MistletoeMistletoe| Viscum album
general characteristics
general characteristics
Common names include mistletoe. European mistletoe, all heal, birdlime
Mistletoe is a perennial evergreen semi-parasitic plant (in the family Loranthaceae) that prefers certain trees as host. Apple, hawthorn, poplar, European lime are its most common host, sometimes but rarely seen on oak. There are many different varieties of mistletoe but Viscum album - European mistletoe - is native to The UK, France and many parts of mainland Europe, spreading as far as Asia.
It is diocieous, it needs both female and male plants nearby in order to produce berries and is only partly parasitic as its leaves photosynthesise, only drawing water and minerals from its host plant. It does little harm to its host unless it forms too many bunches and the host tree struggles to put out sufficient leaves. The female plants have the white berries on.
It is often only noticed in winter when its host tree has shed its leaves and the greeny-olive balls of mistletoe are prominent against the sky.
Mistletoe dried herb is available to buy in our herbal shop.
harvesting and preparation
harvesting and preparation
The dried and chopped leaves and stems are the parts used in medicine, NOT the berries which are quite poisonous internally.
Mistletoe dried herb is available to buy in our herbal shop.
therapeutic actions and uses
therapeutic actions and uses
The European mistletoe is drenched in magic and has a long held place in the mythology of Europe. Many other parts of the world have their own varieties of mistletoe equally held in high esteem. Aside from its medicinal properties, the Druids and Ancients noted where and how it lived its life, not of the Earth and not of the Sky but somewhere in between, in the trees. The trees themselves are connectors of sky and earth (roots reaching down, branches reaching up) and the mistletoe thrives in that in between space. I find it no coincidence that the mistletoe has an affinity for the heart - the organ that is in between above and below - right in the middle of the 3 lower chakras and the 3 higher chakras and the seat of the soul to many.
Mistletoe has a marked action on the heart and cardiovascular system. The leaves lower high blood pressure, calms the heart rate a little, provide a tonic like strengthening action to the heart and act to dilate coronary arteries. Useful combined with hawthorn in angina. Many herbalists insist mistletoe is a balancer of blood pressure, raising it if too low and lowering it if too high. It can also be used in formulas aimed at improving blood flow to tissues that have impaired blood flow due to tension, nervous irritability or stress. I have included it in many a herbal tea mix aimed at lowering blood pressure that is rooted in tension and stress. Arteriosclerosis (stiffening/thickening of arteries) and atherosclerosis (plaque build up on the inner linings of arteries) and atheroma can also benefit from mistletoe in formulas. Headaches due to high blood pressure or nervous tension may also be relieved.
Mistletoe also has interesting neurological effects. it acts as a mild sedative to calm a racing heart, ease nervous excitability and hyperactivity, possibly due to its action of stimulating the vagus nerve, the nerve of rest and relaxation. It can be added to formulas for insomnia. It has a very long held reputation for being effective in cases of epilepsy, seizures, dizziness and tinnitus.
Pain relieving and anti-inflammatory, neuralgia.
Mistletoe has shown great promise in the treatment of various cancers, a use that has a long history throughout the world. Mistletoe leaves induce apoptosis (cell death) in cancer cells and also stop cancer cells from proliferating. Mistletoe can also work well alongside conventional chemotherapy and radiation treatments and help to alleviate the many side effects and improve overall quality of life during such treatments. It is worth noting however that most of the positive results in cancer treatments are based on internal injections of mistletoe prepaperations.
It has shown good results in its action on the immune system. Mistletoe stimulates a broad reaction in the bodys immune response, raising levels of various immune cells and immune reactions. The leaves minimise immune suppression that is often caused by anaethestics, invasive operations and cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy. It is being used increasingly by AIDS patients to help with secondary infections and in some parts of the world goes into formulas against many kinds of infectious diseases.
Rheumatism is reputed to be eased with mistletoe.
Dry eyes, a condition more often associated with the elderly but increasing among the young also may be eased with mistletoe, link here
Since ancient history this plant has symbolised love and fertility and still holds those associations (kissing under the mistletoe?). Many old herbals mention its use for increasing fertility.
It does have interesting actions on the female system, having a stimulating action on the uterine muscles. In Chinese medicine it is used to prevent abortion however and is also well known as a tocolytic agent (labour suppressant). There is some scientific evidence for the ability of mistletoe in increasing fertility as detailed here, though this research is carried out on rats.
Mistletoe is also used to control excessive menstrual bleeding, especially useful during the menopause and for other menopausal symptoms such as irregular cycles, hot flushes and anxiety.
Mistletoe also seems to have the effect of acting like an androgen, testosterone availability is increased.
Mistletoe can also benefit skin health and is used in many commercial beauty preparations aimed at anti-ageing. It seems to encourage better flow through through the skin layers, is a soothing astringent antiseptic, has antioxidant properties and can be used externlly for swellings.
Mistletoe can also be helpful in cases of type 2 diabetes as it lowers blood sugar levels by increasing insulin secretion. It improves carbohydrate metabolism and blood fat levels.
A combination of mistletoe leaves and berries, soaked in cold water overnight and strained can be applied externally to help frostbite.
A useful article on the safe use of mistletoe as medicine is found here.
An extensive article detailing the medicinal uses of mistletoe throughout history is found here.
And finally, the best site I have ever come across on the mighty mistletoe - how to grow, history, medicinal uses - written by a true mistletoe enthusiast.
dosage and cautions
dosage and cautions
* Generally accepted by herbalists that mistletoe should make up no more than 10% of any herbal formula.
Start and continue treatment using the smallest dose, only increasing gradually (if needed) to the larger doses suggested below. Dosage suggestions among herbalists vary but the most commonly used dosages are stated below.
Tincture (leaf): 10-15 drops up to 3 times daily. No more than 1-2 mls daily overall (conservative dose), 20-40 mls overall in a week. However, herbalist David Hoffman suggests 1 -4 mls three times daily.
Dried leaves in tea form: 1/2 teaspoon per cup soaked in cold water for 12 hours or overnight, strain out the herb then warm gently, up to 3 cups daily. Hoffman suggests 1 - 2 teaspoons per cup, add boiling water, infuse for 15 minutes, drink up to 3 times daily. Maria Treben reccommends drinking one cup daily (using one teaspoon of dried herb) throughout the year to keep volatile blood pressure within healthy parameters.
Mistletoe can be used alone as a herbal treatment but I have only ever used it in combination with other herbs.
Combines well with hawthorn, lime blossom, motherwort etc. for hypertension and with skullcap and valerian etc. for nervous tension and excitability.
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