Essiac: New, 1-Ounce, Concentrated Version FAQ

With the change to a new, concentrated form of Essiac have come a whole new batch of quesitions. Here are some of the more common questions, along with their answers.

The name on the label says “Sheep Sorrel, Burdock,” Did I receive the right product?

Sure did. Essiac is a blend of four herbs: Sheep Sorrel, Burdock Root, Slippery Elm Bark, and Rhubarb Root. The name on the label is just the first two items on the list.

Why did the New Rainbow Bridge switch to a different format?

The short answer would be price, but that doesn't begin to cover the details.

When Gaia Herbs mentioned that they now offered Essiac in a concentrated form, we decided to try it out in our rescue. Gaia has long had a reputation as a dependable source for herbal treatments; they even grow their own herbs under controlled conditions, to assure consistency from one batch to the next.

Over the course of several months, we found virtually no difference in our results between the two different Essiac treatments. What we did find is that not only is the concentrated format cheaper, but it also has a much longer shelf life: over 4 years, as opposed to a few months. And because of its smaller size, the shipping costs are lower, too. Basically the same quality product for less money: a win-win situation.

I notice the alcohol content in the new Essiac is listed as 35%–45%. That seems like a lot of alcohol.

Yes it does. The addition of alcohol is what keeps the Essiac potent for longer periods; more that 4 years, as opposed to a few months.

Keep in mind that the dosage is only 8 drops in most cases, so we’re not really talking about that much alcohol.

If you’re still concerned, you can float the Essiac on the top of the AD (or whatever you're using) after it’s warmed, and let it sit for about a minute. That should be all the time necessary for the alcohol to evaporate.