What is mistletoe?
Mistletoe is a plant that grows on trees with a long history of medical usage over thousands of years. Found in select areas of the world, mistletoe is native in parts of Europe, North Africa, the Near East, and Japan.
A full extract of mistletoe contains a rich mixture of about 600 different proteins defined by the host tree. Mistletoe host trees include apple, pine, fir, oak, poplar, elm, spruce, linden, and ash, among other less common types. Some mistletoe trees can only be found in one or two countries. The optimal host tree depends on the constitution of the patient and their type of cancer.
The chemical contents of each mistletoe product are prepared under consistent conditions due to process standardization. These factors include the time of year harvested, if the product combines mistletoe from more than one season of the year, the harvest technique, the species of host tree, the part of the mistletoe plant such as the stems, center locations, leaves, berries, as well as male or female, preparation of extracts, quality control, the producer, and manufacturer.
Main components of mistletoe responsible for their medicinal qualities are lectins and viscotoxins.
- Lectins are sugar proteins found closer to the center of mistletoe plants and highest in winter. Research indicates that there are three different groups of mistletoe lectins, including mistletoe lectins I, II and III with over 20 different individual components. The host tree defines the type and amount of lectin.
- After lectins, viscotoxins are the next most efficacious substance found in mistletoe. These protein-containing compounds located in the outer parts of mistletoe plants are highest in summer.
What are the potential benefits of mistletoe against cancer?
Mistletoe has been used in people with all types of cancer. Mistletoe and cancer is understood through these results. Studies suggest the following potential benefits of mistletoe in cancer patients.
Activates and modulates the immune system
Research indicates that mistletoe enhances immune cells, including white blood cells such as natural killer cells and other T-cell functions.
Enhances quality of life
Improvements to quality of life in people with cancer receiving mistletoe treatments have been demonstrated in research studies.
Reduces side effects from conventional cancer treatments
Mistletoe can help reduce side effects from conventional cancer treatments such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, according to scientific studies. Reduced side effects from radiation and chemotherapy occurs in part by protecting the genes of healthy cells. Please note that mistletoe should not be administered on the days of chemotherapy and/or radiation. Cancer patients treated with surgery have also experienced increased strength during the operation and recovery by starting mistletoe several days to weeks before the procedure with continued administration.
Kills cancer cells
Inhibition of cancer growth and other anti-cancer results has been observed in cancer patients treated with mistletoe. Preclinical (laboratory) research is also consistent with clinical findings.
Improves survival in cancer patients
Some studies have indicated improved survival in cancer patients treated with mistletoe.
Some criticism exists about the limited number of double-blind, randomized controlled trials and clinical trial design issues related to the published research studies on mistletoe. A review and informed comments about mistletoe studies are available at Mistletoe in Cancer Therapy in the Scientific Information section with expertise by Gunver S. Kienle, MD. Due to the comprehensive review and analysis of mistletoe studies by Dr. Kienle, EmbodiWorks will not provide references to mistletoe studies and refer patients and providers to Mistletoe in Cancer Therapy for more information.
How is mistletoe chosen, administered, and evaluated in cancer patients?
The type of mistletoe is chosen by the provider through an evaluation of each patient's health and situation, type of cancer, immune status, rhythmological characteristics, and other factors.
Mistletoe is administered through subcutaneous injections underneath the skin two to three times weekly on average. Much less frequently, mistletoe is administered through other administration routes such as intravenously, direct injection into the tumor, or into a body cavity.
Subcutaneous injections are applied with a needle into the skin often to the abdomen or thigh. The procedure is generally well-tolerated since the needle is short and thin. The exact location of injection should alter to avoid irritating the skin.
Doses of mistletoe are often escalated until reactions in patients are detectable. The proper dose and appropriate mistletoe preparation is evaluated through responses such as a reddened area around the injection site indicating a desirable immune response that should not be larger than four to five centimeters in diameter, increase in body temperature, increase in immune cells, and other bodily reactions as well as improved conditions. Depending upon responsiveness, dose levels and/or host tree mistletoe products may be changed.
Short-term therapy with mistletoe may last a few weeks or months and long-term therapy often occurs over many years.
Mistletoe should be stored in the refrigerator since it is sensitive to heat.
What are some precautions when using mistletoe?
Mistletoe should be avoided or delayed under the following circumstances and conditions.
- On the specific days of chemotherapy and/or radiation
- Directly onto or into a radiation area
- Delay mistletoe in the midst of infection and/or fever
What are the different names of mistletoe?
Different mistletoe preparations available are manufactured by different companies. Each manufacturer uses unique names for their mistletoe products.
- Iscador, Helixor, Abnoba-viscum, Isorel, and Iscucin are developed as anthroposophical medicine.
- Cefalektin, Eurixor, and Lektinol are different forms of mistletoe created as phytotherapy. Eurixor and Lektinol are standardized as mistletoe lectin I. However, Eurixor is no longer being distributed. The phytotherapy preparations are available in one strength without escalation. The dose is determined by body weight. Patient reactions are closely observed and modifications are subsequently made when necessary. The administration schedule also contrasts with the anthroposophical medicine form of mistletoe.
What is the history of mistletoe?
Due to its medicinal purposes for many health conditions, mistletoe has been used for centuries.
In the 1920s, Rudolf Steiner, the founder of anthroposophical medicine, introduced mistletoe treatment for cancer. For the last fifty years, a number of published research studies have evaluated mistletoe as an anti-cancer treatment. Mistletoe is considered one of the most widely studied complementary and alternative medicine therapies for cancer. Many studies evaluating mistletoe have been published. Some are available in English and a number of studies are only in German.
Today, mistletoe is the most popular and frequently prescribed complementary cancer treatment in Central Europe.
Many European health insurance companies provide coverage for the anthroposophical medicinal preparations of mistletoe for cancer patients. The costs for phytotherapeutic preparations are covered less frequently and in Germany only when used as palliative cancer treatments.
For More Information
- Mistletoe in Cancer Therapy
- Iscador from Weleda
Iscador, Weleda's mistletoe product, can be ordered in the United States with a prescription from a doctor, naturopath, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant. The provider must have medical credentials in the United States. More information is available from Weleda North America at 1-800-241-1030 and on Weleda's Iscador website.
- Helixor
Patients and providers in the United States can inquire about Helixor products by email at info@helixor.com. Please visit the Helixor website for more information.
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