European Mistletoe

The semi-parasitic plant that grows on European tree branches, gathered traditionally at the winter solstice and central to European folk traditions long before its medical use. Modern medicinal use of European mistletoe began in the 1920s with Rudolf Steiner's anthroposophical medicine, and mistletoe extracts are now widely used in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria as an adjunct to conventional cancer treatment. This is a herb for clinical settings, not self-treatment.

• Used in integrative cancer care across Europe — particularly Germany — as an adjunct to conventional treatment
• May improve quality of life during cancer treatment, including fatigue, sleep, and appetite
• Modulates immune function in laboratory and clinical research
• Long European folk and ceremonial tradition, far predating its modern medical use
• Injectable mistletoe products (Iscador, Helixor, Abnoba) are prescription medications in several European countries
• Always given alongside, never instead of, evidence-based cancer treatment in legitimate medical use

NCCIH — European Mistletoe · MedlinePlus Herbs & Supplements · NIH NCCIH Herbs at a Glance

• Acai CIRCULATORY
• American Ginseng ENERGY
• Bilberry CIRCULATORY
• Butterbur DIGESTIVE
• Chasteberry WOMENS-HEALTH