Mistletoe Therapy
Mistletoe (Viscum Album) is a semi-parasitic plant that lives on trees, such as apple, oak, maple, elm, pine, and birch. It is native to Europe and Western Asia. Viscum album has been used for centuries. The plan has several active ingredients that have been shown to directly cause death of tumor cells and to stimulate an immune response. It has been used in Europe for several decades as a complementary medical approach to cancer treatment alone or in combination with chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Although it is not currently FDA approved for cancer treatment in the US, it is listed in the Homeopathic Pharmacopeia and is offered at Integrative care clinics and at NatureMed.
Brand names for this plant include Helixor®, Iscador®, Iscador Qu®, Lektinol™, Cefalektin®, Eurixor®, ABNOBAviscum® and Abnoba-viscum Quercust. Mistletoe is given either through subcutaneous injection or intravenously. The extracts of this plant, specifically the one that grows on pine trees, are currently being studied in cancer patients. In clinical studies, mistletoe has been demonstrated to be safe and effective along with conventional treatment such as chemotherapy and radiation.
Mistletoe therapy has been studied and used at top level cancer research centers such as Sloan-Kettering Cancer Institute in John Hopkins, among just a few. Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center completed in 2023, what is believed to be the first phase I trial of intravenous Helixor M in the U.S. aimed at determining dosing for subsequent clinical trials and to evaluate safety. The study author reported that “Intravenous mistletoe demonstrated manageable toxicities with disease control and improved quality of life in this group of patients, who had already received multiple cancer therapies,” and adding that additional phase II studies in combination with chemotherapy are the next step, pending additional funding. In addition to stimulating the bone marrow it may be used to decrease side effects of chemo and radiation.
In our complimentary and integrative oncology center, attention is devoted principally to the aspects of quality of life, prolonging survival, and preventing relapse.
At NatureMed, we provide mistletoe for our patients who are needing an immune system boost, or who are referred to us for this alongside their conventional care or desire to use this therapy with their conventional care. Our doctors hold special certifications in mistletoe therapy.
Call today to find out more about Mistletoe therapy or schedule a free consultation with one of our integrative oncology experts to learn more.
Read more about Mistletoe therapy here:
https://www.naturemedclinic.com/the-effects-and-benefits-of-mistletoe-therapy/
https://www.naturemedclinic.com/mechanisms-and-effects-of-mistletoe-therapy/