As scientific investigation continues, more and more natural medicines are gaining recognition as the remedies of choice. Estimates indicate that 40-50% of the American public use alternatives to conventional, pharmaceutical medicine. Many medical doctors themselves use complementary and alternative treatments (homeopathy, acupuncture, chiropractic, herbs, naturopathy, mind-body medicine, physical therapies such as massage and more), and they refer their patients to such practitioners (See, for example, Oscar Janiger, M.D.'s  A Different Kind of Healing.).

Herbs, with their antiviral, antibacterial and antibiotic properties have been included in healing regimens for thousands of years because they strengthen the immune system instead of suppress it along with the virus or cancer growth as do so many modern drugs. Why one can not often find an herbal treatment or other alternative treatment through working with one's own M.D. is an engaging question. The explanations can be multiple, but at least one reason stands out: He or she simply has not learned about these options. Many feel the challenge is compounded by current laws and medical association conventions, which keep many in the medical profession within certain well defined but somewhat limited practices. Growing numbers of physicians wish to change this system. Individuals in today's world, filled as it is with information and knowledge, find it is a wise course of action to question physicians regarding their knowledge of all forms of healing. A growing number of people no longer assume physicians gained all knowledge in medical school, and many physicians are turning to alternatives as orthodox medicine faces failure after failure in treating major diseases such as cancer.

In the U.S. today, where health costs top $1 trillion, where expenditures are greater than in any other country and yet where the nation ranks 16th in life expectancy, one encounters many alternatives to conventional drug and surgical treatments. Orthodox cancer treatments today can start at $5,000 and rise to $14,000 for a short treatment span. Side effects of chemotherapy and radiation are often devastating, and at autopsy many patients are found to have died not of their cancer, but of the treatment. This article will look at a remarkable herbal remedy for treatment of cancer and other immune deficient diseases that traces its roots to Canada and an Ojibwa Native American medicine man.

A Little History First

In 1922 nurse Rene Caisse worked in the surgery ward in an Ontario hospital where she found an elderly woman patient with a strangely scarred breast. The woman explained to nurse Caisse that thirty years earlier doctors told her she had advanced breast cancer and would need to have the breast removed. She declined the surgery. A Native American friend in Ontario had offered to heal it with herbal medicine, and she decided to accept. The man, an Ojibway herbalist, gave her the herb recipe and showed her how to make a brew of it, and she drank the tea daily. Her tumors shrank and then disappeared. She was still totally cancer free over thirty years later as she spoke with nurse Caisse in the Ontario hospital.

Caisse obtained the recipe for herself thinking she could use it if she ever had cancer. It turned out that shortly afterward Caisse's aunt was diagnosed with advanced stomach cancer and given six months to live. Caisse asked the physician, Dr. R.O. Fisher, for permission to try the tea on her aunt. He consented. Her aunt drank the herbal brew daily for over two months and recovered. She lived for twenty years more.

Dr. Fisher and nurse Caisse began treating cancer patients who had been diagnosed as terminal by their doctors, and many of them improved dramatically. They modified the combination of herbs somewhat, and Caisse named the concoction "Essiac," which is her name spelled backward.

Through the years, Caisse treated thousands of cases. The vast majority were brought to her for treatment after surgery, radiation and chemotherapy had failed and the patients had been pronounced incurable. One example is Annie Bonar. She was diagnosed with uterine and bowel cancer, which had spread after radium treatments, and her arm had swelled to double its size, turning black. The night before the arm was to be amputated, she opted for Essiac therapy instead. During four months of the herbal treatment, she went from 90 to 150 pounds and her arm returned to normal. A series of exams revealed she was cancer-free. The Royal Cancer Commission of Canada listed her case as "recovery due to radiation."

Canadian officials, concerned about laws against "practicing medicine" without a license, as well as many others in the medical community, attempted to censor Caisse's work. This ultimately became a braking factor in her treatments. She also had numerous lucrative offers for the formula, but always feared a large company would take it over, and that Essiac would then become less freely available to the people who needed it most. It came freely from the Earth in a healing spirit to a Native American who passed it on in grace. Shouldn't all people have it that way? Caisse asked.

