Mistletoe

views updated Jun 11 2018

Mistletoe

Description

Mistletoe is a parasitic evergreen plant that lives on trees such as oaks, elms, firs, pines, apples, and elms. The parasitic plant has yellowish flowers; small, yellowish green leaves; and waxy, white berries. There are many species of this plant in the Viscacea and Loranthacea plant families. European mistletoe (Viscum album ) and American mistletoe (Phoradendron leucarpum ) are used as medical remedies. In addition to Europe and North America, mistletoe is also found in Australia and Korea.

Mistletoe berries are poisonous to cats and other small animals. There is, however, some debate about how toxic the berries are to humans, and there is controversy about whether it is safe to use mistletoe as a remedy. Mistletoe is also known as mystyldene, all-heal, bird lime, golden bough, and devil's fuge.

General use

Mistletoe is known popularly as the plant sprig that people kiss beneath during the Christmas season. That custom dates back to pagan times when, according to legend, the plant was thought to inspire passion and increase fertility.

In the centuries since then, mistletoe has acquired a reputation as a nearly all-purpose herbal remedy. In the seventeenth century, French herbalists prescribed mistletoe for nervous disorders, epilepsy , and the spasms known as the St. Vitus dance.

Mistletoe has also been used in folk medicine as a digestive aid, heart tonic, and sedative. It was used to treat arthritis, hysteria and other mental disturbances, amenorrhea, wounds, asthma , bed wetting, infection, and to stimulate glands.

For centuries, mistletoe also served as a folk medicine treatment for cancer , and the plant is currently used in Europe to treat tumors. Iscador is an extract of the European mistletoe plant that is said to stimulate the immune system and kill cancer cells. It reportedly reduces the size of tumors and improves the quality of life. One team of researchers in France has found evidence that mistletoe extracts increase the efficiency of the body's natural killer cells in destroying cancer cells. A German study published in 2002 indicates that Iscador does indeed inhibit tumor growth. Another recent German case study of an 80-year-old woman with metastasized breast cancer documented that the patient lived for 41 months after first being given Iscador, with good quality of life. Iscador is one brand name of the mistletoe extract in Europe, and other brand names include Helixor and Eurixor.

Other contemporary uses of mistletoe include treatment of rheumatism, anxiety , migraine headaches, dizziness , high blood pressure, relief of spasms, asthma , rapid heartbeat, diarrhea , hysteria, and amenorrhea. Research continues on the use of mistletoe to treat AIDS patients.

There are some differences among the species. American mistletoe is said to cause a rise in blood pressure, while its European counterpart is believed to lower blood pressure.

Although mistletoe appears to be a multipurpose remedy, there is disagreement among medical experts about the safety and effectiveness of this herb. The number of possible interactions with other medications described below indicates that mistletoe should be used with caution.

Preparations

In alternative medicine, the leaves, twigs, and sometimes the berries of mistletoe are used. In Europe, mistletoe remedies range from tea made from mistletoe leaves to injections of Iscador. While European research indicates that mistletoe is safe and effective, sources in the United States maintain that the berries are poisonous and that the herb can cause liver damage.

Since mistletoe has not been tested by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), many experts urge caution until more research is completed. European research includes work completed by Germany's Commission E, a governmental agency that studies herbal remedies for approval as over-the-counter drugs. An English version of the German Commission E monographs was published in 1997 and was the basis for the 1998 PDR (Physicians'Desk Reference) for Herbal Medicines.

Home remedies

Mistletoe tea may be taken for high blood pressure, asthma, epilepsy, nervousness, diarrhea , hysteria, whooping cough , amenorrhea, vertiginous attacks, and chorea. The tea is prepared by adding 1 tsp (5 g) of finely cut mistletoe to 1 cup (250 ml) of cold water. The solution is steeped at room temperature for 12 hours and then strained. Up to 12 cups of tea may be consumed each day.

Mistletoe wine is prepared by mixing 8 tsp (40 g) of the herb into 34 oz (1 L) of wine. After three days, the wine can be consumed. Three to four glasses of medicinal wine may be consumed each day.

Mistletoe must be stored away from light and kept above a drying agent.

Cancer treatment

Iscador, the European extract, may be injected before surgery for cancers of the cervix, ovary, breast, stomach, colon, and lung. Cancer treatments can take several months to several years. The treatment is given by subcutaneous injection, preferably near the tumor. Iscador may be injected into the tumor, especially tumors of the liver, cervix, or esophagus.

