Scientific Name: Mistletoe
Other Names: All Heal, Bird Lime, Devil's Fuge, European Mistletoe, Golden Bough, Herb de la Croix, Lignum Crucis, Mistal, Viscum, Viscum album, Vogelmistel

Who is this for?

Uses

Note: European mistletoe (VIscum album) is different from the types of mistletoe (Phoradendron species) that grow in the United States. American mistletoe may be toxic; therefore American mistletoe should never be ingested.

For several decades, European mistletoe has been used to treat a wide variety of physical and mental conditions. Currently, it is best known as an additional therapy with other drugs and/or radiation for treating cancer. In the laboratory, it may have prevented the spread of cells from several different types of cancer. However, a number of clinical studies have had conflicting results about its effectiveness for cancer patients. European mistletoe has shown limited ability in both animal and human studies to delay progression of solid tumors in the breast, colon, and stomach. In general, though, European mistletoe did not improve survival for brain, head and neck, kidney, lung, pancreatic, or skin cancer patients who participated in studies. It is believed that European mistletoe may actually destroy certain kinds of cancer cells by blocking the production of specific proteins needed by cancer cells but not by normal cells. It may be more effective for controlling cancer cells that divide very fast than for slower-growing cancers.

In addition, European mistletoe may fight cancer in other ways. It may increase the ability of the immune system to attack cancer cells. In one study of patients with colon cancer, patients who received a European mistletoe infusion during surgery to remove tumors had less surgery-caused immune disruption than patients who did not receive European mistletoe. Some cancer patients have also reported being able to function more normally during treatment with European mistletoe. A study involving nearly 700 women with breast cancer found that those using a European mistletoe product in addition to standard treatment reported fewer side effects such as depression, fatigue, and nausea than women who did not use mistletoe. Much more study is needed to determine whether European mistletoe has any value in treating cancer.

Some studies suggest that using European mistletoe for extended periods may prompt the body to increase its production of immune cells, such as T-lymphocytes. Because of the possible resulting increase in immune function, European mistletoe has been tested for the treatment of AIDS and other viral illnesses. No definite conclusions have been reached, although some studies have shown that it may possibly delay the progression of HIV infection to AIDS. A compound derived from a species of mistletoe related to the European variety has shown some promise as a treatment for hepatitis C. It cannot substitute for standard medical treatment for either of these serious conditions, but European mistletoe might be useful as add-on therapy in combination with conventional antiviral drugs. Chemicals in European mistletoe also have effects on the heart. At low doses, they can lower blood pressure and decrease heart rate. At higher levels, European mistletoe may cause blood vessels to contract, thereby potentially raising blood pressure. Few studies have been done to prove or disprove European mistletoe’s effectiveness for heart conditions, so its use cannot be recommended for treating any heart condition.

Chemicals in European mistletoe have caused miscarriages by promoting contractions of the uterus. Pregnant women should not use any form of mistletoe.

Transplant patients should also avoid using European mistletoe due to its possible enhancing effects on the immune system.

Precautions

Very little information about European mistletoe's potential effects on infants or small children is available. Its use is not recommended for women who are breastfeeding or for children who are under 12 years of age.

Individuals who are taking medications for heart conditions should discuss the use of European mistletoe with their doctors before beginning to use it. Because European mistletoe may affect the force and rate of heartbeats, it may worsen some heart conditions.

What side effects should I watch for?

Major Side Effects

Any form of European mistletoe may cause miscarriage, even in small amounts.

Subcutaneously (under the skin) injected European mistletoe products have resulted in angina (chest pain due to decreased oxygen supplies to the heart) and increases in blood cells that are associated with allergic reactions.

Less Severe Side Effects

Orally, European mistletoe can cause:

• Cramps
• Diarrhea
• Low blood pressure
• Uncontrollable eye movements
• Vomiting

Side effects possible from injections of European mistletoe include:

• Chills
• Fever
• Headache
• Nausea
• Pain at the site of the injection

What interactions should I watch for?

Prescription Drugs

Because it can enhance immune system function, European mistletoe may interfere with the effects of drugs used to suppress the immune system after organ transplants or in other conditions. Taking European mistletoe is not recommended for patients who take drugs such as:

• azathioprine (Imuran)
• CellCept
• cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune)
• Prograf
• Rapamune
• Zenapak

Due to its possible ability to lower blood pressure, European mistletoe is believed to increase the effects of drugs that also lower blood pressure. Some blood pressure-lowering drugs are:

• ACE inhibitors such as captopril, enalapril, fosinopril, and lisinopril
• Beta blockers such as atenolol, metoprolol, and propranolol
• Calcium channel blockers such as amlodipine, nifedipine, and verapamil
• Diuretics ("water pills") such as Dyazide, furosemide, and hydrochlorothiazide

Herbal Products

If European mistletoe is taken at the same time as other herbs that also affect the heart, potentially dangerous changes in heart function may result. Some herbal products that may affect the heart are:

• Ginger (in large doses)
• Hawthorn
• Motherwort
• Panax Ginseng
• Pleurisy Root
• Squill

Some interactions between herbal products and medications can be more severe than others. The best way for you to avoid harmful interactions is to tell your doctor and/or pharmacist what medications you are currently taking, including any over-the-counter products, vitamins, and herbals. For specific information on how European mistletoe interacts with drugs, other herbals, and foods and the severity of those interactions, please use our Drug Interactions Checker to check for possible interactions.

