What Is Essiac Tea? Complete Guide to the Traditional Herbal Blend

Essiac tea is a traditional herbal blend that has been brewed and consumed for over 100 years. It originated with Canadian nurse Rene Caisse in the 1920s, who preserved the formula she received from an Ojibwa healer. Below, we cover everything you need to know: what it is, what's in it, how it's made, and how people have traditionally used it.

The information below reflects historical and traditional uses of these herbs and is provided for educational purposes only.

pouring essiac tea into cup

What Is Essiac Tea?

It's a traditional herbal tea blend. The tea originally contained 4 herbs when it was used by the Ojibwa. Rene Caisse and Dr. Charles Brusch expanded on the formula at the conclusion of their research that they performed at the Brusch Medical Research Center. The current formula has 8 herbs. You can learn more about 4 versus 8 herb Essiac. It's brewed at home using powdered herbs. It's popularity has largely spread through word of mouth long before the internet was widely accessible. View Essiac Tea Customer Stories.

History of Essiac Tea

While we certainly owe the original formula to the Ojibaw, Rene Caisse is the woman first credited with spreading the use of Essiac worldwide. She started this process in Canada. She made many attempts to research the product in Canada but it was a frustrating process because the Canadian Government caused roadblock after roadblock. Rene eventually went to the United States to partner with Dr. Charles Brusch in an attempt to bring legitimacy through research to this formula. Learn more about the History of Essiac Tea and Rene Caisse →

What's In Essiac Tea?

The tea contains: blessed thistle, burdock root, kelp, slippery elm bark, sheep sorrel, red clover, turkish rhubarb root and watercress.

For a detailed breakdown of each herb, see our Essiac Ingredients Guide →

How Is Essiac Tea Made?

It's easy! If you know how to boil pasta, you'll be able to make Genuine Essiac tea.

essiac tea preparation

Please note that depending on the formulation, some blends of Essiac tea will call for different brewing instructions. Our instructions come from Rene Caisse.

For complete brewing instructions, see our Genuine Essiac Tea Brewing Guide →

How Is Essiac Tea Traditionally Used?

It's traditionally taken at 3 oz. three times per day for at least six months. It should be taken at least 2 hours after eating and avoid eating until one hour after your Essiac serving – in other words, on an empty stomach.

See our Complete Essiac Tea Usage Guide →

Customer Story
Individual results vary and are not typical. Not medical advice.

Disclaimer: This is a Genuine Essiac™ customer’s personal experience. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Is Essiac Tea Safe?

It's been a widely well tolerated product since it's inception. However, it's important to consult with your healthcare provider before starting a new herbal tea.

See our Complete Essiac Tea Safety & Side Effects Guide →

Where Does Genuine Essiac Come From?

We have carried this formula for 21 years now. We source it from the most highly reputable US suppliers. We were taught how to make it by Dr. Charles Brusch, President Kennedy's Personal Physican and Rene Caisse's research assistant. Here more about how Genuine Essiac got the formula.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 4-herb and 8-herb Essiac?

The eight herb is the more up-to-date, complete formula. It contains the four original herbs in the same quantities and has four additional herbs designed to enhance the original four – so you aren't missing out on anything by choosing the eight herb blend.

How long does it take to make a batch?

It takes just 10 minutes once every two weeks to prepare a batch of Essiac tea.

How do I store brewed Essiac tea?

You may store it in a pitcher or container of your choice in the refrigerator. Many people store it in the same type of pitcher they would use for iced tea. Others prefer to keep it in mason jars.

Can I sweeten my Essiac tea?

Yes, you may sweeten it with all-natural no sugar added fruit or vegetable juice or stevia. You can also sweeten it with other options. For a longer list of ideas see How to Change the Taste of Essiac.

Disclaimer: This video shares the personal experience of a Genuine Essiac™ customer. Individual results vary and are not typical. Provided for informational purposes only. We provided complimentary product to this customer as a thank you for taking the time to share their honest experience.

Keep in Mind - Real Essiac has a slightly bitter taste, and it's due to what is in authentic Essiac tea.

If it's not slightly bitter, realize that you don't have real Essiac on your hands!
If you are not a fan of bitter flavors, never fear. You can add natural fruit or vegetable juice or stevia to your tea to help yourself out.
You can also add stevia or lemon juice.
See the full list of what you can add to Essiac tea here.
The older 4 herb Essiac formula was not quite as bitter, but keep in mind the old saying in herbals - bitter is better!

📺 Learn more about why 8 herb Essiac is the most complete formula by watching this video.

SUMMARY

Essiac tea contains the following eight ingredients: burdock root, blessed thistle, kelp, red clover, sheep sorrel, slippery elm bark, turkish rhubarb root and watercress. This is the new and improved formula that Rene Caisse developed as referenced in the book The Essiac Report by Richard Thomas.

Last Updated: 5/25/2026

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