Mistletoe is more commonly associated with festive kisses than complementary health, but in actual fact evidence is accumulating for its anti-cancer benefits. Previously used to treat conditions such as arthritis, epilepsy, headaches and hypertension, mistletoe has been used for centuries in the folk practices of both the East and West. We know that it was used by the Druids and the Ancient Greeks, and it remains a favourite in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Since the 1920s, it has become a common subject of research for those looking into natural treatments for cancer.
Mistletoe is thought to help fight cancer by boosting the body’s immune function. This is an effect it seems to have directly on the cells, thus playing a pivotal part in fighting the progress of cancer on a cellular level. As such, it is a treatment now commonly applied to solid tumours. Both research and treatment are based mostly in Germany, where it is possible to receive mistletoe injections under the skin, or even directly into a tumour.
It is important to bear in mind that no internationally agreed stance on the value of mistletoe as an anti-cancer treatment has yet been formed. Multiple studies have taken place in Germany, but the scale of these trials does not fully satisfy international medical opinion. One of the largest trials to claim mistletoe’s success in this area took place in Germany between 1993 and 2000 and focused on a mistletoe extract called Iscador. Eight hundred patients with colorectal cancer took Iscador or a placebo, alongside their course of chemo- or radiotherapy. It was found that the patients taking Iscador maintained a higher level of wellbeing during their treatment, as well as an improved disease-free survival rate. However, this study is just one of the first of many successful studies required for mistletoe extracts to be made widely available.
The use of mistletoe is slow to become widespread due to the lack of solid scientific proof for its effectiveness. While its use for fighting cancer may remain in doubt for a long time, what seems more certain is its positive effect in maintaining the wellness of patients undergoing medical cancer treatment such as chemotherapy. It is to be hoped that it will be developed into a valuable support for the difficult challenges faced by cancer sufferers the world over.
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