The dosage of Iscador varies according to the patient's age, sex, physical condition, and type of cancer. The treatment usually is given in the morning three to seven days per week. As treatment continues, the dosage may be increased or adjusted.

European cancer research has been conducted since the 1960s, and most has involved European mistletoe. However, researchers believe there may be some similar active components in other species. In the United States, some cancer patients may qualify for participation in clinical trials of Iscador.

Advocates of Iscador believe it can stimulate the immune system, kill cancer cells, inhibit the formation of tumors, and extend the survival time of cancer patients. They maintain that mistletoe can help prevent cancer and serve as companion therapy for standard cancer treatments. They also think that mistletoe could possibly repair the DNA that is decreased by chemotherapy and radiation.

In general, however, American researchers are skeptical about European claims regarding mistletoe as an effective cancer remedy. The latest information summary on mistletoe extracts, updated in May 2002 and available from the National Cancer Institute web site, states that "There is no evidence from well-designed clinical trials that mistletoe or any of its components are effective treatments for human cancer."

AIDS treatment

Mistletoe extract has been used to combat AIDS. In 1998 European studies, Iscador injections were used to improve the immune response. Experts reported from early results that when patients were given Iscador, no additional progression of HIV was seen. The combination of Iscador with standard therapy could be potentially beneficial, but more research is needed.

In 1996, the first United States patent was issued for T4GEN, a pharmaceutical version of the mistletoe extract. ABT Global Pharmaceutical of Irvine, California (the patent owner) has developed the synthetic version to be tested and potentially approved as a drug by the FDA. As of summer 2000, there have been no further announcements about T4GEN research.

Precautions

Opinions are sharply divided on how safe and effective the herb is as a home remedy and in the treatment of conditions like cancer and AIDS. There is controversy about which parts of the plants are poisonous. Although the berries are classified as poisonous in the United States, some sources say that eating berries is only dangerous for babies, and only if handfuls are consumed. Pregnant or breast-feeding women, however, should not use the plant.

According to a report from the Hepatitis Foundation International, mistletoe is toxic to the liver. However, the PDR for Herbal Medicines advises that there are no health hazards when mistletoe is taken properly and in designated therapeutic dosages. Other sources state that mistletoe's toxicity could cause cardiac arrest.

People considering mistletoe should consult with their doctor or practitioner. Until there is definitive proof otherwise, there is a risk that the herbal remedies will conflict with conventional treatment.

Herbal experts including Varro Tyler advise against using mistletoe as a beverage or home remedy until more definitive research is completed. Tyler, a respected pharmacognosist, is the coauthor of the 1999 Tyler's Honest Herbal.

Side effects

Mistletoe may be potentially toxic to the liver. For people diagnosed with hepatitis, use of an herb like mistletoe may cause additional liver damage. However, advocates of mistletoe point out that the herb has been tested in Europe. That research indicated less severe side effects. Mistletoe extracts can produce chills, fever, headache , chest pain , and orthostatic circulatory disorders.

Commercial mistletoe extracts may produce fewer side effects. The body temperature may rise and there may be flu-like symptoms. The patient may experience nausea , abdominal pain, and (if given the extract injection) inflammation around the injection sight. In a slight number of cases, allergy symptoms have resulted.

Interactions

Mistletoe shouldn't be used by people who take monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor antidepressants like Nardil. Potential reactions include a dangerous rise in blood pressure and a lowering of blood potassium levels (hypokalemia). In addition, mistletoe appears to interfere with the action of antidiabetic medications; to increase the activity of diuretics; and to increase the risk of a toxic reaction to aspirin or NSAIDs. Cancer patients considering mistletoe treatment should first consult with their doctor or practitioner.

Resources

BOOKS

Albright, Peter. The Complete Book of Complementary Therapies. Allentown, PA: People's Medical Society, 1997.

The Burton Goldberg Group. Alternative Medicine: The Definitive Guide. Fife, WA: Future Medicine Publishing, 1995.

Collinge, William. The American Holistic Health Association Complete Guide to Alternative Medicine. New York: Warner Books, 1996.

Gottlieb, Bill. New Choices in Natural Healing. Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press, Inc., 1995.

Medical Economics Company. PDR for Herbal Medicines. Montvale, NJ: 1998.

Time-Life Books Editors. The Alternative Advisor. Alexandria, VA: Time-Life Books, 1997.

Tyler, Varro, and Steven Foster. Tyler's Honest Herbal. Binghamton, NY: The Haworth Herbal Press, 1999.

