Mistletoe is a miraculous plant which only becomes really visible in the months of winter when the trees have lost their leaves.
Mistletoe grows in a spherical form in the light shadow of the leaves on various tree species. They sink their roots (sinkers) through the bark of the host tree into the cambium layer and into the wood. There they anchor and draw fluid and nutrients from the sap of the tree. On the other hand, they can carry out photosynthesis themselves through their green leaves. Green are not only the extremely long-lived leaves, of which the upper and lower sides do not differ, green are also the stems and the trunk, green are even the sinkers which create a root-like connection between the mistletoe and its host tree and yet are never exposed to the light, green are also the seeds in the sticky white fruits which are eaten by certain bird species and stick to their beaks or are carried to other trees with their excrement.
The heat-storing capacity of mistletoe is also matched by its geometrically exact spherical shape, which we rarely encounter in the plant kingdom with such precision. The spherical shape is the expression of the properties of design, order and rhythm. The mistletoe can grow into all directions, even downwards. This made it to form the spherical shape. Because of its special growth properties, mistletoe was once considered a panacea.
Mistletoe grows slowly and isolated mistletoe cannot do much damage to a large tree.
Certain tree species are preferred by mistletoe, for example poplar, apple trees and fir. Other tree species such as pear, rowan, pine, lime and willow are only occasionally overgrown with mistletoe. It rarely grows on oak trees, where it is considered to have a particularly healing effect.
In earlier times, mistletoe was an important magical plant, harvested by the druids with golden sickles and not allowed to fall to the ground, otherwise it would lose its special effect.
At the time of winter solstice and as Christmas decoration it can often be seen on front doors to protect the house from damage. Whosoever kisses under mistletoe should become a happy couple.
Application possibilities
The evergreen plant is used in modern herbal medicine against high blood pressure and also as an accompanying therapy against cancer. But mistletoe has many other healing effects. It also strengthens the nerves and can relieve headache and dizziness. By strengthening the nerves it can also help with epilepsy, so that the attacks occur less frequent. Mistletoe (similar to homeopathic silver) is also said to help against the tendency to repeated febrile convulsions in children.
During the menopause mistletoe can alleviate the typical menopausal symptoms. Mistletoe also helps against menstrual cramps, and its haemostatic properties can stop uterine bleeding. This makes mistletoe a valuable medicinal plant after childbirth, as it can shorten the menstrual flow.
What was once ridiculed by orthodox medicine can now even be proven by scientific studies: The protein compounds in mistletoe mobilise the body’s natural defence system and minimise the side effects of chemotherapy.
Even though some physicians are still sceptical, many patients are already getting a mistletoe therapy on public health insurance prescription.
In the meantime, 60% of cancer patients in Germany already receive this complementary therapy.
In the 19th century Father Kneipp used mistletoe merely to stop bleeding. Today the immune-strengthening effect of the rare oak mistletoe is even used in chronic liver inflammation. Dr Andreas Reimer describes mistletoe treatment as an alternative to interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis C.
However, mistletoe is slightly toxic and must correctly be used.
Preparation
Internally as tea
Mistletoe is always prepared as a cold extract. Use 3 teaspoons of finely cut stems and leaves, add 3 cups of cold water, leave to infuse overnight and strain the next day. It can be warmed up a little for drinking. During the day you take the amount in sips, preferably without sugar.
The slightly toxic substances (e.g. the glycoside viscalbin and viscotoxin) do not dissolve in cold water, so the cold mistletoe extract is not toxic. The tea is primarily used to lower high blood pressure; it also helps with cardiac insufficiency and arteriosclerosis. When blood pressure is low, mistletoe tea can even raise blood pressure, which at first glance sounds like a contradiction. But since blood pressure is regulated by normalising the circulation and strengthening the heart, it finally stands to reason that mistletoe can help against both high and low blood pressure.
Just two cups of mistletoe tea a day are said to help in case of dizziness and protect against arteriosclerosis. Combined commercially available plant preparations with hawthorn support the heart and regulate blood pressure.
Mistletoe also enhances digestion and metabolism, so that it can be used to treat digestive and metabolic disorders, including rheumatic complaints.
Externally as an compress or for baths
The mistletoe cold extract can be used externally as an compress or for baths. It helps against varicose veins and lower leg ulcers. Eczema can also be treated with mistletoe.
Mistletoe compresses can also be applied to relieve rheumatic and neuralgic pain. External mistletoe treatments also help against arthrosis. Mistletoe can be used to treat hay fever.
Mistletoe in cancer treatment
Mistletoe was introduced to cancer therapy in the early twenties by Rudolf Steiner, the founder of anthroposophical teaching. This was not done experimentally, as is usually the case in natural science, but through purely spiritual-scientific knowledge, as it had already been outlined by Goethe 100 years earlier.
Mistletoe provides one of the most effective weapons against tumour diseases and their preliminary stages.
Mistletoe preparations in special anthroposophical-homeopathic preparation made from summer and winter mistletoe are used to accompany cancer therapy and for its follow-up treatment. It counteracts life forces which have become independent in the tumour, similar to its ability to grow as parasites on a tree.
Among the effects of mistletoe in tumour diseases that can be achieved within the framework of individual holistic therapy, the following should be emphasised:
– Improvement of general well-being, exhaustion and, in many cases, depression
– Slowing down or stopping of tumour growth
– Reduction of the tendency to metastases
– Immune stimulating effect
– Normalization of blood count, other laboratory parameters and clinical findings
– Decrease of possibly existing pain and thus possible saving of painkillers and sedatives
– Increase in weight by improving appetite and sleep
However, as sole treatment against cancer, mistletoe therapy is only effective if applied in time.
Mistletoe tea against calcified arteries:
In the evening, add three quarters of a litre of cold water and about six teaspoons of mistletoe leaves and leave to stand overnight. Sieve the next morning.
Drink the tea warmed up three times a day, preferably unsweetened, otherwise take some honey.
This tea also regulates blood pressure and purifies the blood.
Ingredients of the mistletoe
Mistletoe, formerly known as “witches’ herb”, is now one of the best-studied medicinal plants with a rich spectrum of ingredients. Whether from the leaves, berries or stems – everything has unique properties. If the whole plant is crushed and the total extract from the stems, leaves, berries and sinkers is examined, many useful active ingredients can be found, over 600 different proteins alone, including many enzymes. The protein pattern depends on whether the plant is a deciduous tree, pine or fir mistletoe or whether it is a female or a male mistletoe plant.
The proportion of all ingredients fluctuates in the course of the year and with the host trees.
Note: For health conditions, do not use medicinal plants without consulting a doctor or pharmacist.
Literature:
Haus-Apotheke, Heilpflanzen und Rezepte aus Natur und Klostergarten, Pater Simons, Kosmos-Verlag
Kölbl‘s Kräuterfibel, Konrad Kölbl, Reprint-Verlag Konrad Kölbl
http://www.czerny-praxis.de/pages/leistungen/misteltherapie.php
http://www.botanischer-garten.uni-erlangen.de/mistel_aus/mistel_aus.htm
http://www.biokrebsheidelberg.de/images/stories/download/Therapie_Infos/Mistel.pdf
Book recommendation: Anette Bopp: Die Mistel – Heilpflanze in der Krebstherapie, (Mistletoe – The healing plant in cancer treatment) roro, ISBN 3-499-60785-9
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