Mistletoe therapy was developed as an adjunct to cancer treatment in Switzerland in 1917-20, in the collaboration between Dr I Wegman MD and Dr Rudolf Steiner PhD (1861-1925). Mistletoe extracts are typically administered by subcutaneous injection, often over many years. Mistletoe treatment improves quality of life, supports patients during recommended conventional cancer treatments and some studies show survival benefit. It is safe and has no adverse interactions with conventional cancer treatments.

Mistletoe is a semi-parasitic plant, and the extract is harvested twice a year and undergoes a complex manufacturing procedure. The whole plant extract contains key medicinal constituents: Mistletoe lectin, viscotoxins, triterpenes, amongst many others. Mistletoe preparation is found to enhance the body’s anti-cancer immunity and thereby to inhibit tumour cell growth. It is given in an injectable form, typically three times a week, with doses adjusted over time, under medical supervision. In expert hands, it can also be administered intravenously and intratumourally. Treatment can last from several months to years.

Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925), first suggested mistletoe as a treatment for cancer and Dr Wegman started treating patients in 1917. Steiner considered tumour growth an imbalance in the regulation of the physical and vital body. He considered mistletoe as a means to re-establish an integration by harnessing innate, healthy forces (now understood to involve the immune system) to promote the reversion of cancerous cells.

Evidence

Small, novel proteins from the mistletoe Phoradendron tomentosum exhibit highly selective cytotoxicity to human breast cancer cells.

Preclinical and Clinical Effects of Mistletoe against Breast Cancer

BCCT.org review

Mistletoe for the treatment of cancer and inflammatory conditions, PAAM Physicians’ Association for Anthroposophic Medicine

National Cancer Institute

Find Mistletoe administering doctors on mistletoe-therapy.org

Mistletoe and The Emerging Future of Integrative Oncology, a book by Dr. Steven Johnson, DO and Dr. Nasha Winters, ND, FABNO

More Notes

In the UK, Iscador has a limited licence. It is available on the NHS for the standard prescription cost, prescribed by GPs and doctors at homeopathic hospitals/departments that fall within the NHS, for as long as there is no PCT-specific ruling against. All other preparations can be made available on a named-patient-basis. The foremost Homoeopathic Centres are located in Bristol, Glasgow, Liverpool and London. Practitioners with experience in Mistletoe therapy are listed in this directory. Your GP or consultant can refer you.

Visit Mistletoe UK Directory on mistletoe.org.uk website

For more research and science on Mistletoe, visit CancerChoices