Kissing under the mistletoe Mistletoe Porcelain - Boch Freres' 'Gui' pattern European Mistletoe - Viscum album Viscum album - botanical drawing American Mistletoe - Phoradendron species Saucy Mistletoe Postcard - Raphael Kirchner c 1910 Druids Cutting Mistletoe

Mistletoe Medicine - Introduction

Mistletoes inevitably have a long association with medicine - with many traditions of use in human and veterinary remedies around the world.  Many differing mistletoe species are involved - as parasites they have all attracted the attentions of herbalists.


The European mistletoe Viscum album is no exception - and has the added herbal virtues of unusual branching and white berries.  So it is not surprising that it has a history in medicine.  What may be more surprising to some is that it is still widely used in some areas  - and may yet have an important role as an anti-cancer agent.  

These pages are largely about the medicinal attributes of Viscum album.  Do not confuse European Mistletoe's medical attributes with American Phoradendron species - these have very different properties and can be very toxic.
Viscum album old print II


There are sections on herbal use (mistletoe tea is very popular in Europe), anthroposophic remedies (Rudolf Steiner was a mistletoe fan) and conventional medicine.  

This site makes no claim to give expert medical opinion - so the last section gives some advice on where to find out more, and make your own mind up about mistletoe's medical properties.