essiac

merlin

What do you ladies think of essiac? Mum has sent away for a bottle of it. Just wanted to make sure this herbal drug is o.k to take.

mmingo777

Sorry, but I'm not familiar with this drug.  If its herbal and organic, it should be safe to take, but I don't have a clue about its effectiveness.  I'll do some research on it. 

otter

Sorry, mmingo, but this just isn't true:  "If its herbal and organic, it should be safe to take...".

The heart drug digitalis was originally obtained from the foxglove plant (Digitalis purpura).  So, it's herbal and organic, but it is extremely toxic.  Even a slight overdose can be fatal.

The highly potent toxin "ricin" comes from the castor bean plant, Ricinus communis.  So, it's herbal and organic, and very deadly.  

The extract that was used to execute Socrates was made from the poisonous hemlock plant (Conium maculatum).  Herbal, organic, and lethal.

The highly active and potentially lethal drug atropine (originally called "belladonna") comes from the nightshade plant, Atropa belladonna.  BTW, deadly nightshade is in the same taxonomic family (Solanaceae) as some very well-known plants:  tomato, potato, eggplant, ... oh, and tobacco.  Herbal and organic. 

The beautiful and widely cultivated plant, Oleander (Nerium oleander), is extremely toxic.  Some people consider oleander, like castor bean, to be one of the most deadly plants in cultivation ... yet, it's quite herbal and organic.

Taxotere (docetaxel) and Taxol (paclitaxel) were originally extracted from the needles (Taxotere) or the bark (Taxol) of yew trees.  Herbal for sure, and quite organic ... but we know how toxic those drugs are.

Sorry.  That "herbal and organic = safe" thing is just one of my pet peeves.

otter 

ritajean

Sharon,

The tea was used as a cancer treatment in Canada for several years (and often with good results) but was never approved by the FDA.  I asked my doctor about it and he said there was nothing in it that could hurt me but he felt it was a farce and not worth the money.  He just didn't want me to take it DURING chemo treattments.  From all that I've read on it, many felt it was passed over because it was such a cheap monetary alternative to the current cancer drugs and regiment.  Who knows.........For those of you not familiar with essiac, its story is an interesting read.

Rita

carolynf

Sharon,

I had a friend give me a bag of the tea (it was not the already made stuff).  It was a little lengthy in cooking it up and the taste was not very appealing.  I would recommend talking to your onc. before taking any alternative herbs.  My onc was very open ended and he researched some things that I asked to take (my brother read a lot of books in regards to cancer).  I took milk thistle, flaxseed, caltrate, l-cartinine and noni juice.  I agree w/Otter in regards to not all herbs are safe w/chemo.  Good luck.

Carolyn

otter

Yes, I was a bit too harsh with my list of all those toxic/lethal plant products.

I was trying to make the point that, just because something is derived from a green plant rather than a chemical factory, does not automatically mean that it is "safe", especially during cancer treatment.  Also, the idea that the active ingredients in "natural" products are somehow not "chemicals" is, well, ... silly.

Anyone can go out and harvest a bunch of weeds, grind them up, and market them with the claim that they'll aid in whatever ... because there is no requirement that the safety or effectiveness of that stuff be proven, or even tested.

Please, just be careful out there...

otter 

mmingo777

Otter - Thanks for recognizing the harshness, but you are right and I apologize for my ignorance.  I would never want to give anyone bum advice.  Thanks again.  That was only my second submission, I'll be more mindful in the future.   Terry