The sheep sorrel herb has been considered a rich source of vitamin C, E, beta-carotene, and other carotenoids. In fact, in “The New Healing Herb,” sheep sorrel is cited as one of the most potent antioxidant herbs known. Currently, however, it is most well-known within the alternative cancer treatment community as one of the main ingredients in several formulas such as Jon Barron’s Blood Support and René Caisse’s Essiac tea. Incidentally, Essiac is simply Caisse spelled backwards.
René Caisse, who popularized Essiac tea as a cancer cure, felt sheep sorrel was the most active cancer fighter among all the herbs present in her formula. That viewpoint was seconded by Dr. Chester Stock at Sloan-Kettering in New York. Dr. Stock studied sheep sorrel benefits for over three years in the mid-seventies.
His conclusion was that sheep sorrel destroyed cancer cells in the body and inhibited metastasis by actually causing cancer cells to return to the original tumor site. Caisse believed that sheep sorrel, along with the other herbs in her tea, acted as blood purifiers, carrying away destroyed tissue as well as infections thrown off by the malignancy.