PERIODICALS

Kroz, M., F. Schad, B. Matthes, et al. "Blood and Tissue Eosinophilia, Mistletoe Lectin Antibodies and Quality of Life in a Breast Cancer Patient Undergoing Intratumoral and Subcutaneous Mistletoe Injection." [in German] Forschende Komplementarmedizin und Klassische Naturheilkunde 9 (June 2002): 160-167.

Maier, G., and H. H. Fiebig. "Absence of Tumor Growth Stimulation in a Panel of 16 Human Tumor Cell Lines by Mistletoe Extracts in Vitro." Anticancer Drugs 13 (April 2002): 373-379.

Mengs, U., D. Gothel, and E. Leng-Peschlow. "Mistletoe Extracts Standardized to Mistletoe Lectins in Oncology: Review on Current Status of Preclinical Research." Anti-cancer Research 22 (May-June 2002): 1399-1407.

Tabiasco, J., et al. "Mistletoe Viscotoxins Increase Natural Killer Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity." European Journal of Biochemistry 269 (May 2002): 2591-2600.

ORGANIZATIONS

American Botanical Council. P.O. Box 201660, Austin, TX 78720. (512) 331-8868. http://www.herbalgram.org.

Herb Research Foundation. 1007 Pearl St., Suite 200, Boulder, CO 80302. (303) 449-2265. http://www.herbs.org.

National Cancer Institute (NCI). NCI Public Inquiries Office, Suite 3036-A, 6116 Executive Boulevard, MSC8322, Bethesda, MD, 20892. (800) 422-6237. <www.nci.nih.gov/cancerinfo/pdq/cam/mistletoe>.

Liz Swain

Rebecca J. Frey, PhD

Mistletoe

views updated May 29 2018

Mistletoe

Mistletoe belongs to the family Viscaceae and to the genus Viscum, Phoradendron, or Arceuthobium. Most commonly, mistletoe refers to either the Eurasian shrub Viscum album or one of the American species, such as Phoradendron flavescens. Mistletoe grows on the trunks and branches of a wide variety of trees. Mistletoe is an evergreen, and its stems have numerous branches. The plants have tough, oblong, green leaves, tiny flowers, and waxy, translucent, white berries with a viscous mesocarp (the portion of the berry between the skin and seed).

Mistletoe is considered to be a partial parasite or semi-parasite because it manufactures all of its carbohydrates through photosynthesis in its green leaves, but it depends on its host tree for water, minerals, and protein. There is one leafless flowering species of mistletoe of the genus Arceuthobium that is entirely parasitic and is damaging to conifers. A root like structure (haustorium) of the mistletoe penetrates into the bark of the host tree and absorbs water, inorganic ions, sugars, amino acids, and hormones from the trees xylem and phloem (inner and outer vascular parts of each stem). Dispersal of the seeds of these plants is primarily carried out by birds who eat the berries and fly to another tree, dropping the sticky berries onto the bark. Within days roots emerge from the germinating seed.

The tradition of kissing beneath the mistletoe is believed to come from a Norse legend in which Balder, the god of Peace, was killed with an arrow made of mistletoe. As the story goes, the gods bring Balder back to life by giving mistletoe to Freya, the goddess of Love, who makes the plant a symbol of love. Freya proclaimed that anyone who passed under mistletoe could be kissed. The Druids used mistletoe to welcome the new year and for religious rites and medicinal purposes, such as treating sterility and epilepsy. The French name for mistletoe, herbe de la croix (herb of the cross), comes from a legend describing how

mistletoe was once a tree that was used to make Christs cross. According to legend, after Christs death, mistletoe was cursed to never again grow from the earth and it was turned into a small parasite. Mistletoe was also associated with magical powers in some cultures, and is thought to have been the Golden Bough that opened the door to the Underworld for Sybil and for the hero Aeneas in Virgils Aenead.

Each species of mistletoe has unique chemical properties and different medicinal possibilities. Hundreds of years ago mistletoe was used for a variety of ailments and conditions. Currently, the potential medicinal effects of mistletoe are being tested on laboratory animals. Some research is being done to see if certain extracts from mistletoe can destroy cancer cells. Along with some potentially beneficial substances, mistletoe contains toxic substances and therefore should not be eaten.

