Essiac: Difference between revisions
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*[[cat's claw]] (''[[Uncaria tomentosa]]'') | *[[cat's claw]] (''[[Uncaria tomentosa]]'') | ||
==Clinical experience== | ==Clinical experience== | ||
There is anecdotal evidence for efficacy, but Caisse was hostile to [[randomized controlled trial]]s, admittedly of a period in which they were much less refined. In the 1970s, a study was done, but not published, at [[Sloan-Kettering Memorial Hospital]]; informal reports say some findings showed no activity and others showed significant activity. | There is anecdotal evidence for efficacy, but Caisse was hostile to [[randomized controlled trial]]s, admittedly of a period in which they were much less refined. In the 1970s, a study was done, but not published, at [[Sloan-Kettering Memorial Hospital]]; informal reports say some findings showed no activity and others showed significant activity. <ref>{{citation | ||
| http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-essiac.html | | http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-essiac.html | ||
| title = Essiac | | title = Essiac | ||
| publisher = Medline Plus}}</ref> | | publisher = Medline Plus}}</ref> | ||
A 2009 review showed a lack of high-quality trials.<ref>{{citation | |||
| title = (abstract) Essiac: systematic review by the natural standard research collaboration. | |||
| journal = J Soc Integr Oncol | |||
| year = 2009 | |||
| volume = 7 | |||
| url = http://www.medscape.com/medline/abstract/19476742 | |||
| issue = 2 | pages = 73-80 (ISSN: 1715-894X) | |||
| author = Ulbricht C; Weissner W; Hashmi S; Rae Abrams T; Dacey C; Giese N; Hammerness P; Hackman DA; Kim J; Nealon A; Voloshin R | |||
}}</ref> | |||
==In vitro analysis== | ==In vitro analysis== | ||
The first known formal analysis of its effects were done at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in 2007,<blockquote>Essiac exhibited significant antioxidant activity in the [[ABTS]] | The first known formal analysis of its effects were done at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in 2007,<blockquote>Essiac exhibited significant [[antioxidant]] activity in the [[ABTS assay]] (of antioxidant activity). A 20-fold dilution of Essiac also exhibited significant immunomodulatory effects, specifically through stimulation of [[granulocyte]] [[phagocytosis]], increases in [[CD8+]] cell activation, and moderately inhibiting inflammatory pathways. Essiac exhibited significant cell-specific cytotoxicity towards ovarian epithelial carcinoma cells (A2780). Importantly, a 20-fold dilution of Essiac showed significant inhibition of several [[cytochrome CYP450]] enzymes, most notably CYP1A2 (37%) and CYP2C19 (24%). Essiac demonstrated dose-dependent inhibition of clot fibrinolysis. CONCLUSION: In vitro analysis of Essiac indicates significant antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties, as well as neoplastic cell specific cytotoxicity consistent with the historical properties ascribed to this compound. Importantly, significant CYP450 and fibrinolysis inhibition were also observed. <ref>{{citation | ||
| title = (abstract) In vitro analysis of the herbal compound Essiac | | title = (abstract) In vitro analysis of the herbal compound Essiac | ||
| journal = Anticancer Res | | journal = Anticancer Res | ||
Revision as of 10:36, 17 August 2010
Essiac is an herbal preparation believed, in complementary and alternative medicine, to be a treatment for cancer. Its name derives from the backwards spelling of the surname of Rene M. Caisse, RN, a Canadian nurse (1888-1978) who was its greatest advocate. She said it was based on Native American healing, specifically from the Canadian Ojibways, and first described it in the 1920s. Caisse kept her exact ingredients and preparation secret, although it has been sold to a Canadian company that claims to provide the original formumation.
While formulas vary, the ingredients most often cited, some of which are reported to have possible immulomodulatory effects, are:
- Indian rhubarb (Rheum palmatum)
- Burdock root (Arctium lappa)
- Sheep sorrel (Rumex acetosella)
- Slippery elm (Ulmus fulva)
Some preparations include additional ingredients, such as:
- blessed thistle (Cnicus benedictus)
- red clover (Trifolium pratense)
- kelp (Laminaria digitata)
- watercress (Nasturtium officinale)
- cat's claw (Uncaria tomentosa)
Clinical experience
There is anecdotal evidence for efficacy, but Caisse was hostile to randomized controlled trials, admittedly of a period in which they were much less refined. In the 1970s, a study was done, but not published, at Sloan-Kettering Memorial Hospital; informal reports say some findings showed no activity and others showed significant activity. [1]
A 2009 review showed a lack of high-quality trials.[2]
In vitro analysis
The first known formal analysis of its effects were done at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in 2007,
Essiac exhibited significant antioxidant activity in the ABTS assay (of antioxidant activity). A 20-fold dilution of Essiac also exhibited significant immunomodulatory effects, specifically through stimulation of granulocyte phagocytosis, increases in CD8+ cell activation, and moderately inhibiting inflammatory pathways. Essiac exhibited significant cell-specific cytotoxicity towards ovarian epithelial carcinoma cells (A2780). Importantly, a 20-fold dilution of Essiac showed significant inhibition of several cytochrome CYP450 enzymes, most notably CYP1A2 (37%) and CYP2C19 (24%). Essiac demonstrated dose-dependent inhibition of clot fibrinolysis. CONCLUSION: In vitro analysis of Essiac indicates significant antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties, as well as neoplastic cell specific cytotoxicity consistent with the historical properties ascribed to this compound. Importantly, significant CYP450 and fibrinolysis inhibition were also observed. [3]
References
- ↑ Essiac, Medline Plus
- ↑ Ulbricht C; Weissner W; Hashmi S; Rae Abrams T; Dacey C; Giese N; Hammerness P; Hackman DA; Kim J; Nealon A; Voloshin R (2009), "(abstract) Essiac: systematic review by the natural standard research collaboration.", J Soc Integr Oncol 7 (2): 73-80 (ISSN: 1715-894X)
- ↑ Seely D; Kennedy DA; Myers SP; Cheras PA; Lin D; Li R; Cattley T; Brent PA; Mills E; Leonard BJ (2007), "(abstract) In vitro analysis of the herbal compound Essiac", Anticancer Res 27 (6B): 3875-82