Should I take it?

Mistletoes are evergreen plants that exist as semi-parasites on apple trees, poplars, willows, and other trees that lose their leaves in winter. The plants actually root into the tree’s branches or trunk and take water and minerals from the host tree. Mistletoe cannot be cultivated commercially. Although all mistletoe plants look similar, European mistletoe belongs to a different family of plants than the types of mistletoe that grow in North America. Mostly in northern Europe and Asia, European mistletoes bloom in the winter and produce small, waxy, white berries around the end of December. While the berries supply food for may types of birds, they are considered unsafe for humans. The leaves and stems are collected to be used in medicine.

Because it stays green during the winter when most other plants look dead, European mistletoe was thought to have magical powers by ancient Britains and Scandinavians. Throughout the history of northern Europe, various medical properties have been associated with it. During the early part of the 20th century, European mistletoe became known as a cancer treatment, largely based on case reports. Even though more recent clinical studies in both laboratory animals and humans have shown only minimal effectiveness, European mistletoe is prescribed extensively in Germany and other European countries, usually in combination with conventional drugs, for cancer treatment.

Generally, oral forms of European mistletoe are less common than injectable forms. One reason is that European mistletoe has a narrow therapeutic range—a toxic dose is only slightly higher than the dose needed to treat a condition. Therefore, the exact dose that is effective for each patient is difficult to determine. Injections are easier to customize than oral doses are. Additionally, the amounts of active and harmful ingredients in both American mistletoe and European mistletoe differ according to the conditions under which it was grown, harvested, and processed. Reliable reports suggest that all types of mistletoe may accumulate toxic substances from their host trees.

Dosage and Administration

Note: Recommended doses of European mistletoe vary greatly. In general, the risk of side effects from using it increases as the dose increases.

European mistletoe is sold commercially as a non-prescription oral extract in the United States as well as in many other countries. Extracts are concentrated liquid preparations usually made by soaking chopped or mashed plant parts in a liquid, and then straining out the solid parts. Dried extracts may be made into capsules or tablets. Individuals who decide to use an oral form of European mistletoe should purchase a commercial product from a reputable dealer and then follow the package directions for taking it. Due to the possibility of toxicity, fresh European mistletoe leaves or berries should never be taken by mouth.

In Europe, where they are available as prescription medications, many different products containing European mistletoe are available with brand names such as Eurixor, Helixor, Iscador, Lektinol, and Vysorel. Because European mistletoe plants absorb different chemicals from different types of host trees, not all European mistletoe products may contain the same ingredients. In addition, European mistletoe may be prepared in different ways—some products are made from fermented European mistletoe, for example—which may affect their activity. Prescription European mistletoe extract usually is injected under the skin, into muscles, or into the abdominal cavity. However, it should be injected only in a medical facility and only by a health professional who has experience with its use. Injectable European mistletoe extract is not available in the United States.

Summary

Known mostly as an add-on treatment for cancer, European mistletoe may also affect heart function and increase immune response.

Risks

Women who are pregnant and individuals who are taking drugs to suppress their immune systems should avoid using European mistletoe. Heart conditions may be worsened by the use of mistletoe. Children under the age of 12 and women who are breast feeding should not use mistletoe until more is understood about its effects.

Side Effects

Swallowing any part of the mistletoe plant may result in poisoning. Only commercial preparations of European mistletoe should be taken or injected. Orally, mistletoe may result in low blood pressure and gastrointestinal complaints such as diarrhea. If it is injected, European mistletoe may cause flu-like symptoms as well as itching or pain at the site of the injection.

Interactions

European mistletoe should not be used at the same time as drugs or herbals that affect heart function or drugs that decrease immune function.

Last Revised May 16, 2007

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Last Revised May 16, 2007

Note: The above information is not intended to replace the advice of your physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional. It is not meant to indicate that the use of the product is safe, appropriate, or effective for you.

In general, herbal products are not subject to review or approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They are not required to be standardized, meaning that the amounts of active ingredients or contaminants they contain may vary between brands or between different batches of the same brand. Not all of the risks, side effects, or interactions associated with the use of herbal products are known because few reliable studies of their use in humans have been done.

This information is provided for your education only. Please share this information with your healthcare provider and be sure that you talk to your doctor and pharmacist about all the prescription and non-prescription medicines you take before you begin to use any herbal product.

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