Herbs - Mistletoe - Ailments / Situations Where Used

This plant is a relaxing nervine and was once called the "janitor herb" due to its cleansing effect on the arteries. It is used in insomnia, nervous excitability, hyperactivity, epilepsy, chorea, tinnitus, and rabies. It helps ease headaches due to hypertension. Mistletoe is considered a cardiac depressant because of its stimulating effect on the vagus nerve which slows down the pulse. The plant also dilates the arteries and strengthens the walls of the peripheral capillaries. Due to these actions it will lower high blood pressure and ease the effects of arteriosclerosis.

Some success has been reported in using the juice of the berries externally on cancers (do not take internally as they are toxic). There is some rather promising evidence on mistletoe's anti-tumour activities. It is sometimes used as an immune enhancer alongside surgery and radiotherapy by people who will not use cytotoxic drugs due to the side-effects. Mistletoe is a strong luteotropic agent (an agent that stimulates the secretion of progesterone).