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Mistletoe

Mistletoe is the English common name for over 1200 species of a semi-parasitic plant that grows on trees worldwide, though only viscum album (European or common mistletoe) is used in the treatment of cancer and inflammatory conditions. References to mistletoe as a sacred plant and remedy appear throughout history and date as far back as the writings of Hippocrates (c. 460 - c. 370) and Pliny the Elder (AD 23-79), but it was only through the indications of Rudolf Steiner, in the early 1920's, that it became known that mistletoe could be used for the treatment of cancer. It was then developed as an injection.
Since that time, European oncologists have been using the liquid extract of the mistletoe plant to improve survival in patients with cancer and to improve quality of life by reducing the side-effects of chemotherapy and radiation, such as nausea, vomiting and lack of appetite, as well as diminishing tumor-related pain. Mistletoe injections are currently among the most widely used complementary cancer treatments in Europe. It is approved for palliative care use in several European countries, but not yet in the United States. Until further clinical testing is done in the US, oncologists cannot offer this treatment as standard of care for cancer patients. Mistletoe is being administered in the US by complementary medicine practitioners, but mistletoe is not approved by the FDA for cancer treatment. 

The clinical effectiveness of mistletoe extracts in cancer has been investigated in a great number of studies and clinical trials, primarily in Europe. A clinical trial is currently being conducted in the US at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. 

More information can be found within the following links:

The mistletoe section of the AnthroMed Library

The research page of the Medical Section at the Goetheanum

The National Cancer Institute

The Sydney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

Links to the four main producers of European mistletoe:

Iscador

Helixor (only currently available in German)

WALA (producer of Iscusin)

Abnoba 

Licensed medical prescribers seeking more information and training in the use of mistletoe are encouraged to explore the PAAM Training Webinar Series: Mistletoe Use in Cancer Therapy, to subscribe to our Education Calendar in order to remain informed on upcoming courses and trainings in mistletoe therapy best practices, and to request more information by completing the web form below.

Patients seeking a physician trained in mistletoe therapy should visit the Patient Resources page.

Additional materials, information and clinical guidelines regarding mistletoe are provided to currently-licensed prescribers only, via a password-protected link to a private web page. All requests for materials are vetted before being issued a password and web address. Please provide the requested information and press the "Subscribe" button at the bottom. We will respond via email to your request with 14 days. Failure to provide information in any of the boxes below may result in a prolonged delay in granting your request.

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Physicians' Association for Anthroposophic Medicine (PAAM)
PO Box 4039
Grand Junction, CO 81502
paam@anthroposophy.org
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