Mistletoe is the name given to a genus of plant that grows as a hemiparasite in the branches of larger trees. The plant often appears spherical and in a wide variety of sizes, and gets water and all the nutrients it needs by branching with its host.
Occurrence and cultivation of mistletoe
Depending on the mistletoe species, white, blue or red berries form on the mistletoe leaves at different times of the year. The geographical distribution of mistletoe is very wide – different species of mistletoe can be found from temperate climates to the tropics and subtropics. Depending on the delimitation criteria used, the mistletoe genus includes up to 1400 different species. The plant body is densely branched and shrubby, occupied by leaves just 1 to 3 millimeters in diameter. Depending on the mistletoe species, white, blue or red berries form on the mistletoe leaves at different times of the year. These are surrounded by a covering of sticky consistency, which ensures that the mistletoe seeds adhere to the nearest host after dispersal by birds or wind.
Application and use
The use of mistletoe in healing or medicine dates back thousands of years. Already in the earliest records of the Celts and Romans mistletoe is mentioned, which at that time was considered sacred and could only be harvested by druids for ritual acts in compliance with strict regulations. Mistletoe owes its former reputation as a “magic plant” to its positive effect on a wide variety of health complaints. Mistletoe is also of great importance in modern medicine as a natural remedy. Mistletoe is usually administered in the form of tea. This is prepared with cold water, since mistletoe contains harmful toxins that would dissolve and develop in hot water. Mistletoe tea can be purchased already dried in conventional tea bags. However, the use of fresh mistletoe is considered more effective, as active ingredients can be lost during drying. External application of the tea obtained from mistletoe is also possible. In this case, the tea is placed on the skin in the form of compresses or added to water as a bath additive. In some cases, the dried mistletoe leaves are even snorted. In addition to these primitive forms of administration of the mistletoe plant, today there are also various ready-made preparations and ointments that make use of the healing power of mistletoe and expand it with additional components.
Significance for health, treatment and prevention
The spectrum of diseases treated with the help of mistletoe is very wide. The main field of application is the treatment of irregularities in blood pressure. Mistletoe tea, which has a stimulating and regulating effect on the circulatory system, can be taken to increase and lower blood pressure. Consequential diseases of high blood pressure, such as cardiac insufficiency or arteriosclerosis, can also be prevented by the healing power of mistletoe. Mistletoe tea also has a hemostatic effect. It is thus often administered after childbirth to keep the amount of postpartum flow down. Mistletoe tea is also recommended for menstrual cramps. In this case, a significant reduction in bleeding is often observed, as well as relief from the accompanying discomforts, such as abdominal pain or digestive problems. The regulating active ingredients of mistletoe can also have a positive effect on menopausal women. Applied externally, mistletoe exerts its beneficial effects on itchy or even bleeding skin eczema, for example. Skin stressed by neurodermatitis or psoriasis is soothed by the application of mistletoe compresses and, with long-term use, even becomes more resistant to harmful environmental influences. Mistletoe tea soaked compresses are also applied to relieve rheumatic, arthritic or neuralgic pain. The healing power of mistletoe is even used in cancer therapy. However, it is highly controversial to what extent the cure of such a serious disease can be usefully supplemented by herbal preparations. Although the efficacy of mistletoe preparations has been substantiated by numerous studies, the treatment of cancer by homeopathy alone is in no way to be recommended.Rather, the conventional medical treatment of the disease should be supplemented by the natural active ingredients of mistletoe, for example to alleviate the discomfort caused by chemotherapy and to increase the patient’s well-being in general.
