Mistletoe Therapy in Cancer Care
By Renee Lang, ND, FABNO, MPH M
istletoe therapy is a complimen- tary cancer therapy utilizing a water extract of the mistletoe
leaf and berry. Mistletoe is the common name for a family of semi-parasitic plants containing over 1000 species. The scien- tific name for the plant family is Viscum. The species of Viscum shown to have benefit in the setting of cancer is album or Viscum album; named for the white berry produced by this species.
For centuries, mistletoe has been used
to address various health conditions. The Druids used mistletoe both medicinally and ritually, considering it sacred because it grew high in the trees, suspended between heaven and earth. Rudolph Steiner, the father of Anthroposophical medicine, was a pioneer in using mistletoe for cancer treatment. His observations of the plant blooming in winter out of rhythm with the host tree, and the slow, constant growing and dividing in a circular mass resembled the characteristics of a cancer tumor. These similarities inspired his practice to use mistletoe in the cancer setting which has been subsequently validated by research.
Characteristics of Mistletoe Mistletoe is considered semi-parasitic
because it invades the tree only to the depth of the bark, not into the wood/cambium of the tree, preventing the destruction of the
20 ELM® Maine - November/December 2019
Mistletoe is one of the most studied integrative cancer therapies in the world with over 7000 published studies documented to date, including preclinical and human trials.
tree. Mistletoe uses multiple tree species as its host, including fir, pine, and apple. It lacks a typical root system, instead using a root-like projection called a haustorium, to penetrate the bark of the tree to access essential nutrients. Each host tree provides a different cocktail of nutrients creating unique medicinal properties in the mistle- toe plants growing on them. Mistletoe extracts are characterized by their host tree and the varied extracts have specific ap- plications based on types of tumors and a person’s specific health considerations.
Mistletoe was first used in cancer therapy in 1922 when few viable treatment
options existed. Ita Wegman, MD (Head of the Clinical-Therapeutic Institute in Switzer- land), is credited with developing the first mistletoe injection products. The introduc- tion of radiation therapy in 1937 and che- motherapy in the 1940’s revolutionized and changed the treatment of cancer to this day. However, as will be presented below, there is also a role for mistletoe in the integrative treatment of cancer.
The Role of Mistletoe in Cancer Therapy Mistletoe is one of the most studied in-
tegrative cancer therapies in the world with over 7000 published studies documented to date, including preclinical and human tri- als. Mistletoe/Viscum album contains more than 500 substances in total, and more than 170 biologically-active compounds. The most important and well-researched of these compounds include mistletoe lectins and viscotoxins. These two compounds are primarily responsible for the cancer therapy benefits.
The beneficial biological actions of mistletoe in cancer therapy are numerous and varied. Viscotoxins disrupt cellular membranes leading to destruction of tumor cells. Mistletoe lectins exert multiple ac- tions in the body including immune system modulation, triggering programmed cell death of cancer cells, and blocking the for- mation of new blood vessels which support
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