Sheep Sorrel Aerial
Health Benefits
Sorrel is a nutritional powerhouse, providing significant amounts of important micronutrients,1 including vitamin A, a fat-soluble vitamin that helps you to maintain healthy vision, skin, immune function, growth, and reproductive health.3 You'll also get a significant boost of vitamin C, an important antioxidant that helps your body to resist infection.4
A 1-cup serving of sorrel also provides about 4 grams of fiber1 to help you maintain regular bowel movements, cholesterol levels, and blood sugar.5 Fiber may also help ward against certain health conditions including cancer, obesity, and type 2 diabetes.6
Sorrel is also sometimes used for medicinal purposes. Sheep's sorrel is a primary ingredient in Essiac tea, a propriety blend of herbal tea that was rumored to cure breast cancer and prevent other diseases including HIV/AIDS and diabetes.7
However, there is no strong evidence to support any claims about sorrel's medicinal benefits and some health agencies, including the National Cancer Institute and have even raised concerns about its potential to promote tumor growth.
Some people also use sheep's sorrel in combination with other ingredients for sinusitis and bronchitis.8 Several studies have found that the combination may help to relieve certain symptoms such as congestion and headache.9
Sorrel may also be used for fluid retention, infections, and other conditions
A Rich Source of Vitamin C, E, Beta-Carotene, and Other Carotenoids
Sheep sorrel (Rumex acetosella) is a herb that many Americans consider to be just a common weed, particularly in areas where blueberries grow. However, its medicinal uses have been known for quite some time. In fact, it has recently received extra attention for its use in a common cancer tea. Historically, sheep sorrel has been used to treat a variety of issues from inflammation and diarrhea to scurvy and cancer. What’s interesting about this herb is that every single part of the plant can be used medicinally.
Sheep Sorrel Natural Antioxidant Benefits
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.
Sheep Sorrel as a Cancer Remedy
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.
Finally, in 2012, the results of a study out of Hungary were published that showed that the Sheep Sorrel herb, and a number of its Sorrel relatives, demonstrated substantial cell growth inhibitory activity (at least 50% inhibition of cell proliferation) against one or more cancerous cell lines. Score one for the herbalists. It seems they’ve been right all along.
Sheep Sorrel for Sinus Related Conditions
Not just a potential cancer treatment, sheep sorrel has other medicinal uses as well. It is commonly used to help reduce the inflammation and pain that accompanies sinusitis. The reason for this is the tannins present in the plant, as they help in decreasing the body’s production of mucus. You might also find this herb in supplements marketed as remedies for infections and bacteria.
Other Natural Health Benefits of Sheep Sorrel
Other health benefits that have been associated with sheep sorrel include:
helping enhance the flow of urine
treating fevers and inflammations
treating kidney and urinary tract diseases
as a remedy for intestinal parasites
helping in maintaining the normal levels of blood sugar
as a topical remedy for eczema, herpes, and itchy rashes
helping with a variety of digestive problems
cooling the liver
strengthening the heart