Most people think that Mistletoe placed in a doorway is just for kissing in Christmas time.. So simple!

Mistletoe The Medicinal Plant: A Brief History

Mistletoe was used for its medicinal properties from ancient Celtics monks before the time of Christ, 2,000 B.C. until nowadays by European and U.S. pharmacopeia as medicinal plant. Mistletoe by celtic language means “the all healing.”

Mistletoe – Empiric vs Science

The empirical use that Mistletoe has been given over the centuries now has confirmation thanks to the analytical and gas chromatograpy techniques that have allowed to confirm its innumerable properties.

Ancient Celts and Folk Tradition

Since ancient times Mistletoe and Holly have been part of the Christmas tradition with its red or white fruits and its evergreen leaves. Legends and traditions in Europe and the United States identify these two perennials, as a symbol of good luck.

The monks of the Celtic´s culture, the Druids, attributed to Mistletoe the power to protect and heal almost any type of illness or disease.

The Celts were a dominant people in Europe until the arrival of the Romans civilization. In the Celtic folk tradition, the couple kissed under the Mistletoe, hung on a door, it was considered love in the couple would be long lasting.

Mistletoe – A Little Brief History

The ancient legends said that the magical healing powers of Mistletoe were due because it was created as an element that was not from heaven or earth, since its roots never touch the earth but it does not sustain itself in the air.

The Mistletoe, was a sacred plant for the Druids and had a strong relationship with the Gods and immortality. It was also considered a symbol of peace and a powerful protective amulet.

Mistletoe in Winter & Christmas Time

Mistletoe and Holly are among the few plants that bloom during the Christmas season and are widely used to decorate and create a Christmas atmosphere in homes. Even having the same significance we should not confuse them because they are two shrubs with very different purposes.

While Holly is more decorative; Mistletoe is a plant with medicinal properties.

European mistletoe (Viscum album L.) 

The Mistletoe is originally between Northern Europe, North and Central United States, Central and North Asia and Japan.

It is an evergreen, hemi-parasitic plant, hosted and growing on a different trees,

deciduous trees such as Apple tree, Holm Oak, Poplar tree, Chestnut tree, Oak Tree, Acacia tree. The Mistletoe´s drug is mainly extracted from berries but also the leaves keep certain medicinal properties.

The main ingredients of the Viscum album extract are its low molecular weight proteins or lectins (mistletoe lectins, ML) ML-1, ML-2, and ML-3 and flavonoid compounds as antioxidants.

Edaphic Factors – Where Mistletoe Grow Better 

The influence of the good environment, have a key role in the quality compounds of Mistletoe´s leaves or stems. The host trees should be located in semi-shaded to sunny area.

Mistletoe Properties

Mistletoe revealed its biological potencial as antioxidants, antiinflammatory and inmunostimulant properties due its main active compounds as lectins, flavonoids and carotenoids which has been thoroughly researched in Europe. The fermented juice of the entire Mistletoe plant and only its white berries; both has been extensively studied through several clinical trials.

Mistletoe – Medicinal Plant with Anti Tumoral Effects

Along last several decades, European Mistletoe has been used developing a noteworthy anti-tumor and immunostimulant activity as an alternative treatment or adjuvant in cancer therapy, mainly in Germany and Switzerland. 

These results have been achieved with very low doses of lectins; These low concentrations are in relation to homeopathic dynamizations. It could not be otherwise because in high doses it would have a toxic effect on the body cells.

In rats, the equal combination of the aqueous extract of Fir tree (Abies Alba) together with the aqueous extract of Mistletoe, was shown to inhibit the induction of certain malignant cells.

Mistletoe – Antioxidants Properties

Mistletoe has one of the most powerful antioxidants, quercetin, it can help to protect the human body from oxidative stress enhancing immune system and antioxidative stress properties.

There is a trend from some decades for the natural antioxidants compounds from plants over synthetic ones, due its slight or negligible side effects.

What’s About of Oxidative Stress on Hair Loss

Oxidative stress is an imbalance between the reactive oxygen species(ROS) and inner biological system´s ability to detoxify and repair the resulting damage.

Oxidative Stress on Hair – Consequence

Degradation on hair fibers is caused by oxidative stress and loose in the dermal collagen on the scalp. The collagen around each follicle become rigid, compressing and pushing, the hair is fall out prematurely.

Our Criteria About the Quality of Mistletoe

Our Mistletoe is obtained from the fermentation process of the plant´s juice. The juice of Mistletoe from summer and winter harvest are mixed together bringing full effectiveness of its compounds.