Mistletoe: properties and what the typical Christmas mistletoe is for

What is mistletoe and what is it for?

He viscum albumpopularly known by the name of white mistletoe, league or viscobelongs to the Lorantaceae family and is a partially parasitic evergreen shrub that usually grows on the branches of deciduous trees and also on some variety of pines and firs.

Walking through the forest in the cold season, you will be able to observe its typical rounded shape in the tops of some trees.

How is the plant

The plant is characterized by some yellowish stems and fleshy, tough leaves. It is slow growing and in the adult phase it can measure up to one meter.

The flowers are small and yellowish green in color and The fruit is a berry that when mature acquires a White color.

Inside it keeps the seeds wrapped in a sticky substance.

From the pulp of these fruits comes the scientific name of the mistletoe (“viscum”), which refers to its characteristic viscosity. The epithet “album” of this species refers to the white color of the fruits.

these berries ripen in winter and contain toxic substances for man and other animals. However, they are not for some birds that are very sweet on these fruits and that, after digestion, deposit their feces (and with them the mistletoe seeds) on the trees, thus facilitating the development of new plants.

Despite the toxic effects of the fruits, mistletoe has been with man since ancient times, considered medicinal and magical by many civilizations.

christmas mistletoe

for the druidsthe Celtic priests, was a magical plant and attributed protective powers against lightning and diseases, and to defend itself from evil.

Other northern European cultures associated it with masculine strength and it was used as a symbol of fertility and vitality.

Some of the magical properties accompany this beautiful shrub even today. In fact, in many countries mistletoe is a typical plant of Christmas parties. If you visit the Christmas markets in Spain you will see mistletoe and holly among other decorative plants typical of this festive period. Small branches of mistletoe are given away in December as symbol of good luck and protection.

If you have mistletoe at home since last year, remember that it isn the day of Saint Lucia, December 13, this is burned to eliminate accumulated bad energy and is replaced by a new branch of mistletoe.

In other countries like England, always at these parties, a branch of mistletoe is usually hung in the houses to protect the home from bad energies and it is tradition to kiss under the mistletoe to attract love, health and fertility.

mistletoe properties

for curative purposes the tops of the plant are used with flowers and/or fruits that contain mainly lectins, viscotoxins and polysaccharides.

As it is a plant with a long history of magical and healing uses, folk medicine attributes various properties to mistletoe-based preparations and their applications may vary depending on the region. In fact, among traditional uses of mistletoe we find:

Circulatory disorders (especially hypertension) Epilepsy Symptoms of menopause Rheumatism Hoarseness Arthritis Chronic or degenerative diseases (to promote the immune response)

Despite the fact that the necessary studies are not yet available to validate all these effects of mistletoe, there is evidence of its immunomodulatory and cytotoxic action, that is, it would favor the regulation of the immune system and inhibit the growth of cancer cells.

So much so that in the last decade in Europe have studied and used the mistletoe extracts as complementary therapy to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in cancer patients. The treatment has been applied to adult and child patients with different types of cancer. A systematic review of controlled clinical studies has highlighted that the observed effects are of a improvement in the quality of life of the patient thanks to:

Regulation of sleep.Increased appetite.Reliefs nausea.Reduces feelings of exhaustion.Tones metabolism.Stabilization of body temperature.Reinforcement of immune defenses.

How to take mistletoe

Medicinal preparations are obtained with maceration and purification processes using water or hydroalcoholic substances. The preparations put up for sale they come standardized based on lectin concentration.

Complementary treatment with mistletoe in integrative oncology It is prescription-only, and extracts are usually administered as subcutaneous, intravenous, or intramuscular injections.

In Spain, as well as in Germany, Switzerland and other European countries you can also buy orally administered mistletoe.

exist homeopathic products and food supplements in the form of drops or tablets containing purified extracts of viscum album and other medicinal plants with immunomodulatory action.

Mistletoe contraindications

Avoid during pregnancy and lactation and in people with allergy or hypersensitivity to plants of the Viscáceas or Lorantáceas family.

The use of mistletoe-based products is also not recommended for people with chronic infectious diseases or inflammatory diseases. In any case, it should be taken only under medical prescription.

Finally, we remind you that remedies based on extracts of mistletoe may interact with some medications used in the treatment of hypertension, diabetes, depression, among others.

What happens if you eat mistletoe?

The fruits of the mistletoe are the favorite food of some birds, but these berries contain a substances highly toxic to humans and other animals: viscotoxin.

Taking the fruits or infusions of mistletoe can produce changes in the heart and central nervous system or even cause death.

If we have animals at home, We must be especially careful during the holidays if we decorate the home with branches of mistletoe, holly or poinsettia, as they are all toxic to cats and dogs.