In fact, Dr. Frederick Banting, discoverer of insulin, wanted to test the substance in his laboratory, because one person who had been cured of cancer by Essiac was taken off insulin for her diabetes. Under Essiac therapy, though her cancer tumor of the bowel became larger and harder at first, the tumor soon softened, got smaller and disappeared. The woman's diabetes also disappeared. Dr. Banting thought the Essiac healed the pancreas as well, and thus had potential to treat diabetes. He wanted to test the substance in his lab, but he also wanted Caisse to close her clinic while tests were run. She refused. There were too many people waiting for treatment. The tests on diabetes were not run.

Essiac, despite the evidence that it seems more effective than chemotherapy, radiation and surgery in treating various cancers, not to mention that it lacks the undesirable side effects found in these conventional treatments, is not a cure-all according to Dr. Jim Chan, N.D. Chan obtained Essiac from the Resperin Corp. of Toronto for cancer patients through the emergency drug release program and maintains that Essiac is "not 100% effective." The individual's personal life, the kind of carcinoma and the time at which he or she starts taking Essiac are factors. Still, he has had a high success rate with those who had the least amount of radiation or chemotherapy. Most had begun the Essiac alternative in late stages of their cancer illness. However, Essiac has a far better success rate than chemotherapy.

Even though over $100 billion per year is spent on treating cancer with conventional drugs and surgery, and despite the fact that alternatives which have been proven to work are not allowed by current laws to be used in medicine, and cancer rates are higher than ever, "only 2 to 3% of the nearly 1 million Americans who suffer from cancer each year are being saved by chemotherapy" [or is it a placebo effect?], according to Dr. John Cairns of Harvard University School of Public Health. Yet, over 2/3 of all cancer patients routinely receive chemotherapy drugs, which often cripple a person's chances of survival." (Townsend Letter for Doctors, May, 1993, No. 119.)

In 1978, nurse Caisse signed over the rights to her Essiac formula, before she died at the age of 90, to the Resperin Corp. (the original trademarked Essiac) is produced and distributed by David Dobbie in Campbellton, New Brunswick, with approval of Canadian authorities), and Dr. Charles Brusch, M.D., of Cambridge, Massachusetts, who worked with Caisse in treating many patients and refining the herbal formula. He later cured himself of cancer of the lower bowel with the herbal treatments. Upon retirement he gave the improved, clinically studied formula to Elaine Alexander of Vancouver, B.C. Alexander soon after turned over rights to this formula to the Flora, Inc. company, an herbal and natural products family-held business long known for its quality and purity of food supplements. Flora company called the Brusch/Caisse formula, "Flor-Essence" and has marketed if for the past twenty years.

It was 1959 when Rene Caisse introduced the formula of herbs to Dr. Charles Brusch, M.D., physician to soon-to-be-president John F. Kennedy. She was supervised by 18 doctors at the Brusch Medical Center in Cambridge, Mass., where she started a series of treatments on terminal cancer patients and laboratory mice. Sheila Fraser and Carroll Allen report in Homemaker's Magazine: "Lena Burcell, a patient of Dr. Brusch who had breast cancer with involvement of the lung and pleural effusion, showed remarkable improvement. Her ability to breathe improved markedly, and no more pleural effusion developed—significant, because it had been consistent previous to essiac treatments." (Fraser and Allen, Homemakers, June/July/Aug. 1977.) There were other equally remarkable cases.

Fraser and Allen: "Dr. Charles McClure, supervisor of research, and Dr. Charles Brusch concluded after three months: 'On mice [Essiac] has been shown to cause a decided recession of the mass, and a definite change in cell formation. Clinically, on patients suffering from pathologically proven cancer, it reduces pain and causes a recession in the growth; patients have gained weight and shown an improvement in their general health. This, after only three months' tests and the proof Miss Caisse has to show of the many patients she has benefited in the past 25 years, has convinced the doctors at the Brusch Medical Center that Essiac has merit in the treatment of cancer. The doctors do not say that Essiac is a cure, but they do say it is of benefit. It is non-toxic, and is administered both orally and by intramuscular injection.'"

Rene Caisse at that time would not reveal her formula to the medical world because, as she said, they would not assure her the treatment would be used clinically in the treatment of cancer. She reasoned that "if they did not know what I was using, they could not be in a position to condemn it. I have therefore kept my own counsel." This, she felt, led to a decision by staff at the labs working with the Brusch Center to stop processing the Brusch/Caisse material. The American Medical Association had forbidden its members to refer patients to unknown remedies, patients stopped being referred, and work at the clinic ended.

