Essiac Tea Research & Herbal Studies | Plant Compounds & Traditional Use
Join a research discussion on Essiac tea featuring scientists and educators exploring plant compounds, traditional herbal practices, and preclinical findings. This page shares educational perspectives to help you better understand the herbs and ongoing areas of study.
Researchers answer common questions about Essiac tea.
Researchers answer common questions about Essiac tea.
There is growing scientific interest in traditional herbal preparations and the plant compounds they contain. Essiac tea, a blend of several herbs, is part of this broader area of study.
At Genuine Essiac™, we draw from historical sources, traditional herbal knowledge, and modern research to share educational information that helps you better understand the herbs in this traditional tea blend.
Research and education continue to play an important role in helping people learn more about traditional herbal preparations like Essiac tea.
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Pour yourself a nice beverage and settle in for this video discussion — it's a meaty call, but many viewers find it well worth the time. In it, you'll hear a thoughtful conversation about the herbs traditionally used in Essiac tea, along with perspectives on the plant compounds researchers have studied.
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Because research into herbs and plant compounds is ongoing, we periodically update this page as new information becomes available. You may also wish to sign up for our newsletter if you’d like to receive occasional updates when new educational material is added.
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The call was hosted by Esther Black, a long-time natural health educator who has taken an interest in traditional herbal preparations, including Essiac tea.
Featured Speakers
Leonel Mondragon participated in the call.
Leonel Mondragon is a researcher based in Argentina with academic interests in epidemiology, radiation biology, and plant compounds found in traditional herbal preparations. He has served as an intern with Argentina’s National Scientific and Technical Research Council and has authored and contributed to several research papers.
Leonel has published three academic papers and is currently preparing additional research for publication. His work has explored topics including radiation exposure, epidemiological patterns in certain populations, and plant compounds found in traditional herbal formulas.
Leonel also collaborates with a private natural products laboratory in Argentina focused on botanical research and formulation.
Leonel has contributed to research exploring topics such as radiation biology, epidemiology, and plant compounds found in traditional herbal preparations.
See Leonel's published research:
Preclinical research examining an eight-herb Essiac formula and DNA response to X-ray exposure
Verónica Martínez Marignac, PhD participated in the call.
Verónica Martínez Marignac, PhD, has extensive experience in scientific research and academic teaching. She has taught at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels in Argentina and Canada.
Her academic training includes studies in genetics at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), where her work focused on human population genetics, molecular anthropology, human biology, and bioethics.
As a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Toronto, she conducted research involving genetic variation and molecular biology techniques and also served as a teaching assistant in forensic genetics.
While working with research groups at the University of Toronto and later as a research associate at McGill University and the Montreal Jewish General Hospital, she gained experience in laboratory techniques used in biomedical research, including molecular and cellular analysis.
Currently, as director of IBioGeM, she promotes interdisciplinary research involving genetics, metabolism, and radiobiology.
Bryan Paulhus, co-owner of GenuineEssiac.com, also participated in the discussion.
Bryan has more than 30 years of experience working with Essiac tea and learning about the history and traditional preparation of the herbal formula.
Through Genuine Essiac™, he has helped make the tea available to customers around the world who are interested in traditional herbal preparations.
Preclinical Research on Essiac Herbal Formulas
An Essiac herbal formula has been included in preclinical laboratory research examining cellular responses to low-dose X-ray exposure in an animal model.
In this controlled study, researchers evaluated markers associated with DNA integrity following radiation exposure. The findings reported measurable differences in certain laboratory markers compared with control groups. These observations were made in a preclinical setting and were not conducted in humans.
This type of research helps scientists better understand how botanical compounds interact with biological systems under controlled laboratory conditions. Preclinical findings provide early scientific observations and do not represent clinical outcomes in people.
You may review the published preclinical study here:
As always, Genuine Essiac is an herbal tea beverage intended for general wellness use and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Additional Videos featuring Leonel Mondragon
📺 Leonel discusses naturally occurring oxalates found in some herbs used in Essiac tea
📺 Leonel presents results of an antioxidant study
Would you like to learn more about the history and traditional background of Essiac tea? You are welcome to join our Genuine Essiac Users Facebook Group where members share experiences and discuss the tea.
For general research or educational questions, Leonel may also be contacted at: essiaclatinoamerica @ gmail.com.
Genuine Essiac Ingredients
To learn more about the individual herbs used in Essiac tea, you canYou can visit this page.
Genuine Essiac Nutrition Facts
If you are interested in the nutritional information for Essiac tea, you can view it on this page.
Looking for More Research?
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If you are interested in learning more about the history of Essiac tea, you may wish to explore additional historical materials.
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One well-known resource is the book The Essiac Report by Richard Thomas, which discusses historical accounts related to Essiac tea. The book is available online to be read for free.
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You can also read about historical research associated with Rene Caisse and Dr. Charles Brusch at the Brusch Medical Research Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts from 1959 through 1967.
Read about that history here.
SUMMARY
Research interest in Essiac tea continues today. A preclinical laboratory study examining an Essiac herbal formula was published in 2019, and scientific discussion around the herbs used in the formula continues.
When reviewing information about Essiac tea online, it is helpful to be aware that different formulas exist. Some versions contain four herbs, while others include the traditional eight-herb formula historically associated with Rene Caisse. Because these formulas contain different herbs, they may be discussed differently in various sources.
Essiac tea is a traditional herbal beverage that many people include as part of their personal wellness routines.
Last Updated: 04/08/2026
Order Genuine Essiac Tea
You can order Genuine Essiac Tea by clicking here.
Our tea follows the traditional eight-herb formula historically associated with Rene Caisse and the Essiac tradition.
All orders include easy-to-follow preparation instructions and suggested use information.
The tea is simple to prepare and takes only about ten minutes to make a two-week supply.
Related Pages
Frequently Asked Questions about Essiac Tea
Learn more about the history and traditional background of Essiac Tea