4 vs 8 Herb Essiac Tea: Differences & What to Know

Trying to choose between four-herb and eight-herb Essiac tea? This page breaks down the differences, how the formula evolved, and what to look for when comparing options—so you can decide which approach best fits your preferences.

4-Herb vs 8-Herb Essiac Tea at a Glance

The 4 herb formula is the first version of Essiac. However, Rene Caisse later developed an eight herb formula.

8 Herb Essiac is the Most Up-to-Date Essiac Tea Formula Available 

• Historically, Rene Caisse believed, based upon her research, that the eight herb formula outperformed four herb blends.
  
• This research is available in the book The Essiac Report by Richard Thomas. You can read this book for free right on our website. The research occured from the years of 1959 through 1967 at the Brusch Medical Research Center in Cambridge MA, which is just 30 miles from where our headquarters are today.
  
• You can see some more current research on 8 herb Essiac here: Preclinical study of genuine essiac formula.
• By using Genuine Essiac™, you'll know that you are getting the Rene Caisse-approved formula every time. You can learn more about The Rene Caisse story.

 

 

Hear Bryan Paulhus Speak at the Southern Utah Holistic Health Summit On the Varying Versions of the Formula

 

8 Herb Essiac Contains the Original 4 Herbs Plus 4 More as Determined by Rene Caisse and Dr. Charles Brusch

• This updated Rene Caisse formula includes the original four herbs in the exact same ratios as before, but with four more herbs added to the blend that Rene Caisse and Dr. Charles Brusch chose specifically with the goal of enhancing the benefits of the original four.
  
  

• Historically, some companies have warned consumers that if a product does not carry a particular trademark, they are not getting the “original.” This type of messaging can create the impression that choosing a non-trademarked version is somehow problematic or that a trademark establishes the superiority of a particular formula. A trademark, however, identifies a brand; it does not by itself determine the quality or optimal composition of a formula.

• We clearly distinguish between the four-herb Essiac formula and the expanded eight-herb formula we offer. According to the historical account presented in The Essiac Report, René Caisse continued her work with the formula and added four additional herbs, which she believed improved its potency. Our eight-herb blend is based on this expanded formulation.

• Rather than suggesting that consumers should choose a product simply because it carries a particular trademark, we believe they should be able to understand what is actually in the formula. That is why we clearly disclose all eight herbs in our blend and explain the historical basis for the expanded formula, allowing consumers to make their own informed choice.

 

Eight Herb Essiac Has a Bigger Serving Size to Ensure You Still Get the First Four Herbs in the Same Ratio 

• The newer Rene Caisse formula was put into use in 1967
• Because of the addition of the four herbs, it had a higher serving size of 3 oz. instead of 2 oz.
• That way, the first-version four herbs are still being given in the same amount – it's just that you'll have the four additional herbs added on top. So you're not losing out on anything by using eight herb Genuine Essiac.
• 📺 Watch this documentary about Rene Caisse's research showing her working with the eight herb formula.
• Not sure which Essiac to buy? See how to choose the best Essiac tea.

Did you know that four herb Essiac is typically cheaper for Essiac companies to make?

In spite of that, we have never chosen to sell it, even when customers ask for it. We know there are reputable four herb companies out there, and we leave the four herb formula to them. However, knowing what we know, we choose to use only the eight herb formula for ourselves and for our family. See more about the eight ingredients in Genuine Essiac.

 

The eight herb formula was never released to the public, which is why it can be harder to find.

Our family was given the formula because Rene Caisse and Dr. Charles Brusch trusted that we would continue their mission of making Essiac Tea available to all at an affordable price. They also trusted that we would not alter the formula or method of preparation in any way. View the document showing our connection to Rene Caisse and Dr. Brusch.

Please keep in mind that it's common for products and formulas to evolve with time. Please take advantage of the resources you have to learn about both and decide which you would prefer.

➡️ Yes! I'd like to order my supply of Genuine Essiac today

 

Order our Starter Pack: Four 4-oz. Bags (1 lb.)

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.

 

See the Man Who Researched Essiac Tea Alongside Rene Caisse and Dr. Charles Brusch

Hear directly from Dr. Charles Brusch on his findings about eight herb Essiac by watching this video. Dr. Brusch was President Kennedy's personal physician. Dr. Brusch passed this most up-to-date Rene Caisse formula onto our family. You can see that document about our proof of authenticity here.

 

 

Powdered herbs should be non-negotiable when it comes to Essiac tea

The other important thing to know is that Rene Caisse always used powdered herbs for her eight herb Essiac formula. The Ojibwe Medicine Man that she learned the formula from made it clear she was to use powdered herbs, just as they did. They used grinding stones to pulverize their herbs to ensure that they could consume them whole without having to throw any part of the valuable plant away. You can learn more about the importance of powdered herbs in this article.

While today we have slightly more modern equipment, we are still using the very same powdered herbs that the Ojibwe did when they made this formula. It's far better to consume the powdered herbs than to throw them in the trash. It's also easier to create a potent brew when the herbs are already partially broken down. Learn more about the importance of powdered Essiac herbs.

Here is a clip of a video of Rene Caisse using powdered herbs.

 

How to Brew Eight Herb Essiac

It's simple and quick. You can follow our Essiac tea Preparation Guide to learn how. In addition, each Essiac tea order comes with complete instructions.

What Sets 8 Herb Genuine Essiac Apart

Our company is the only one that stands behind its Essiac with a 6-Month Money-Back Guarantee. If you are not satisfied, you don't pay! This is something that none of the 4 herb companies offer to our knowledge. It seems that they can't stand behind their product like we can. We also offer a Price Match Guarantee to ensure you're getting the best deal on Essiac every time.

 

 

The Bottom Line

If you're comparing 4-herb and 8-herb Essiac tea, here are the key differences to understand:

• Rene Caisse worked with Dr. Charles Brusch for years refining her herbal formula, and the blend she ultimately prepared contained 8 herbs, not just the original 4.
• The additional 4 herbs were included to complement the original formula while preserving the proportions of the original 4 herbs.
• Because of the added herbs, the traditional serving of the 8-herb formula is 3 oz., compared with 2 oz. for the 4-herb version.
• If authenticity is important to you, always read the ingredient list rather than relying on the product name. Not all Essiac teas contain the same herbal blend.

 

Ready to Try the Authentic 8-Herb Essiac Formula?

Choose the package that fits your routine — backed by our industry-leading 6-Month Money-Back Guarantee.

Every Genuine Essiac order includes:

✔️ Authentic 8-herb formula

✔️ Enough tea to last for months (saving you money)

✔️ Simple preparation—make two weeks at a time in about 10 minutes

✔️ Free 2-3 Day U.S. shipping. Fast DHL Options on most international orders.

Related Pages

6 things to look for to know if the product you're looking at is Genuine Essiac

Benefits of eight herb Essiac tea

FAQ about eight herb Essiac tea