Mistletoe therapy
Mistletoe therapy is the therapeutic use of mistletoe (this article discusses mainly the therapeutic use of viscum album or European mistletoe).
Botany
Mistletoe is the general term given to the parasitic and hemi-parasitic tree dwelling genuses of the family Viscaceae which contains three genera of mistletoe:
- Arceuthobium (dwarf mistletoe)
- Phoradendron (American mistletoe)
- Viscum (mistletoe)[1]
American Mistletoe (Phoradendron serotinum) has a history of use in Mexican and South American traditional medicine for the treatment of cancer.[2]
European Mistletoe (Viscum Album) is the genus with the most scientific interest. It was used historically in traditional European herbal medicine for non-oncologic conditions including epilepsy, hypertension, and heart failure. In 1917 Rudolf Steiner together with the physician Ita Wegman
A main field of use in anthroposophic medicine is the treatment of cancer, there is also nononcological uses for example in rheumatic disorders.
Literature
- Johnson, Steven; Winters, Nasha; Blanning, Adam; Debus, Marion; Faust, Paul; Hancock, Mark; Hinderberger, Peter (2022-02-25). Mistletoe and the Emerging Future of Integrative Oncology. SteinerBooks, Incorporated. ISBN 978-1-938685-33-0.
Weblinks
- https://www.mistletoe-therapy.org/
- Anthromedics: Principles and Application of Mistletoe Therapy in Oncology: https://www.anthromedics.org/PRA-0897-EN
References
- ↑ Agrios, G. N. (2005). "Plant Pathology". PLANT DISEASES CAUSED BY PARASITIC HIGHER PLANTS, INVASIVE CLIMBING PLANTS, AND PARASITIC GREEN ALGAE. Elsevier. pp. 705–722. doi:10.1016/B978-0-08-047378-9.50019-1. ISBN 9780120445653.
- ↑ Alonso-Castro, A. J., Juárez-Vázquez, M. del C., Domínguez, F., González-Sánchez, I., Estrada-Castillón, E., López-Toledo, G., Chávez, M., Cerbón, M. A., García-Carranca, A. (1 August 2012). "The antitumoral effect of the American mistletoe Phoradendron serotinum (Raf.) M.C. Johnst. (Viscaceae) is associated with the release of immunity-related cytokines". Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 142 (3): 857–864. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2012.06.018. Retrieved 13 March 2023.