What is viscum album used for?
Viscum album is used to treat fatigue, nervousness, insomnia, agitation, panic attacks and decreased immunity; also used in the treatment of cancers, hypertension and arthritis.
What does mistletoe do for cancer?
Basic research shows that mistletoe extracts may stimulate the immune system to fight cancer. Studies in humans show that mistletoe treatment may improve symptoms and reduce side effects of cancer treatments.
What are the side effects of mistletoe?
European mistletoe can cause vomiting, diarrhea, cramping, and other side effects. Short-term, frequent use of European mistletoe might cause liver damage. Injecting European mistletoe beneath the skin can cause fever, chills, allergic reactions, and other side effects.
Is mistletoe safe to take?
When taken by mouth: European mistletoe is POSSIBLY SAFE when used by mouth in appropriate amounts. Taking three berries or two leaves or less by mouth does not seem to cause serious side effects. However, larger amounts are LIKELY UNSAFE and cause serious side effects.
What is viscum album extract?
Viscum album L. extracts (VAE, European mistletoe) are a widely used medicinal plant extract in gynaecological and breast-cancer treatment.
Is viscum album poisonous?
The stems and leaves of Viscum album (all heal, bird lime, devil’s fuge, golden bough, mistletoe) contain alkaloids, viscotoxins, and lectins. While the toxicity of the alkaloids remains to be assessed, the viscotoxins and lectins have been found to be very poisonous in animals when given parenterally.
Does mistletoe interfere with chemo?
By stimulating the body’s natural disease-fighting mechanisms, mistletoe can inhibit the growth of cancer cells and generally improve the quality of life for those undergoing intense treatments such as chemotherapy.
How much are mistletoe injections?
While mistletoe is not approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It falls under the category of homeopathy and is paid for out-of-pocket, at a cost of $100 to $150 per month, depending on the extract intensity and number of injections.
Was mistletoe used as a drug?
European mistletoe has been used for centuries in traditional medicine for a variety of conditions, including seizures, headaches, and menopause symptoms. Today, European mistletoe is promoted as a treatment for cancer. In Europe, European mistletoe extracts that are given by injection are sold as prescription drugs.
Is mistletoe good for liver?
Some people use European mistletoe for treating mental and physical exhaustion; to reduce side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy; as a tranquilizer; and for treating whooping cough, asthma, dizziness, diarrhea, chorea, and liver and gallbladder conditions.
Is viscum album the same as mistletoe?
Viscum album is a species of mistletoe in the family Santalaceae, commonly known as European mistletoe, common mistletoe or simply as mistletoe (Old English mistle). It is native to Europe and western and southern Asia. Viscum album is a hemiparasite on several species of trees, from which it draws water and nutrients.
Is mistletoe good for the heart?
Cardiovascular Health Research shows that mistletoe has antioxidant effects, which improves circulation and protects the heart and the blood vessels. 8 Mistletoe might also help regulate heart rate.
Can Viscum album be used to treat cancer?
Viscum album as Treatment for Cancer. Growth of a human leukemia cell line (Molt H) in a cell culture is stopped by mistletoe extract. Cytostasis occurs because the extract prevents intracellular protein synthesis and cell division. Microscopic examination shows a marked reduction of cell numbers.
Are Viscum album cells alive or dead?
Microscopic examination shows that the cells are dead (Gorter, 1998; Hunter, 2002). There are two main producers of Viscum album extracts for cancer therapy in Germany, each of whom prepare the extract in a slightly different fashion, and one of which is of a higher concentration.
What are Viscum album berries?
The berries are distinctly sticky (hence the Latin name Viscum album —- “white sticky stuff”) and easily cling to branches and soon send out a sucker rootlet that penetrates the bark of the host tree and taps its sap for nutrients and water.
Are there any qualitative studies of cancer patients’experiences of using MT?
The aim of this study was to systematically review and synthesise the results of qualitative studies of cancer patients’ experiences of using MT. Design: A systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE, Embase, PsychLIT, CINAHL, and AMED to identify qualitative studies of MT.