Note from Ilena Rosenthal:  Interesting that the Net Nannies here
think they will control the information people have a right to see.

Everytime I post here, I receive grateful messages that I am not
intimidated by the Net Nannies. I just noticed that NinaW did one of
the most deceitful tricks of censoring information they don't want
others to benefit from ... by changing the subject line. Very rude
tactics.

~~~~~

Source: American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP)
Released: Wed 09-Aug-2006, 09:45 ET

http://www.newswise.com/p/articles/view/522530/
Herbal Remedy Essiac® and Cancer
Libraries
Medical News   Keywords
ESSIAC; ESSIAC AND CANCER  
Contact Information

Two new studies examine the purported benefits of Essiac®, an herbal
compound often used by those with cancer.  

Newswise — Essiac® is an herbal formula that has been used by North
American cancer patients. Its recorded history dates back to the 1920s
when Canadian nurse Rene Caisse blended a tea of burdock root, sheep
sorrel, slippery elm bark, and turkey rhubarb root, and offered it to
her cancer patients. It is believed she received the formulation from
an Ojibwa Indian woman. The name Essiac is Caisse spelled backwards.

Despite its relatively widespread use, there is little published
research about this herbal remedy in the scientific literature. As a
result, two teams of Canadian researchers launched research efforts.

The first group of researchers utilized a series of assays to
determine the validity of some of Essiac®’s purported activities in
vitro; the second group used an animal model to investigate the
effects of the mixture on the stomach, liver and immune system. Both
studies were funded by an educational grant from the manufacturer of
Essiac®. The company had no role in the collection or analysis of the
data.

Both research teams are presenting their findings at the 21st Annual
Meeting of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians
(http://www.Naturopathic.org), being held August 9-12, 2006 at the
Oregon Convention Center, Portland, OR.

Study 1: In Vitro Analysis of Herbal Compound Essiac®
The first study entitled, An In Vitro Analysis of the Herbal Compound
Essiac®, was conducted by Deborah A. Kennedy, MBA, ND (Cand.),
Division of Clinical Epidemiology, The Canadian College of
Naturopathic Medicine, Toronto, CN; Stephen P. Myers, PhD, BMed, ND,
Phillip A. Cheras, Ph.D., BAppSc., David Lin, Ph.D., Rachel Li, PhD,
Trudi Cattley, BAppSc., and Petta-Anne Paul Brent, BSc., all of the
Australian Centre for Complementary Medicine, Southern Cross
University, Lismore, NSW, AU; Dugald M.R. Seely, ND, MSc. (Cand.),
Division of Clinical Epidemiology, The Canadian College of
Naturopathic Medicine, Toronto, CN and the Institute of Medical
Science, University of Toronto, CN; and Blair J.N. Leonard, MD,
Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, CN.

Methodology
The purpose of the study was to utilize a series of assays to
determine several of Essiac®’s purported activities in vitro. The
activity of Essiac® was measured using established in vitro assays to
quantify: (1) antioxidant activity; (2) platelet aggregation
inhibition; (3) anti-microbial activity; (4) arachidonic acid pathway
inhibition; (5) cell-based immunomodulation; (6) neoplastic cell
specific cytotoxicity; (7) fibrinolytic activity; and (8) inhibition
of enzymes of the CYP450 pathway.

Results
Highlights of the findings showed:

§ there was significant antioxidant activity in the ABTS assay, with 1
ml of Essiac® having the anti-oxidant activity of 3mm Troxol, a
vitamin E analogue;
§ Essiac® at 20-fold dilution showed significant immunomodulatory
effects;
§ Essiac® showed significant cell specific cytotoxicity towards
ovarian epithelial carcinoma cells;
§ after hydrolysis with beta glucosidase, Essiac® showed increased
cytotoxicity towards prostate adenocarcinoma cells;
§ a 20-fold dilution of Essiac® showed significant inhibition of
several cytochrome P450 enzymes;
§ Essiac® demonstrated dose-dependant inhibition of clot fibrinolysis;
and
§ Essiac® showed no specific activity in the platelet aggregation or
anti-microbial assays.

Conclusions
This 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 cytochrome P450 and
fibrinolysis inhibition was also observed. These data represent the
first comprehensive investigation of the in vitro effects of Essiac®.

Study 2: An In Vivo Analysis of the Herbal Compound Essiac®
The second study entitled, An In Vivo Analysis of the Herbal Compound
Essiac®, was conducted by Blair J.N. Leonard MD, Faculty of Medicine,
University of Toronto, Toronto, ON; Deborah A. Kennedy, MBA, ND
(Cand.), Division of Clinical Epidemiology, The Canadian College of
Naturopathic Medicine, Toronto, CN; Fong-Chi Cheng, MDS Pharma
Services-Taiwan Ltd., Taipei, TW; Keng-Kuang Chang, MDS Pharma
Services-Taiwan Ltd., Taipei, TW; and Dugald M.R. Seely, ND, MSc.
(Cand.), Division of Clinical Epidemiology, The Canadian College of
Naturopathic Medicine, Toronto, CN and the Division of
Hematology/Oncology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, CN.

Methodology
The study aimed to assess some of Essiac®’s purported effects on the
liver, stomach and immune system. To do so, the researchers
administered Essiac® liquid extract to Wistar rats under established
rodent experimental models. The rats received Essiac® 30-minutes prior
to a physical challenge to the liver, stomach or immune system. The
rats were dosed again with the compound at 4, 8 and 24 hours. Also at
24 hours they were sacrificed and specific levels were measured,
including body weight.

Results and Conclusions
Essiac® showed significant effects in gastric protection and
non-significant changes with other properties. Thus, the researchers
concluded that Essiac® administered in established in vivo experiments
did not significantly demonstrate the purported physiological
modifying effects. These results are significant as they represent the
first published investigation on the in vivo effects of Essiac®
consumption.

The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP) was founded
in 1985 to provide alternative methods for healing human diseases and
disorders than have been traditionally offered in the United States.
Members of the AANP must have graduated from one of North America’s
six accredited graduate schools of naturopathic medicine.