Most of us associate mistletoe, with a kiss from an awful uncle at christmas time. Synonymous with christmas, we cannot imagine this festival without holly and mistletoe. For those who live in the colder climates of the Northern hemisphere, mistletoe is freshly gathered for its decorative and traditional qualities for December 25th. For some in the USA mistletoe shooting has become a festive sport to look forward to. As it grows much too high for even a ladder to reach, these poor people have resorted to shooting it out of the top branches of the trees. Yet behind its popular reputation for stolen kisses at christmas, lies a plant worthy of a crown.
In 1987 a scientific paper was published outlining a case study of the effectiveness of mistletoe (Viscum Album) on HIV/AIDS and cancer (Mapapo Institute). This research is based on our understanding of the immune system.
Medicinal biology states that the immune system should detect and remove cancerous cells, thereby this research studies the effectiveness of boosting the immune system when it is not automatically removing malformed cells. This study which took eighteen years proved the effectiveness of this treatment in more than eight million cases in which mistletoe-lectin was administered. The mistletoe lectin (ML-1) proved to have a stimulating effect in the production of lymphocytes and lymphokines, thereby stimulating cell immunity.
This treatment was proven to have no significant toxicity, enhanced the quality of life of patients including the serious cases, increased the action of white blood cells against breast and colon cancer, and with HIV patients the infection was inhibited and the condition stabilized. Another study has revealed that this mistletoe treatment is also effective against cervical dysplasia.
Viscum album is registered in Germany, Switzerland and Holland as an immunotherapeutic oncologic medicine, and the rest of the world followed, albeit slowly.
Let’s examine how mistletoe works against cancer exactly. Tumors are cells whose growth is disorganized and malformed. It grows at the expense of the organism because its growth is disturbed. In most cases the body is too weak to diminish the tumors growth even though it is an alien form in the body. Research has revealed that people suffering from tumor growth have immune systems which are unaware of the tumor and have immune systems too weak to fight it, if it is aware of the tumor. Thereby increasing the immune function of the body, the body’s resistance to such invasion is strengthened.
In mistletoe many substances with cytostatic effect were found. In all cultures these substances were found to be more effective than traditionally used chemical substances in destroying cancer cells and their proliferation. Traditional chemical treatments usually paralyze the body’s defenses along with the cancer. These mistletoe substances stimulated the entire immune system thereby helping the body overcome the discomfort and pain associated with cancer whilst successfully combating the cancerous cells. This is the first substance discovered which has the ability to boost the immune system whilst simultaneously thwarting the cancer cells (all traditional methods damage the immune system during the treatment to destroy cancer cells).
In scientific terms this means that Viscum album stimulates the phagocytic capacity of the entire reticuloendothelial system, increasing both humoral and cellular immunity. Administration of Viscum album results in the tumor turning to a polyp, then to an erosion resulting finally in cicastrisation. In fact Iscador (the medicine made with Viscum album) has proven effectiveness in patients in different phases of cervix, ovary, vagina, breast, stomach, colon and bronchi carcinoma. (Helixor and Pabluster).
What this essentially means to you and I is that our favorite christmas decoration has been proven to help heal both cancer and HIV patients. Whichever way you celebrate christmas, consider this noble plant the next time you steal a kiss from your sweetheart beneath its white berries!
N.B. Never attempt to administer mistletoe yourself. Mistletoe preparations are specifically and scientifically prepared. If the plant is not prepared properly, and in the right proportions, the effect can be highly toxic. Even the harvesting of mistletoe is specific as this plant only contains its curative properties for three months of the year. Instead consult your physician if you are interested in this form of treatment! Or contact Weleda directly.
Medical reference: http://www.elbolsonpatagonia.com.ar/a/pabluster/english/default.shtml
If you'd like to use Iscador please read up about it here andhere, and contact Weleda