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. 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.Viscum album) has a long history of medicinal use in cardiovascular ailments. Compounds from mistletoe have demonstrated antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and blood pressure-reducing effects in the laboratory and in animal research.The mistletoe plant has been used in traditional medicine for centuries and is loaded with antioxidants. It is noted to support reduced inflammation and have a powerful ability to boost the immune system. Mistletoe extract is also noted to help fight cancer cells!Mistletoe is a semiparasitic plant that grows on many types of trees, including apple, oak, maple, elm, pine, and poplar. 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.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.
What are the benefits of viscum album?
Science and clinical trials: The research on Viscum album primarily focuses on its anticancer properties with clinical studies demonstrating that Mistletoe therapy may enhance quality of life, prolong survival, and induce tumour regression (2). Compounds from mistletoe have demonstrated antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and blood pressure-reducing effects in the laboratory and in animal research.
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. Mistletoes are parasitic plants that absorb both water and nutrients from a host tree. Healthy trees can tolerate a few branches infected with mistletoe. However, if the infestation is severe, trees can weaken, have stunted growth or dead branches, or die completely.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.The major pharmacologically bioactive components in mistletoe are lectins and viscotoxins, which have caused cytotoxic effects. Although mistletoe has been listed in many publications as an herbal medicine causing hepatotoxicity,25–27 few clinical cases of mistletoe-induced liver injury have been reported.