★★★☆☆
I have chronic Epstein Barr which causes ME/CFS symptoms as well as frequent infections. I have had this for several years, although worsening of symptoms led me to see a doctor, who diagnosed me 1.5 years ago.
Once I get sick, I can remain ill for months. I recently got bronchitis. Before I had EBV, I could cure bronchitis within a week by taking glutamine, megadosing Vitamin C, and taking extra zinc and vitamins. I started my usual regimen, but I was still sick with bronchitis nearly 3 weeks later.
I saw the post on Essiac tea and decided to try it. I purchased Ojibwa tea from NOW, which is a lot cheaper than other brands and contains the same ingredients (Caisse based the recipe on one from an Ojibwa Native American).
I make the tea by clipping together 8 tea bags in a 2 qt glass pitcher. I pour about 1L boiling water in the pitcher and let it sit on the counter for about 12 hours (recommended steeping time according to various sources). You can probably remove the tea bags at this point but I just leave them in. I then add about 2 Tbsp raw honey and fill the rest of the pitcher with water. Then the pitcher goes in the fridge.
I drink 6-8 oz of this tea morning and night. I felt a lot better in a few days. It has been nearly 2 weeks since I started. I am still coughing up some stuff in the morning, but it is not so plentiful and it is not thick, yellow, and bloody as it was before, so the bronchitis seems to be gone.
I am still quite fatigued, but I am doing well enough to at least get some work done. I don't think this tea will cure chronic EBV, but it will probably help an active infection. I will continue to buy the tea in hopes I will slowly get better.
Also if you are going to drink this tea, I highly recommend that you stay well hydrated throughout the day. I get cramps if I am not careful to drink enough water.
