European Mistletoe and Cancer Treatment
European mistletoe is a plant that grows in many regions of the world.It is different from American mistletoe, which is used primarily as a holiday decoration. American mistletoe is unsafe for medicinal purposes.However, European mistletoe that has been processed has been used to treat headaches and seizures. European mistletoe is sometimes used to treat cancer, human immunodeficiency virus, cancer, hepatitis and degenerative joint disease. Currently in Europe, European mistletoe is used as a prescription medication to treat various types of cancers. In the United States, it is only available for use in cancer research trials. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine is conducting a study to evaluate the effectiveness of European mistletoe in the treatment of cancer.
Side effects from oral ingestion include seizures, vomiting, and slowedheart rate. When injected according to product directions, European mistletoe is considered to be safe. Swelling and redness have been reported at injection sites. Allergic reactions have been reported, but are considered rare.