Meet Me Under The Mistletoe

I thought I'd merge an age-old tradition with 21st century science and give you a few words on the healing power of mistletoe…

..Mistletoe or Viscum album as it's known to botanists was first thought to be part of the pagan holiday of "Hoeul". Used to inspire passion by those who kissed under its berries; today it may very well save your life. There are generally two broad classes of mistletoe:

An American version known as Phoradendron and the European mistletoe from the Viscum album class. Growing about 2-3 feet tall, mistletoe most often lives as a parasite on tree limbs of host trees such as apple trees,poplars, willows, lindens, and hawthorns.
It was popularized for its ability to alter blood pressure and stimulate intestinal movement in the early 20th century. There is growing evidence that an extract from mistletoe known as Iscador is aviable anti-cancer agent.

Both the American and European versions are considered toxic.
However, after over 250 cases of accidental exposure, no one has died or had significant symptoms. I wouldn't recommend eating the stuff, but after it is properly extracted,Iscador, the active ingredient in Mistletoe, may be an agent your doctor wants to use if you're fighting cancer.
While it is traditionally used in Europe, it is available here to your doctor if he/she so chooses though most are not familiar with it. In one study published this year comparing over 300 malignant melanomapatients who received Iscador for 30 months or longer to those who did not receive Iscador, there was a roughly 25% reduction in metastasis of their tumor to the brain and a 50% reduction in spread of their tumors to the lungs.
Both groups received standard therapies for their tumor in addition to Iscador.
(1) In another study published last year (2004), evaluating 1442 patients roughly half of who received Mistletoe Extract and conventional therapy for breast cancer versus the other half who received only conventional therapy alone ( chemotherapy, radiation, etc.) the incidence of treatment related symptoms like nausea, shortness of breath etc was lower in the group receiving mistletoe extract than in the group that did not receive it.
(2) Lastly, another study that was not well controlled from a statistical point of view, but whose results were quite dramatic showed that out of a group of 396 matched pairs, (one group of patients with aspecific cancer type who received standard cancer therapy "matched" to another group that received both standard cancer therapy and mistleto eextract), the average extended length of life was 40% or roughly 4.23 years versus 3.05 years.
This is significant and should not be ignored. The various types of tumors included rectal carcinoma, coloncarcinoma, breast carcinoma with and without metastasis (tumorspread), stomach carcinoma, and lung cancers.
(3) So what's the bottom line? There is increasing evidence that when combined with traditional therapies, mistletoe extract may extend life and lessen side effects associated with cancer and its treatment.That's good news this Christmas for those of you who might be fighting this ugly disease.

I hope you enjoy your holiday and take time to love on your family.
Every day is a gift, no matter how far we come with fighting cancer and other terminal diseases. Don't take those days for granted! Have a safe, blessed, and prosperous New Year. :)