Christine Miner Minderovic

Mistletoe

views updated May 29 2018

Mistletoe

Mistletoe belongs to the family Viscaceae and to the genus Viscum, Phoradendron, or Arceuthobium. Most commonly, mistletoe refers to either the Eurasian shrub Viscum album or one of the American species , such as Phoradendron flavescens. Mistletoe grows on the trunks and branches of a wide variety of trees. Mistletoe is an evergreen, and its stems have numerous branches. The plants have tough, oblong, green leaves, tiny flowers, and waxy, translucent, white berries with a viscous mesocarp (the portion of the berry between the skin and seed).

Mistletoe is considered to be a partial parasite or semi-parasite because it manufactures all of its carbohydrates through photosynthesis in its green leaves, but it depends on its host tree for water , minerals , and protein. There is one leafless flowering species of mistletoe of the genus Arceuthobium that is entirely parasitic and is damaging to conifers. A root-like structure (haustorium) of the mistletoe penetrates into the bark of the host tree and absorbs water, inorganic ions, sugars, amino acids, and hormones from the tree's xylem and phloem (inner and outer vascular parts of each stem). Dispersal of the seeds of these plants is primarily carried out by birds who eat the berries and fly to another tree, dropping the sticky berries onto the bark. Within days roots emerge from the germinating seed.

The tradition of kissing beneath the mistletoe is believed to come from a Norse legend in which Balder, the god of Peace, was killed with an arrow made of mistletoe. As the story goes, the gods bring Balder back to life by giving mistletoe to Freya, the goddess of Love, who makes the plant a symbol of love. Freya proclaimed that anyone who passed under mistletoe could be kissed. The Druids used mistletoe to welcome the new year and for religious rites and medicinal purposes, such as treating sterility and epilepsy . The French name for mistletoe, herbe de la croix (herb of the cross), comes from a legend describing how mistletoe was once a tree that was used to make Christ's cross. According to legend, after Christ's death, mistletoe was cursed to never again grow from the earth and it was turned into a small parasite. Mistletoe was also associated with magical powers in some cultures, and is thought to have been the Golden Bough that opened the door to the Underworld for Sybil and for the hero Aeneas in Virgil's Aenead.

Each species of mistletoe has unique chemical properties and different medicinal possibilities. Hundreds of years ago mistletoe was used for a variety of ailments and conditions. Currently, the potential medicinal effects of mistletoe are being tested on laboratory animals. Some research is being done to see if certain extracts from mistletoe can destroy cancer cells. Along with some potentially beneficial substances, mistletoe contains toxic substances and therefore should not be eaten.

Christine Miner Minderovic

mistletoe

views updated May 21 2018

mistletoe according to Pliny the Elder, mistletoe was sacred to the druids, and it has a number of traditional and pagan associations. It is traditionally used in England to decorate houses at Christmas, when it is associated with the custom of kissing under the mistletoe.

In Scandinavian mythology, the shaft which Loki caused the blind Hod to throw at Balder, killing him, was tipped with mistletoe, which was the only plant that could harm him.

Recorded from Old English (in form misteltā), the word comes from mistel ‘mistletoe’ (of Germanic origin) + tān ‘twig’.


The Mistletoe Bough a ballad by Thomas Bayly (1839), which recounts the story of a young bride who during a game hides herself in a chest with a spring-lock and is then trapped there; many years later her skeleton is discovered. Bayly based the ballad on a passage in Samuel Rogers' poem Italy.

mistletoe

views updated May 11 2018

mis·tle·toe / ˈmisəlˌtō/ • n. a leathery-leaved parasitic plant that grows on apple, oak, and other broadleaf trees and bears white glutinous berries in winter. Its several species include the Eurasian Viscum album (family Viscaceae) and the American Phoradendron serotinum (family Loranthaceae).

mistletoe

views updated May 17 2018

mistletoe Any of numerous species of evergreen plants that are semi-parasitic on tree branches. It has small, spatula-shaped, yellowish-green leaves and generally forms a large dense ball of foliage. The mistletoe taps into the branch of its host to sap its food supply, avoiding the necessity of growing roots itself. It also carries out photosynthesis, so is not entirely parasitic. Families: Loranthaceae and Viscaceae.

mistletoe

views updated Jun 08 2018

mistletoe OE. misteltān ( = ON. mistilteinn), f. mistel mistletoe ( = OHG. mistil (G. mistel), Du. mistel, ON. mistil) + tān twig ( = Du. teen withe, OHG. zein rod, ON. teinn twig, spit, Goth. tains twig).

mistletoe

views updated Jun 27 2018

mistletoe (Viscum) See LORANTHACEAE.