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Mistletoe And Cancer

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In Iscador, Dr. Gorter describes mistletoe preparations used in anthroposophically extended cancer treatment. The white-berried mistletoe, Viscum album, was used as a medicinal plant in cancer by Rudolf Steiner, the founder of anthroposophy, in the early 1900s. He found that mistletoe supports the body�s functions, which are vital for healing processes, and therefore can strengthen the body�s defense against cancer. By the 1920s, Ita Wegman, a Dutch physician, introduced the mistletoe preparation, Iscador, into cancer treatment. Since then, clinical experience with mistletoe preparations have yielded beneficial results. The book, Iscador, provides information about the botanical activity of the plant, its processing into medicinal preparations, and its use in clinical applications. 5

Extracts and preparations from the tree parasitic plant mistletoe (Viscum album L.) have been used in the treatment of cancer for decades. Numerous preclinical and in vitro studies have reported immunostimulatory, cytotoxic, and proapoptotic effects. Translation of these effects into clinical response continues to pose a problem. While a number of clinical studies have found improvement in quality of life (QOL), data on the efficacy of mistletoe to prolong survival are conflicting and of variable quality. Clinical trial data regarding the toxicity and pharmacokinetics of mistletoe components with known in vitro or preclinical activity are lacking. Mistletoe is a widely used form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for cancer treatment, and research into its use poses the challenges of translation of preclinical data into demonstrable clinical efficacy and investigating CAM approaches as a component of complex cancer treatment systems. 18

If you remember as a child being told that on no account should you eat the berries of the mistletoe as certain death was sure to result, it may come as something of a surprise to learn that this supposedly highly toxic plant is now widely used as one of the treatments in the fight against cancer. Please do not eat the berries until further research has been done. Also, never use it for cancer treatment without your doctor’s approval. 35

In addition, European mistletoe may fight cancer in other ways. It may increase the ability of the immune system to attack cancer cells. In one study of patients with colon cancer, patients who received a European mistletoe infusion during surgery to remove tumors had less surgery-caused immune disruption than patients who did not receive European mistletoe. Some cancer patients have also reported being able to function more normally during treatment with European mistletoe. A study involving nearly 700 women with breast cancer found that those using a European mistletoe product in addition to standard treatment reported fewer side effects such as depression, fatigue, and nausea than women who did not use mistletoe. Much more study is needed to determine whether European mistletoe has any value in treating cancer. 47

Mistletoe is a semi-parasitic plant that grows on several species of trees native to England, Europe, and western Asia. It differs from the mistletoe found in the United States. The parts of the plant used in herbal remedies are its leaves and twigs; berries are not used. 16

Mistletoe preparations are used to stimulate the immune system, to kill cancer cells, and to help reduce tumor size. It may also help improve the quality of life and survival of some cancer patients, especially those using chemo and radiation, and may help reduce pain and side effects of these treatments. In addition, a German study done by Dr. Ronald Grossarth-Maticek of the Institute for Preventive Medicine in Heidelberg shows that, when used as adjunctive treatment in patients with a variety of cancers, it can increase survival time by as much as 40%. 1

Iscador actually is a trade name for a mistletoe extract, something that has primarily interested German researchers. They have found that the extract kills cancer cells in laboratory studies. Mistletoe extract also has been shown to stimulate the immune system in small human and laboratory studies. However, mistletoe extract is not sold commercially in the U.S. and has not been tested by the FDA, and no clinical trials have been conducted here. 21

The use of mistletoe to treat cancer has been studied in Europe in more than 30 clinical trials. Although improvements in survival or quality of life have been reported, almost all of the trials had major weaknesses in their design that raise doubts about the findings. For example, many of the studies had a small number of participants or did not have a control group. 8

"The information about Iscador is just too preliminary to make any recommendations about its effectiveness," Jeffrey White, MD, director of cancer, complementary and alternative medicine at the National Cancer Institute, tells WebMD. "There is no clinical trial comparing Iscador to conventional treatments." 21

Raw, unprocessed mistletoe is poisonous. Eating raw, unprocessed European mistletoe or American mistletoe can cause vomiting, seizures, a slowing of the heart rate, and even death. American mistletoe is unsafe for medicinal use. 8

Commission E (Germany’s regulatory agency for herbs) has approved mistletoe as palliative therapy for malignant tumors (to help treat symptoms, not cure disease). The herb is prepared as an injectable whole plant extract, and is not used orally. The plant itself is poisonous and not safe to eat. 16

For people with cancer, mistletoe extracts are injected under the skin near the tumor. Daily injections are often given before and after surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy and may continue for 10 to 14 days. Mistletoe injections promoted to prevent cancer may involve 3 to 7 injections a week over several months to several years. 16

IscadorM was also found to improve DNA repair in breast cancer patients, which is damaged by chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Poor DNA repair in white blood cells critical to cancer survival is common in cancer patients and decreases the white blood cells ability to recognize and remove malignancy. 35

Mistletoe is surrounded by fascinating myths and legends that date back many centuries. More than 2,000 years ago, the Druids (members of the educated class among the ancient Celts in Europe) used mistletoe in many religious rituals. Their name for mistletoe meant "all healer," because they believed it had magical powers. Today, its name in Brittany, Wales, Scotland and Ireland ("an t’uil") still translates the same. The tradition of kissing under mistletoe dates back to Scandinavian mythology, where, in one tale, the plant became a symbol of love. 16

The liquid extract from the mistletoe plant has been used as an alternative method to treat cancer for more than 75 years. Modern research of mistletoe began in 1916 with Rudolph Steiner, PhD. Steiner combined spiritual and scientific approaches to medicine and to the treatment of cancer in particular. He believed that cancer formed when regulation of the body’s physical or spiritual defenses faltered, and that mistletoe could re-establish that regulatory balance and fight back the tumor. Later researchers carried Steiner’s beliefs further, contending that some of the chemicals in mistletoe could stop cancer growth and even kill cancer cells directly while enhancing the body’s immune system. 16

The Panacea offers these health-extracts to help people investigate health-related subjects in greater depth using the references given in each paragraph. Kindly note that these are current extracts from the web, meant for research, and that these are not meant to be medical advise. For all your health-related needs you must consult trained and licensed personnel.

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