In 1990, Dr. Charles Brusch wrote, "Many years have gone by since I first experienced the use of Essiac with my patients... suffering from many varied forms of cancer... Rene [Caisse] worked with me and together we refined and perfected her formula...

"Clinically, on patients suffering from pathologically proven cancer, it reduces pain and causes a recession in the growth. Patients gained weight and showed a great improvement in their general health. Their elimination improved considerably, and their appetite became whetted. Remarkably beneficial results were obtained even on those cases at the 'end of the road' where it proved to prolong life and the 'quality' of that life.

"In some cases, if the tumor didn't disappear, it could be surgically removed after Essiac with less risk of metastasis resulting in new outbreaks. Hemorrhage has been rapidly brought under control in many difficult cases, open lesions of lip and breast responded to treatment, and patients with cancer of the stomach have returned to normal activity among many other remembered cases. Also, intestinal burns from radiation were healed and damage replaced, and it was found to greatly improve whatever the condition... I endorse this therapy even today, for I have in fact cured my own cancer, the original site of which was the lower bowel, through Essiac alone." (From a notarized letter, April 6, 1990.)

Dr. Brusch was a partner with Rene Caisse until she died in 1978, and stated he was the only other person who knew of the refined Essiac (now Flor-Essence) formula. In legal documents executed on April 6, 1990, when Brusch gave the formulas he and Rene Caisse had made and used so effectively to Elaine Alexander.

What is in the Formula?

Both Flor-Essence and Essiac contain four principal herbs: Burdock root, Turkish rhubarb root, sheep sorrel and slippery elm bark.

The Brusch/Caisse Flor-Essence formula is proprietary, but the ingredients in order of descending magnitude are: burdock root, sheep sorrel herb, slippery elm bark, watercress herb, kelp, blessed thistle herb, red clover herb, and Turkish rhubarb root.

Though no clinical studies of Flor-Essence or Essiac have been published, one trial is underway at the British Columbia Cancer Agency, sponsored by the University of Texas-Center for Alternative Medicine and the Tzu-Chi Institute for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, and a clinical trial with Flor-Essence as a cancer treatment is ongoing at the Moscow Regional Research Clinical Institute in Russia. Also, clinical and pre-clinical evaluations of Flor-Essence are being conducted with the Russian Ministry of Health, which is interested in using it to treat victims of Chernobyl.

C. Tamayo et al., writing in Phytotherapy Research (14, 1-14, 2000) notes that recent medical research "poses possible mechanisms of action of the Flor-Essence formula as an anticancer agent." Biochemical analysis of the herbal blend has found that the mixture of the herbs in the formula "may have synergistic anti-tumour and immuno-stimulant activities since the individual herbs exhibit specific biological activity."

Burdock: This root contains a number of powerful antioxidants, several of which are more powerful than vitamin C. Burdock root extract from boiled water decreases mutations in cells that are exposed to toxic chemicals. Also, isoflavone derivatives in burdock root have been shown to induce apoptosis of tumor cells. It contains inulin, which stimulates growth of beneficial intestinal bacteria that in turn enhances immune activity and suppresses tumor cells.

Sheep sorrel: Many folk cancer remedies have contained sheep sorrel. It has antioxidant and anticancer elements (anthraquinones) and it contains key trace minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, silicon, sulphur, copper, iodine, manganese and zinc.

Slippery elm bark: The inner bark is rich in mucilage, which forms a soothing gelatinous fiber when brewed. The bark also contains high concentrations of antioxidants. Many folk remedies for treating cancer (and urinary inflammations) use slippery elm bark, as it acts as a demulcent and emollient to the digestive system, soothing the passage of materials, including, as anecdote evidences, tumorous matter.

Watercress herb: Watercress is a rich source of vitamins A and C and the trace minerals sulphur, iodine, calcium and manganese. One of its by-products, isothiocyanates, has been found to inhibit tumor growth. It has been used for the prevention and treatment of lung and other cancers.

Kelp: Kelp is full of minerals, especially iodine, but also calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron and silicon. It has anti-inflammatory and demulcent action. It is well recognized for its ability to protect the body against radiation, and can reduce strontium-90 absorption from the intestinal tract by as much as 83%.

