Mistletoe – a universal remedy |
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Mistletoe, lat. Viscum album, is a plant mentioned in many Nordic and Celtic legends.
The old peoples of Europe attributed divine properties to this plant – masculinity, fertility and romance.
Since the old days it has been used as a cure among many peoples and it was known among the Gauls and Celts as a remedy for every illness.
Many famous doctors and healers held this plant in high regard, such as Hippocrates, Rudolph Steiner and Sebastian Kneipp.
Today many people consider it useless and poisonous, but this plant is a valuable remedy for many illnesses, even the most malignant.
Featuring many healing properties, this plant finds an answer to almost every illness affecting the mankind so it was made a part of tea mixes in folk medicine.
Mistletoe's active ingredients are lectines, polypeptides, flavonoids, viscotoxins, lignins and alcaloides.
Mistletoe’s healing properties
Mistletoe is famous in folk medicine as a herb that calms nervous system, relieves convulsions and enhances sleep.
European herbalists consider it as a remedy for Sydenham’s chorea, epilepsy and many other nerve disorders that cause convulsions.
It is suitable as a treatment against many other problems caused by a weakened nervous system. It is believed to build, feed and strengthen the central nervous system.
Mistletoe supports female reproductive system - it helps in case of infertility, regulates menstrual cycle, alleviates menstrual pains and menopause symptoms.
It mitigates all kinds of internal bleedings and relieves pain.
Alongside hawthorn, mistletoe is considered the best natural remedy for heart and circulatory system problems.
Mistletoe contains ingredients that normalize blood pressure. It prevents vein calcification (atherosclerosis) and heart damages caused by aging. It regulates heart rate and subsides tachycardia.
Mistletoe has a strong influence on human metabolism, it enhances the performance of digestive glands and prevents constipation.
This plant also normalizes incomplete bile excretion and can be beneficial for diabetes patients.
Studies suggest that mistletoe can enhance libido and help patients suffering from erectile dysfunctions.
Effective cancer treatment
Mistletoe is widely used in cancer treatment. Numerous studies show that viscotoxins from mistletoe can destroy tumor cells by dissolving their membranes.
Lectines found in this plant have cytostatic effects – they stop the further growth of tumor cells.
Besides that, additionaly it is confirmed that mistletoe strengthens the immune system, alleviates pain and reduces chemotherapy side effects by up to 80%.
Due to all the aforementioned, this plant can surely be recommended as a help in cancer treatment.
Mistletoe's effects in tumor treatment include:
- immune stimulation – general strengthening of the body’s defense mechanisms
- hyperthermia – destroying cancer cells with increased temperature
- general condition and work capability enhancement
- appetite and sleep enhancement
- alleviation of pain caused by tumor
- enhanced chemotherapy tolerance
Mistletoe has shown the best effects on throat, ovary, vaginal, breast, intestinal, stomach, bronchial and bladder cancer.
Oncological preparations made of mistletoe are known under the names of Iscador and Helixor. Iscador is a remedy made according to the principles of anthroposophical medicine created by Rudolph Steiner.
Iscador is used in injection form only, administered by a qualified medical practitioner. The spot of injection has to be as close as possible to the location of the tumor and sometimes it is administered directly into the tumor.
In Germany mistletoe is an officially recognized substance for arthritis and malignant tumor treatments.
Mistletoe extracts could be useful to patients suffering from AIDS due to immune system support and prevention of secondary diseases occurring as a consequence of this disease.
Usage of mistletoe
White mistletoe can be recognized by its white transparent berries.
Mistletoe leaves or smaller branches containing leaves are harvested from October to the middle of December or in spring, in March and April.
Berries used in folk medicine are harvested between November and February.
Mistletoe berries are used for external use only; they should not be taken orally since they are poisonous.
Mistletoe can be used in a form of tea, powder, tincture, berry ointment, tea wraps and hot baths with mistletoe leaves and berries.
Tea
Mix a full teaspoon of mistletoe leaves and branches with 0.2 l of hot water and leave it overnight. Warm up the mixture in the morning and filtrate it.
Mistletoe powder
Grind dry mistletoe leaves into powder. Store the powder in a hermetically sealed container.
Water extract
Mix a full teaspoon of mistletoe powder with 0.2 l of water. Leave it in water for four hours and then filtrate the mixture. Drink 0.1 l of the extract in morning and evening.
Tincture
Crush 200 g of mistletoe leaves, cover it with 1 l of alkohol and filtrate the mixture after three weeks. Consume one teaspoon of the tincture mixed with 0.2 l of liquid two or three times a day.
Ointment
Mix fresh white mistletoe berries with beeswax. This ointment is for external use only.
Mistletoe tea or other preparations can be purchased in herbal pharmacies or from local herbalists.
Note
Mistletoe berries must not be taken orally, since they are poisonous. Excessive doses can cause vomiting. Mistletoe preparations should not be used by pregnant and nursing women. Mistletoe preparations must not be used together with cardiac medications.
Do not use mistletoe taken from the oak tree in your treatments because it is poisonous. Oak tree mistletoe can be recognized by its yellow berries.
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