What is the common name of Viscum album?
Viscum album, also commonly known as European mistletoe and common mistletoe, is one of many species of mistletoe which is native to Europe, South-western Asia, and Nepal [147]. Viscum album is a species of mistletoe in the family Santalaceae, commonly called European mistletoe, common mistletoe, or simply mistletoe (Old English mistle). It is native to Europe, as well as western and southern Asia. V.Mistletoe is the common name for two different and unrelated plants used in traditional medicine: American mistletoe (Phoradendron leucarpum) and European mistletoe (Viscum album).It has been used for hundreds of years to treat medical conditions such as epilepsy, asthma, hypertension, headaches, menopausal symptoms, infertility, dermatitis, arthritis, and rheumatism. mistletoe extracts are one of the most widely studied complementary and alternative medicine therapies for cancer.European mistletoe is a distinct species (Viscum album). A single case reported death from drinking mistletoe tea (Moore 1963). Despite its toxic reputation, multiple studies have shown that mistletoe usually only causes minor irritation and vomiting with no reported deaths (Hall 1986, Spiller 1996, Krenzelok 1997).
What is Viscum album good for?
Viscum album, commonly known as mistletoe, is a semi-parasitic shrub that grows on various trees and is used in pharmacology as an anti-neoplastic agent to enhance immune response, with applications in managing conditions like malignant pleural effusion. The History of Mistletoe The Mistletoe became a sacred symbol of vivacity and fertility to the Druids after they saw it blooming in the trees during the harsh winters. It would later become a central focus of the Ritual of Oak and Mistletoe, a ceremony that led the Romans to call the Druids ‘barbarians.It was offered in prayer to the gods as a symbol of peace and prosperity. Since ancient times, the mistletoe has been regarded as the plant of peace and friendship. If enemies met under a tree on which mistletoe grew, they would lay down their arms and call a truce for the rest of the day.For the Druids, the mistletoe was a powerful tool for healing. Spiritual leaders of Druid society believed that mistletoe could heal ailments, help with fertility, and even ward off evil ghosts. The plant’s characteristic to remain green throughout the harsh winters symbolized eternal life.
Is Viscum album safe to consume?
In certain European countries, the preparations made from European mistletoe (Viscum album, Loranthaceae) are among the most prescribed drugs offered to cancer patients. Although mistletoe plants and berries are considered poisonous to humans, few serious side effects have been associated with mistletoe extract use. European mistletoe has been used for centuries in traditional medicine for a variety of conditions, including seizures, headaches, and menopause symptoms. Today, European mistletoe is promoted as a treatment for cancer. In Europe, European mistletoe extracts that are given by injection are sold as prescription drugs.
What is Viscum also known as?
Viscum album, commonly known as mistletoe, is a plant whose stems and leaves contain alkaloids, viscotoxins, and lectins, with the latter two being highly poisonous to animals when administered parenterally. Mistletoe poisoning occurs when someone eats any part of this plant. Poisoning can also occur if you drink tea created from the plant or its berries.Mistletoe, the popular Christmas plant, is an evergreen with small white berries. Ingestion of small amounts of the berries, leaves, or stems may result in GI symptoms, including pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Rarely, large ingestions have resulted in seizures, hypertension, and even cardiac arrest.Mistletoe is poisonous, although it is doubtful as to whether it will actually cause death. All parts of the plant are toxic (that’s berries, stem and leaves). The mistletoe plant contains Phoratoxin and Viscotoxin, which are both poisonous proteins when ingested.