Blessed thistle herb: This herb has anticancer and cytotoxic activity. It contains two of the same lignans found in burdock root (arctiin, arctigenin) that are shown to have antitumor activity. It also has antibacterial properties.

Red clover herb: Red clover contains large amounts of the phytoestrogen genistein, which is a recognized agent for cancer prevention and treatment. Red clover herb is the main ingredient in the effective Hoxsey cancer treatment.

Turkish rhubarb root: This root has been used for centuries to improve digestion and loss of appetite. It is a safe and effective laxative as well. Its anti-cancer activity stems from emodin, or aloe-emodin, which has anti-tumor qualities.

It is important to note that, though each of the ingredients in the formula has many qualities, including anticancer, herbalists have long recommended the blend. The evidence is that the synergy of the ingredients brewed together give the blend its overall effectiveness. For more in-depth information about the uses, chemical breakdown, planting and tending of the herbs, see Sheila Fraser Snow's excellent book The Essence of Essiac. (Call 1-775-887-1702 to purchase.) The preceding summaries of the qualities of the herbs in the Flor-Essence formula are from the research paper above of C. Tamayo et al.)

University of Texas Research

"Flor-Essence is one of the most popular herbal products in Canada. Along with the Essiac formula, estimates of use are approximately 35% in some Canadian populations." So begins a report on a recent study (1999) of individuals using Flor-Essence done by the Center for Alternative Medicine Research (CAMR) at the University of Texas-Houston School of Public Health. (See Reference end notes.)

A sixteen-month survey was conducted in which the researchers at CAMR evaluated the influence of Flor-Essence on the quality of life during conventional cancer therapy. There were 5,051 respondents in the survey, and 75.5% of the people surveyed as users of the Flor-Essence used the tonic for cancer. Over 73% of the users found the results of the tea to be "very good" to "excellent." Use of the tonic amongst the respondents varied from less than one month to up to sixteen months. In over 40% of these cancer patients there was no progression of cancer, 31.5% had more energy, and 22.3% experienced an improvement in related symptoms.

Most cancer patients had been diagnosed within the past three years, with the most prevalent cancers being breast, prostate and lung. Most respondents were using other treatments, including conventional, and complementary, alternative approaches, and they discussed their use of Flor-Essence with their physicians.

Most used the Flor-Essence because they "believed the tonic could help, was non-toxic, and provided hope. In fact, one-quarter of patients reported turning to this approach after being told their cancer was not curable."

A significant proportion of patients in this survey appeared to feel better and benefit from the tonic. The Flora, Inc. company has accelerated its clinical development and pressed for further clinical trials. Another clinical study is due to be initiated by December, 2000 at the Xiu Chi Institute for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Research at Vancouver General Hospital.

Anecdotes and Notes

During the clinical trials of Essiac conducted by Resperin in 1978, Ed Zalesky, who was 63, had been diagnosed with cancer of the small intestine. Four feet of "gut" had been taken out, but cancer was still left. "They said I had six months without radiation and two years with radiation." He was still running the Canadian Museum of Flight seven days a week until five years ago. He is now (August, 2000) retired.

He is critical of Essiac's detractors: "Why can't the people who administer cancer funds give it a fair trial? It isn't going to hurt anyone, and the medical profession should stop playing God and allow us cancer patients to use the treatment of our choice."

In his article a few years ago, "Essiac: A Remarkable Canadian Indian Remedy for Cancer" author Richard Walters writes that Dr. E Bruce Hendrick, M.D., chief of neurosurgery at the University of Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children urges "a scientific clinical trial" of Essiac. It appears that the trials are finally beginning. Hendrick cites recent evidence that patients with "surgically treated tumors of the central nervous system, after taking an Essiac regimen, had 'escaped from the conventional methods of therapy, including both radiation and chemotherapy.'" (For the People, People's Network, Inc., Telford Hotel, 3 River St. White Springs, FL 32096.)

