Santalaceae
Mistletoe
Viscum album
⚠ Use with Caution
Avoid in Pregnancy
Native to: Europe, Western Asia, Northern Africa
Also known as: European Mistletoe, All-heal, Golden Bough, Witch's Broom
Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA
Parts Used
LeafStem
Therapeutic Uses
Cancer (adjunct — Iscador/Helixor clinical trials improve quality of life, NK cell activity), hypertension, tachycardia, anxiety. Primarily used as oncology adjunct in integrative medicine.
Herbal Actions
Immunomodulator, anticancer (lectins — apoptosis induction), hypotensive, antispasmodic, nervine
Active Constituents
Lectins (ML-I, II, III — primary anticancer actives), viscotoxins, flavonoids, polysaccharides, acetylcholine
Preparation Methods
🏺 Tincture💊 Capsule
Traditional Preparation Notes
| Herbal Tea | NOT recommended internally — berries and high doses toxic |
| Tincture | 0.5–1 ml (1:5, 40% ethanol), 2–3x daily — LOW DOSE |
| Notes | BERRIES TOXIC — do not use. Leaf tincture in low doses safe. Clinical use as Iscador (mistletoe extract) injected subcutaneously — requires medical supervision. Oral preparations less studied than injectable. |
Safety Information
Safety Rating
⚠ Use with Caution
Pregnancy
Avoid in Pregnancy
Drug Interactions
⚠ Known interactions
Contraindications: Berries toxic. Avoid in pregnancy. Avoid with immunosuppressants. Caution with antihypertensives (additive effect). Medical supervision recommended for cancer adjunct use.
Side Effects: Berries: severe toxicity. Herb at low doses: GI discomfort, allergic reactions. Chills, fever from injectable form (immunostimulation).