb root, sheep sorrel, and slippery elm as the basics of the Essiac Tea and these ingredients have to be organic for the tea to do its job. 

All of these ingredients have been studied and have shown to benefit the human body in one way or another, many linking them either directly or indirectly to fighting cancer and its symptoms.

1. Burdock Root - Studies show that Burdock root contains compounds that promote blood circulation, improve skin texture, remove wrinkles, stabilize and lower blood sugar and many other benefits.
2. Indian Rhubarb Root - The root is said to provide relief from constipation and fever. It is also said to be high in antioxidants and in one study has shown signs of inhibiting the growth of liver cells in rats. The Indian rhubarb root is believed to help treat cancer and boost the immune system. Ho
3. Slippery elm - Major benefits of slippery elm have been linked with curing coughing or bronchitis, reducing diarrhea, and irritable bowel syndrome.
4. Sheep sorrel - Sheep sorrel is said to have cancer-fighting properties along with anti-inflammatory properties. This plant is also linked with fighting against diarrhea and fever. 

Related: What are the different types of alternative health care solutions?

Benefits of Ojibwa Tea

Since Essiac tea is a combination of these four herbs and plants, it is said to possess many benefits. 

The tea is linked to reducing the effects of many illnesses such as HIV, Cancer, and Diabetes. Other than being anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory in nature, the tea also has no caffeine, which only adds to its list of health benefits.

The tea blend was consumed by Ojibwa people long before it was introduced to outsiders through Rene Caisse after 1922.

The major benefits of drinking Essiac tea or Ojibwa tea are:

It fights against inflammation

Ojibwa tea stimulates the release of anti-inflammatory compounds within the body. By doing so, it helps the body fight against inflammation that is mostly caused due to a weak immune system and helps counter the pain caused by arthritis, cancer, and other illnesses.

Strengthens the immune system

Regular consumption of Ojibwa tea is linked to an increase in cell activity responsible for the strengthening of the immune system. 

Detoxes the body 

Inclusion of Burdock root in the preparation of Essiac tea gives it a detoxifying quality. Not only does the tea lack caffeine, but it is also said to be more efficient in detoxifying the body than green tea. The antioxidant properties of this tea are greater than red wine, green tea, and cocoa. 

Related: 3 Day Detox: Everything you Need to Know

Helps with gastrointestinal problems 

Prepared using slippery elm, Ojibwa tea is said to help with gastrointestinal problems. Slippery elm helps with anti-inflammation that is usually a symptom of said problems. 

The ingredient is also effective in reflux stimulation in the gastrointestinal tract, that aids protection against ulcers and acidity.

New day Health’s Essiac tea is not the only way to promote positive gastrointestinal health, try the cape aloe cleanse to relieve constipation and bloating.

Can help fights against cancer and major diseases 

Essiac tea is linked with the prevention of damage to cells and DNA, thus aiding cancer prevention. A test-tube study has linked the tea with blocking breast cancer and leukemia cells when administered in high concentrations.

The anti-oxidant properties of Essiac tea have been widely appreciated by those who have been consuming it for a long time and on a regular basis.

For some, drinking the tea has heavily reduced the symptoms of cancer, thus making living with the disease more bearable. 

Related: How to Boost Your Immune System During Chemo

Conclusion

The organic method of preparation, along with the natural ingredients and rich indigenous history of the Ojibwa Native Americans is what has made Essiac tea so popular, even today.

Although the four-herb Ojibwa tea recipe can not cure disease indefinitely, it is important to note that it has improved the health of many because of its purely organic ingredients.

Try our New Day Tea E-Blend yourself! Based on this Ojibwa four-herb tea: