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This is mistletoe tea, very popular as a herbal treatment across Europe.
Mistletoe contains several complex proteins called Lectins - this represents the molecular structure of one of them.
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Mistletoe Medicine - History and Herbal
The earliest references to medicinal use of European mistletoe are Roman accounts of the Druids of Britain - though these do not specify what the mistletoe was used for.
Prehistory
Lindow Man - preserved at the British Museum
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There is no other written evidence of early mistletoe use - but there is some practical evidence from the 1st Century AD: The peat-preserved bog body known as Lindow Man had some evidence of mistletoe in his stomach.
Some researchers, including a few archaeologists, seem to jump to the conclusion that this is evidence of ritual poisoning in a druidic custom. This seems to be based on an incorrect understanding of mistletoe's toxicity - see below for more on this) and despite a complete lack of archaeological evidence of any druidic activity.
It is probably much more likely that he had ingested mistletoe as part of a herbal drink or remedy - perhaps an early version of the mistletoe tea described below...
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Later history |
In more recent centuries there is a better recorded history of experiments with mistletoe for human and animal treatment.
Sir John Colbatch, writing in 1720, suggested
“that there must be something extraordinary about that uncommon beautiful plant, that the Almighty had designed it for further and more noble uses than barely to feed thrushes or to be hung up superstitiously”.
He was experimenting with mistletoe as an epilepsy treatment, but he was just one of many mistletoe researchers throughout the 18th and 19th centuries.
Much of the early research took place in German-speaking parts of Europe - and it was there that Rudolf Steiner, in the 1920s, predicted that the plant should have medicinal value against cancer (see anthroposophic medicine).
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Modern usage)
Mistletoe Tea Bags
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Today the most common herbal use of mistletoe is in dried form as a tea.
It is taken primarily to relieve hypertension (high blood pressure).
Mistletoe Tea is widely available in continental European pharmacies, though it is rarely sold in the UK. For information on UK stockists visit the Advice page.
But isn't mistletoe poisonous? Yes and no! European mistletoe, like many plants used in medicine, does contain some toxic chemicals, in this case complex proteins known as Lectins. But these should not be a problem in most circumstances, and many may be denatured by drying anyway. Mistletoe is not an edible herb - but it can be used in controlled ways.
(The Conventional Medicine page has more background on these Lectins) |
Other modern 'herbal' uses include some cosmetics - particularly shampoos. There are several supermarket brands that contain European mistletoe.
Several popular shampoos
contain mistletoe
(More information on modern usage, including veterinary products, to be added during autumn 2009)
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Quick links |
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Want to buy mistletoe? Visit:
Need news about mistletoe? Try: 
Looking for mistletoe advice, or a speaker? Try
Interested in Mistletoe Events? Visit:
For mistletoe cards, tees, mugs etc visit 
Want to Grow Your Own? Get advice here, or buy a grow-kit
Coming soon - links to:
The Mistletoe Picture Library
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