Walters goes on to note that Dr. Emma Carson, a Los Angeles physician who spent 24 days inspecting nurse Caisse's Bracebridge clinic in its heyday in 1937 agreed. Originally skeptical and planning to stay only a couple of days, after scrutiny of clinical records and examination of over 400 patients she wrote, "The vast majority of Miss Caisse's patients are brought to her for treatment after surgery, radium, X-rays, emplastrums, etc., has failed to be helpful, and the patients are pronounced incurable. Really the progress obtainable and the actual results from 'Essiac' treatments and the rapidity of repair was absolutely marvelous and must be seen to convincingly confirm belief."

She went on to say, "Several prominent physicians and surgeons who are quite familiar with the indisputable results obtained in response to 'Essiac' treatments...conceded to me that the Rene M. Caisse 'Essiac Treatment' for cancer is the most humane, satisfactory and frequently successful remedy for the annihilation of cancer `that they had found at that time...'"

Questions remain about the efficacy of chemotherapy, radiation and surgery; their rates of success in curing cancer are almost nil, and the amounts of money spent funding the research and perpetuation of the industry incredibly high in relation to the success. M.D.s criticize one another and assert that those who work with these conventional treatments know the drugs in chemotherapy do not cure cancer. Yet the funding continues while clinical studies show failures.

Why? Barry Lynes, author of The Healing of Cancer, cites evidence that the FDA itself had a history of ignoring dangerous drugs and chemical additives marketed by drug companies while using bureaucratic delays, legal harassment, unconstitutional procedures, and falsified evidence to stop alternative cures.

The Simplicity of Essiac

The Essiac formula, at least the one given by Rene Caisse to the Resperin corporation, is so simple and natural that it deserves the grace of these magical lines of Edna St. Vincent Millay: "And all the loveliest things there be / Come simply, so, it seems to me." ("The Goose Girl," The Harp Weaver, 1923)

Nurse Rene Caisse drank the tea every day, to the day she died at age 90. She felt it was nourishing and prevented disease.

With the abundance of evidence available, why is Essiac not given more study? Is it because the herbs used are so readily available, the formula so simple that no one would make any money treating cancer anymore?

Or is Essiac efficiency argued away using the logic of the placebo effect? The argument goes that so-called "terminal" cancer patients are so desperate they are ready to believe anything, and their belief actually cures, rather than any herb or drug. If so, the same argument can be made about chemotherapy or radiation. Patients who live do so despite the destruction of their immune systems by these treatments. If this is the case, then wouldn't a patient rather spend $50 to $500 on herbs and maintain his or her immune system than spend a life savings on drugs that actually wreak havoc on the whole body and have no success rate for the majority of cancers?

In a recent interview Oscar Janiger, M.D., arguing for the use and more research of alternative methods of healing, including the so-called spiritual, noted that the "use of placebos raises again the issue of whether people get better because of the powerful belief systems or suggestions that are made... [Placebos] are what make people well as much as the chemotherapy does." If thoughts and attitudes create a disease, then they can cure it. However, the earth also provides abundant resources for aiding the body in healing processes, and people are awakening to the natural resources, such as the herbs in Flor-Essence, that supplement our efforts to prevent illness or cure disease.

Supporters of Rene Caisse and Essiac gathered 55,000 signatures for a petition supporting a bill to allow her to continue to treat cancer patients with Essiac free from the constant threats of arrest. The signatories included many doctors, Caisse's patients and their families. The bill to legalize Essiac as a remedy for terminal cancer patients failed by three votes to pass in the Ontario Parliament. Rene Caisse found years later that the College of Physicians and Surgeons met and told members of Parliament, "If you don't respond to the political pressure and legalize Essiac, we'll take a sincere look and give [Caisse] a fair hearing." (Gary Glum, "Another Suppressed Cure," Unusual Alternatives for Health, Aug/Sep, 1992.) So Parliament didn't legalize Essiac, but Canadians wondered what ever happened to the "sincere look," or the fair hearing that never occured.

Gary Glum, a Los Angeles chiropractor, completed several years of research on nurse Caisse's experiences with Essiac. He wrote a biography of Caisse titled Calling of an Angel (1988). He was given a formula for Essiac by Mary Macpherson, a close friend of nurse Caisse, and he published the formula in his book. Many people have used this formula and been healed of cancers, including leukemia. Research and statistics remain to be activated, but anecdotal evidence indicates people have used the brew for treating many immune deficiencies, and others drink it daily as a preventive, testifying they feel better overall, indeed with more energy and verve for life.

