Mistletoe (Viscum album Viscaceae)

Other Names: White Mistletoe, European Mistletoe, Common Mistletoe

Mistletoe, a parasitic shrub found across Europe, grows on soft-bark trees like ash, poplar, and old apple trees. Its smooth, branched stems bear leathery, water-green leaves, with tiny yellowish flowers blooming in May, followed by sticky white berries ripening in early winter.

Parts for Use

Leaves and Berries

1. Leaves are harvested in spring and autumn, dried quickly until yellowish-green, and used in infusions, extracts, capsules, and pharmaceutical preparations.
2. Berries are occasionally used for medicinal purposes, despite their bitter taste.

Ingredients

Mistletoe contains viscotoxins and lectins, toxic compounds that, in small amounts, are believed to enhance immunity.

Use in Treatment

Mistletoe has been experimentally shown to lower blood pressure through the combined action of multiple compounds. German research indicates it boosts immunity and may slow tumor development, attributed to viscotoxins and lectins, suggesting potential in cancer treatment if toxicity is controlled. Claims of treating artery hardening lack clinical support.

Cultivation

As a parasitic plant, mistletoe grows wild on trees over 15 years old. Controlled cultivation involves rubbing berries into bark cracks of soft-barked trees like apple, willow, or aspen to encourage growth.

Preparation and Dosage

Mistletoe preparations, whether poultices or pharmaceutical forms, should only be used under the guidance of a qualified herbalist or physician due to the plant’s toxic nature.

Warnings

1. Consult a healthcare professional before use.
2. Mistletoe leaves and berries contain toxic substances; use only under supervision of a qualified herbalist or physician.