Mistletoe has been used for centuries in traditional medicine and folk medicine.
What is Mistletoe?
Mistletoe is most known as a Christmas tradition and getting to kiss someone under it but it could potentially offer so much more.
Mistletoe is a evergreen shrub which is semi-parasitic which means it needs another plant (its host) on supplying its water and some nutrients.
Mistletoe (Viscum album /Viscum L. / Viscum album L) belongs to the family of Viscaceae / Santalales/ Santalaceae /Loranthaceae.
Currently most popular species are mistletoe parasitising fir, maple, almond, birch, hawthorn, ash, apple, pine, poplar, oak, willow, lime and elm
Mistletoe Therapy
In 1920 Rudolf Steiner introduce Viscum album L. as a cancer treatment as part of his anthroposophical medicine a form of alternative medicine.
Mistletoe as Alternative Treatment
Mistletoe could offer benefits and complementary treatment for:
Others hypertension, diabetes, liver diseases, epilepsy and Alzheimer’s disease
” The influence on fatigue especially should be investigated further”
This research shows a huge variety of potentials for the use of Mistletoe: Biological activity of mistletoe: in vitro and in vivo studies and mechanisms of action
Mistletoe Therapy Research
Intravenous Mistletoe Treatment in Integrative Cancer Care
Mistletoe and Immunomodulation: Insights and Implications for Anticancer Therapies
Mistletoe in the treatment of cancer patients
Mistletoe (Viscum album) preparations: an optional drug for cancer patients?
Mistletoe-Extract Drugs Stimulate Anti-Cancer
Intratumoral Mistletoe (Viscum album L) Therapy in Patients With Unresectable Pancreas Carcinoma
Biological activity of mistletoe: in vitro and in vivo studies and mechanisms of action
Mistletoe in immunology and the clinic
The case for mistletoe in the treatment of laryngeal cancer
Alternative Treatment Breast Cancer
Mistletoe: Neurological Disorders & Alzheimer’s disease
Epilepsy
Sedative, antiepileptic and antipsychotic effects of Viscum album L. (Loranthaceae) in mice and rats
Cancer and Fatigue
Clinical Trials Using Mistletoe
The first pilot randomised controlled trial is being carried out at University of Bristol with mistletoe therapy for breast cancer in the UK.
