MISTLETOE VISCUM ALBUM

MISTLETOE (Viscum album L.) X

Activities (Mistletoe) :
Antifertility (f; SKJ); Antileukemic (1; PNC); Antineoplastic (1; APA; PNC); Antiseptic (f; CRC); Antispasmodic (f; APA; CRC; MAD; PNC); Antitumor (1; APA; CRC); Aphrodisiac (f; KAB); Astringent (f; CRC); cAMP-Phosphodiesterase Inhibitor (1; PNC); Cardiodepressant (1; APA; CAN); Cardiotonic (1; CRC; PNC); Cardiotoxic (1; WOI); Carminative (f; CRC); Cytostat (1; KOM; PH2); Digestive (f; CRC); Diuretic (f; CRC; WOI); Emetic (f; CRC); Endophinogenic (1; BRU); Expectorant (f; PH2); Hypertensive (1; APA); Hypotensive (1; APA; CAN; KOM; PH2; WOI); Hypotonic (f; KOM); Immunostimulant (1; APA; CRC; KOM; PH2); Lactagogue (f; CRC; MAD); Laxative (f; CRC; WOI); Narcotic (1; CRC; JFM); Nephrotonic (f; CRC); Nervine (1; CRC; PNC); Poison (1; CRC); Sedative (f; APA; PH2; PNC); Stimulant (f; CRC); Sympathomimetic (f; CRC); Thymostimulant (f; CRC); Tonic (f; PH2); Tranquilizer (f; PH2); Uterocontractant (1; APA); Vasodilator (f; CRC); Vermifuge (f; MAD).

Indications (Mistletoe) :
Abscess (f; APA); Alactea (f; MAD); Alopecia (f; CRC); Amenorrhea (f; CRC; PHR; PH2); Anxiety (f; PHR; PH2); Apoplexy (f; CRC; MAD); Arrhythmia (f; PH2); Arthrosis (2; CRC; KOM; PH2); Asthma (f; CRC; MAD; PHR; PH2); Atherosclerosis (f; CRC; HH2; MAD; PHR; PH2); Backache (f; PH2); Biliousness (f; KAB); Bleeding (f; CRC; PHR; PH2); Cancer (1; APA; CRC; PH2); Cancer, breast (1; CRC); Cancer, colon (1; CRC); Cancer, lung (1; CRC); Cancer, stomach (1; CRC); Cardiopathy (f; PH2); Childbirth (f; MAD); Chorea (f; HH2; PHR; PH2); Circulosis (f; PH2); Constipation (f; CRC; WOI); Convulsion (f; MAD); Cough (f; PH2); Cramp (f; APA; CRC; MAD; PNC); Diarrhea (f; PHR; PH2); Dysentery (f; MAD); Dysmenorrhea (f; CRC; MAD); Earache (f; CRC); Endometriosis (f; MAD); Enuresis (f; MAD); Epilepsy (f; HH2; PHR; PH2); Epistaxis (f; MAD); Fatigue (f; PHR; PH2); Fever (f; MAD); Gas (f; CRC); Gastrosis (f; MAD); Gout (f; MAD; PHR); Headache (f; CAN); Hemorrhoid (f; CRC); Hepatosis (f; CRC; PH2; WOI); High Blood Pressure (1; APA; CAN; CRC; KOM; PHR; PH2; WOI); Hypertony (f; CRC; HH2; MAD); Hysteria (f; CRC; HH2; PHR; PH2); Immunodepression (1; APA; CRC; KOM; PH2); Infection (f; CRC); Inflammation (1; APA; KAB; PHR; PH2); Insomnia (f; APA; PH2; PNC); Ischiosis (f; MAD); Leukemia (1; CRC; PNC); Leukorrhea (f; MAD); Low Blood Pressure (1; APA; PH2); Lumbago (f; CRC; KAB; WOI); Malaria (f; CRC); Menorrhagia (f; MAD); Metrorrhagia (f; CRC; MAD); Migraine (f; MAD); Myoma (f; MAD); Myosis (f; CRC); Nephrosis (f; CRC); Nervousness (f; APA; CRC; HH2; PHR; PH2; PNC); Neuralgia (f; CRC); Neurosis (1; APA; PH2); Osteoporosis (f; CRC); Otosis (f; CRC; WOI); Pain (1; BRU; MAD; PH2); Pertussis (f; PH2); Rheumatism (2; PHR; PH2); Sore (1; APA; CRC); Spasm (f; CRC); Splenomegaly (f; CRC; WOI); Spondylosis (f; CRC); Sterility (f; CRC); Tachycardia (f; PHR; PH2); Tumor (2; APA; CRC; KOM; PHR; PH2); Typhoid (f; CRC); Ulcer (f; CRC); Ulcus cruris (f; MAD); Uterosis (f; CRC; MAD); Varicosis (f; CRC; MAD); Vertigo (f; CRC; HH2; MAD; PHR; PH2); Water Retention (f; CRC; WOI); Womb (f; CRC); Worm (f; MAD).

Dosages (Mistletoe) :
Don’t take it! (JAD); 1 tsp chopped leaf/cup water 1–2 ×/day (APA); 2–6 g dry leaf, or in tea, 3 ×/day (CAN); 1–3 ml liquid extract (1:1 in 25% ethanol) 3 ×/day (CAN); 2–6 g powdered shoot (PNC); 1–3 ml liquid shoot extract (PNC); 10.5 ml leaf tincture (PNC); 0.5 ml tincture (1:5 in 45% ethanol) 3 ×/day (CAN); 40–120 ml 1:20 cold water infusion (CAN); 1 tsp (2.5 g) in cold infusion up to 4 ×/day (PH2); steep 40 g in a liter of wine for 3 days (PH2).

Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Mistletoe) :
Class 2d. Contraindicated in protein hypersensitivity and chronic progressive infections such as AIDS and tuberculosis. Do not exceed recommended dose (2.5 g infused in cold water 10–12 hours, up to 2 ×/day) (AHP).“Hazards and/or side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages” (PH2). “The drug is non-toxic with peroral administration” (PH2), and perhaps orally inefficacious too (BRU). Fatalities questionably reported from children ingesting berries (CRC). Commission E reports herb permitted only for parenteral injection. Contraindications: hypersensitivity to proteins, chronic progressive infections (e.g., tuberculosis); adverse effects: allergic and other reactions. Also reported the viscotoxins are not absorbed orally and may have necrotizing effects in higher doses (AEH). CAN cautions that mixed herbal preparations, containing mistletoe, are poisonous and can cause hepatosis and hypotension. Because of toxic constituents and uterine stimulant activity, its use in pregnancy and lactation is to be avoided. Mistletoe may interfere with anticoagulant/coagulant, antidepressant, and cardiac therapies (CAN). Side effects of injections include allergic reactions, angina, chills, circulatory problems, fever, and headache (AHP).

Extracts (Mistletoe) :
Extracts are cytotoxic, immunostimulant; exhibit significant antitumor activity against colon, lung, and mammary tumors. The lectin fraction is quite toxic LD50 = 80 µg/kg cf 3 µg for ricin; viscotoxin has an estimated LD50 = 0.7 mg/kg ipr mouse. Juice of plant LD50 = 32 mg (dry weight)/kg ipr mouse (CRC).