Mistletoe, also known by its latin name, Viscum album is considered a symbol of life. It is an obligate hemiparasitic plant because even while its host can be leafless, it is evergreen and bears fruit during the winter months. Mistletoe can grow on several types of trees and the chemical composition of the extracts is dependent on the species of its host tree (e.g., apple, elm, oak, pine, poplar, and spruce), the time of year it is harvested and how the extracts are prepared.
Mistletoe is one of the most widely studied CAM (complementary and alternative medicine) therapies for cancer. In certain European countries it is among the most prescribed natural drugs offered to cancer patients. Although mistletoe plants and berries are considered poisonous to humans, few serious side effects have been associated with mistletoe extract use. Mistletoe extracts are prepared as an aqueous solution or a solution consisting of alcohol and water. The extracts can be fermented or unfermented. Some extracts are prepared according to homeopathic principles, while others are not.
Mistletoe is considered one of the most investigated herbal medicines with more than 2,000 scientific publications, 130 clinical studies and 40 prospective-randomized clinical studies. Modern interest in mistletoe as an anticancer treatment began in the 1920s by Rudolf Steiner, PhD, and Ita Wegman, MD. Mistletoe has been used in various forms to treat cancer, epilepsy, infertility, menopausal symptoms, nervous tension, asthma, hypertension, headache, and dermatitis. Mistletoe has immunoprotective properties that can aid in DNA-repair as well as decreasing the immunosuppressive effects of chemotherapy by stabilizing the DNA in white blood cells including those which have been exposed to chemotherapeutic drugs. Additionally, mistletoe can help to balance the neuroendocrine system.
Contact Revolutions if you are interested in mistletoe therapy. We are here to answer your questions regarding treatment and any other health concerns you have.