Volume 4, 28 May 2015, Pages 1-10
Hiscia Institute, Society for Cancer Research, Kirschweg 9, Arlesheim, Switzerland
Abstract
For millennia,
mistletoe (Viscum album) has been an important element of human culture.
Its uses have ranged from practical, for example, as animal food, to
ceremonial, for example, in initiation rituals; however, special
attention has always been given to its potential as a medicinal plant.
From the time of Hippocrates, physicians have recommended mistletoe to
cure different diseases, especially epilepsy. Juice or powder gained
from leaves, berries, or stems of mistletoe were given as a drink or
applied as a plaster or ointment. Often, mistletoe was mixed with other
organic or inorganic ingredients. New interest arose in the early 20th
century, when mistletoe's potential in cancer treatment was determined.
While Rudolf Steiner developed the basic concept, Ita Wegman was the
first physician to specifically apply a mistletoe extract in cancer
patients. Steiner based his concept on careful observation of
morphological patterns, considered polar qualities of mistletoe in
summer and winter, and designed a unique pharmaceutical processing. From
ancient times, oak mistletoe was regarded as a most valuable, but very
rare, medicinal plant, and it has been used in cancer therapy since
1927. Due to the limited availability of oak mistletoe, a programme was
launched to safeguard the stocks of oak mistletoe by searching for wild
sites in France and by cultivating V. album on Quercus robur and Q.
petraea. One century after mistletoe was introduced into cancer therapy,
results from more than 100 clinical studies have indicated that
mistletoe has several beneficial effects. Recently, new clinical studies
have confirmed the specific potential of oak mistletoe. Once revered as
an important healing plant by Celtic druids, mistletoe is now proving
its relevance as a cancer-specific remedy more and more. © 2015 S.
Karger AG, Basel.
Indexed keywords
EMTREE drug terms: herbaceous agent; paclitaxel
EMTREE medical terms: antineoplastic activity; Article;
berry; cultural factor; epilepsy; epistaxis; fracture; history of
medicine; human; infertility; kidney disease; labor pain; leprosy; liver
disease; malignant neoplastic disease; morphology; nonhuman; plant
leaf; plant stem; powder; priority journal; spleen disease; summer;
ulcer; Viscum album; winter
Species Index: Animalia; Phoradendron leucarpum; Quercus robur; Viscum album
Chemicals and CAS Registry Numbers: paclitaxel, 33069-62-4
Drug tradename: taxol.
ISSN: 1662405XSource Type: Journal
Original language: English
DOI: 10.1159/000375421Document Type: Article
Publisher: S. Karger AG