Despite the lack of clinical proof or interest from most of the medical profession, Essiac is growing in popularity. If it didn't have any merit, its story would not remain so vital today.

Aside from its use in treating various cancers, Essiac seems also to be a strong preventive and relieves pain in cancer patients. Gary Glum's wife found that Essiac normalized her thyroid gland, and she was able to stop taking her two grains of thyroid, which she had been on since sixth grade. Rene Caisse also found that Essiac would heal stomach ulcers within three to four weeks, and, best of all, all evidence so far shows it to be non-toxic when taken in no more than three 2-ounce doses during a 24-hour period. Rene Caisse, in the early days, sometimes added cress and other substitute herbs to the so-called "original" formula. These herbs were the precursors to later clinical development with Dr. Brusch.

Concluding Note

I spoke with a Seattle man recently who had yet another story to tell about Essiac. He was diagnosed with cancer of the tongue in 1990. It had spread to the lymph nodes of his neck. He was set up for treatments with radiation and chemotherapy. His wife wanted him to try alternatives. Finally he did, but his doctors did not want to listen to him when he told them about the other vitamin and food supplements he was taking, nor the Essiac.

After about 2 1/2 weeks of radiation he said his entire tongue was burned like a canker sore. He lost 65 pounds. It took from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. to drink his juices and vitamins. The tumor was shrinking. The doctors attributed it to radiation, not the food, herb and vitamin supplements. By the 7th week the radiation had burned his neck so that it looked like raw meat.

He stopped the radiation treatments in May, 1992. One month later doctors removed 39 lymph nodes in the neck, and there was no cancer in any of them. They attributed it to radiation. He still has no cancer today. He takes his supplements daily. The doctors want to know how he's doing, and he tells them he's still doing the things they don't want to hear about.

He takes Essiac daily. He says he tries to tell the doctors about it, but they don't want to listen. He buys the prescription drugs they've given him, but he must have over a gallon-sized pail of the pills at home that he has never taken. I asked him how he had changed during his ordeal, because he had mentioned how important his attitude was in his healing. He said he woke up a lot, looked at his life, listened more. His life had changed. His faith was stronger.

He saw beauty and caring in people. His wife, friends, and strangers were wonderful in helping him. The doctors and nurses were marvelous. The only thing that bothered him, he said, was that there was no interest on the part of the doctors in what he was doing. "The doctors were so busy they didn't want to listen, or didn't have the time to listen. Why aren't they listening to people who have been cured, and using the things they use to cure themselves?" ∆

The original version of this updated article was published in Well Being Journal, July/August 1993, Volume 2, #3 (out of print).  For organic Essiac herb formula, contact Ojibwatea.com or 1-303-322-7930.

Related Feature Articles from Well Being Journal past issues:

Gerson Cancer Therapy, by Eva Urbaniak, ND, the first of a five-part series on nontoxic therapies focuses on a nutrition-based, systemic approach to healing cancer; Well Being Journal, Volume 7, No. 3.

Healing Lung Cancer with Soy Nutrient, by Donna Sage, MSSA; Well Being Journal, Volume 8, No. 3.

Juicing and the Fight Against Cancer, by Leslie Dullum; Well Being Journal, Volume 9, No. 2.

Personal story: Recovery from Ovarian Cancer, by Leah Camou; Well Being Journal, Volume 9, No. 3.

Fermented Soy: Aid to Cancer Prevention & Therapy, by Vijaya Nair, M.D.; Well Being Journal, Volume 11, No. 6.

Heal with an Alkaline Diet , by Peter Bartlett, D.O.; Well Being Journal, Volume 13, No. 3.

Cancer, Coffee and Polyunsaturated Fats, by Wayne Martin, B.S; Well Being Journal, Volume 13, No. 4.

More Insights on Living Longer, by James Howenstine, M. D.; Well Being Journal, Volume 13, No. 6.

Prevent Cancer, Allergies & Stress: The Role of Inflammation, by Nancy Appleton, Ph.D.; Well Being Journal, Volume 14, No. 1.

Food Enzymes Prevent Cancer, by Mauris L. Emeka; Well Being Journal, Volume 14, No. 2; available in PDF only.

