Mistletoe is classified as a semi-parasitic plant. It grows on a number of different kinds of trees such as maple, pine, birch, oak and apple. It enjoys a long history of medicinal use for conditions such as high blood pressure, epilepsy, infertility, arthritis, headaches and menopausal discomforts.
It has also been widely studied as an alternative treatment for cancer. In some European countries, mistletoe extracts are among the most widely prescribed of all cancer treatments. Mistletoe extracts enhance the immune system and have been shown to destroy cancer cells in laboratory experiments. It is in demand as a treatment with all varieties of cancer, and is supplied as a series of subcutaneous (under the skin) injections.
The chemical makeup of mistletoe extract varies depending upon its exact subspecies, host tree, harvest time, whether or not it has been fermented, etc. Some extracts are water based while others are a mixture of alcohol and water. Mistletoe therapy (often also referred to as Iscador or Helixor) has been approved for use in in numerous countries.
A number of studies have shown mistletoe extract to be an effective inhibitor of the spread of cancerous cells in the body. It also reduces the size of cancerous tumors, lengthens the survival rate of patients with breast or colorectal cancers and provides increased quality of life to cancer patients in the areas of mood, appetite, stamina, pain, fatigue and tolerance of chemotherapy.
Some studies have shown mistletoe therapy to specifically target certain cancer cells without affecting the surrounding normal cells. (Chemotherapy, by contrast, kills all cells.) It also enhances the immune system by activating T-helper cells which focus specifically on cancerous cells.
Over 28 years of tracking cancer treatment with mistletoe extract have shown its side effects to be all but non-existent. A number of patients report a fever or reddened reaction at the injection site but no serious side effects have been reported.
Mistletoe is considered to be a completely safe cancer treatment. Mistletoe extract injections are one of the most potent alternative medicine treatments currently available, and can be used alone or as an adjunct to more traditional cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and/or radiation.
Studies have shown that Mistletoe injections have the following effects:
- Inhibition of metastasis, tumor size reduction and necrosis of induced tumors in rodents.
- Improved survival with patients suffering from breast and colorectal cancer.
- Improved quality of life in patients with cancer tumors including improved mood, endurance, appetite, tolerance of chemotherapy, sleep and decreased fatigue and pain.
- Mistletoe lectins have been shown to induce apoptosis (cancer cell death). Studies indicate that mistletoe lectins may specifically target some forms of cancer and leave “normal” cells alone. This may be an advantage over chemotherapy which targets any cell, healthy or cancerous, which turns over rapidly.
- Enhancement of immune system including activation of T-helper cells, natural killer cells and other components of the immune system which may target and destroy cancerous cells.
- Stabilizing effect on DNA, preventing further mutation into cancer cells.
- Alleviation of some side-effects of chemotherapy and radiation.
To learn more about Mistletoe Therapy and how it can help you, please feel free to contact me.