Re: 4-herb recipe vs. 8-herb recipe

The 4-herb recipe is the way to go. I've used it for years and brew it myself, it tastes so much stronger and fresher than the commercially bottled version although I'm sure they both work effectively.

The original recipe was brewed with "Indian Rhubarb" as the four herbs were stated as "the medicine man" had shown the Breast Cancer patient the herbs "growing" in the area. And Turkey Rhubarb only grows in China and Tibet. So Rene Caisse used Indian Rhubarb but as she aged and could not wild craft this herb any longer she found a very good substitute (Turkey Rhubarb)that had the same qualities and attributes of laxative, digestive tonic for removing the debris that the Burdock root and Sheep Sorrel broke down. American Rhubarb should not be used - it does not have near the strength of Indian or Turkish Rhubarb.

Indian Rhubarb is the best to use if you can get it as its malic acid also carries oxygen to all parts of the body, aiding in healing and promoting a positive and balancing effect.

Essiac, the 4-herb formula, is a well balanced formula, designed to "cleanse the blood" of toxins in Chinese herbal medicine criteria. Essiac is largely focused on clearing heat from the blood and blood division in warm diseases, and to some degree, relieving blood stasis.
Red Clover (used in some Essiac formulas) is cool, sour and clears heat from the blood. Red clover contains a blood thinning principle known as "coumarin", from which the drug "coumadin" is designed synthetically, known commonly as "Warfarin"). The extra herbs were added after the four herb tea found success. I think they're unnecessary. If they are desired, it can be added but they may also add to the problem described above relating to Red Clover & blood thinners.
The most relevant criticism of the addition of other herbs is that they make the people believe they are getting a bonus value associated with these additions which does not actually increase the effectiveness of the product, and might even decrease the effectiveness however, it is very likely to increase the appeal to the consumer, i.e. it could be primarily a marketing ploy.

Just MHO Tweet