Cancer Risks & Environmental Toxins, by Rose Marie Williams, M.A. ; Well Being Journal, Volume 15, No. 1; available in PDF only.

A Look at Black Salves, by CJ Poutinen; Well Being Journal, Volume 15, No. 4.

A Spontaneous Healing of Cancer , by Scott Miners; Well Being Journal, Volume 15, No. 5.

Natural Immunity: Practical Ways to Enhance Health, by Emily Kane, N.D.; Well Being Journal, Volume 15, No. 6.

Foods as Preventive Medicine , by Thomas Cowan, M.D.; Well Being Journal, Volume 16, No. 1; available in PDF only.

Sleep Your Way To Cancer Prevention, by Johnathan V. Wright, M.D.; Well Being Journal, Volume 16, No. 2.

Gerson Therapy for Prostate Cancer; Well Being Journal, Volume 16, No. 3.

Antioxidants and Healing Cancerous Tumors, A first person story by Art Pierre; Well Being Journal, Volume 16, No. 4.

Vitamin D Cuts Risk of Pancreatic Cancer; Well Being Journal, Volume 16, No. 5.

Chlorella Shows Promise as Anti-Cancer Supplement, Ralph W. Moss, Ph.D.; Well Being Journal, Volume 16, No. 6.

Annatto Tocotrientols: Vitamin E, by Barry Tan, PhD and Anne Mueller, MSc; Well Being Journal, Volume 17, No. 1.

Using Food to Protect Yourself Against Cancer a story about the findings of Weston A. Price, D.D.S., Well Being Journal, Volume 17, No. 3.

Inflammation and Disease Preventive Foods, by Raymond Frances; Well Being Journal, Volume 17, No. 6.

Reverse Liver Disease with Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA), by Burton M. Berkson, M.D., Ph.D.; Well Being Journal, Volume 18, No. 1.

References

• University of Texas-Houston study: Mary Ann Richardson, Dr.P.H., Center for Health Promotion Research and Development, Center for Alternative Medicine Research, Univ. of Texas-Houston School of Public Health, P.O. Box 20186, Houston, TX 77225, 713-500-9666.
• C. Tamayo, et al., Phytotherapy Research, Phytother. Res. 14, 1-14 (2000), September, 1999.
• Janiger, Oscar, M.D. A Different Kind of Healing (J.P. Tarcher, Inc., 1993).
• Cairns, John, M.D., Townsend Letter for Doctors, May, 1993, #119, 911 Tyler St. Pt Townsend, WA 98368.
• Walters, Richard, "Essiac: A Remarkable Canadian Indian Remedy for Cancer." For the People, a publication of Peoples Network, Inc., Telford Hotel, 3 River St., White Springs, FL 32096.
• Lynes, Barry, The Healing of Cancer: The Cures, the Cover-ups, the Solutions, Marcus Books, P.O. Box 327, Queensville, Ontario, Canada LOG 1RO.
• Janiger, Oscar, M.D. "What's Up Doc?" interview with Krysta Gibson; New Times, V.9,1; 3600 15th Avenue West, Suite 200, Seattle, WA 98119-1330.
• Glum, Gary, D.C. "Another Suppressed Cure," Unusual Alternatives for Health, Aug/Sept, 1992.

• Fraser and Allen, Homemaker's Magazine, June/July/Aug. 1977.
• "Cancer Hope Reborn," Mia Stainsby, The Vancouver Sun "Saturday Review," May 16, 1992.
• "Rene Caisse: Essiac," Sheila Fraser Snow, Canadian Journal of Herbalism, Summer, 1991.
• "Essiac," Body, Mind & Spirit, Jan/Feb 1991.
• "Essiac: Nature's Cure for Cancer," an interview with Dr. Gary L. Glum, Elisabeth Robinson, Wildfire, V.6,1.
• Rene Caisse Story, Ted Britton
• "Could Essiac Halt Cancer?" Sheila Fraser and Carroll Allen, Homemaker's Magazine, June/July/August, 1977.

• The Essiac Report, a large format and excellent book about the Essiac story and herbs, including many personal testimonials, by Richard Thomas.
• Essence of Essiac, by Sheila Snow. Snow has been researching and writing about the Rene Caisse story for over fifteen years. Her book includes instructions for preparing, growing and brewing the herbs in the recipe, and chemical analysis.