Mistletoe preparations

Aqueous extract of Viscum album, mistletoe. The extract is injected intracutaneously or subcutaneously.

Mistletoe extracts are often used to treat cancer. Originally a therapy from anthroposophy, which is why approval in Germany is based on the exceptions for anthroposophy.

There is currently no recognized scientific evidence for the effectiveness of mistletoe extracts in human medicine. An extension of the overall survival time could not be sufficiently proven in the data available.

Preclinical studies have shown that the lectins contained in mistletoe can kill cell cultures and stimulate immune cells.

The costs of mistletoe therapy are only covered by health insurance companies (statutory and private) in exceptional cases, usually only for palliative therapy to improve the quality of life.

Immunostimulant in malignant diseases, stimulation of bone marrow activity. Mistletoe extracts are still used today in high-risk malignant melanoma. A prospective randomized study by the EORTC melanoma group showed that treatment with the mistletoe lectin Iscador M had no effect on the prognosis compared to a control group that was not treated.

Protein hypersensitivity, acute and chronic progressive infections. Lactation, pregnancy and children.

There are warnings for thyroid problems, intracranial pressure in metastases or tumors in the brain.

There are warnings for some preparations in patients with leukemia, lymphoma, renal cell carcinoma or melanoma.

^Helixor®, ^Iscador®

1. Kähler KC et al (2011) Adjuvant systemic therapy of melanoma. Dermatologist 62: 414-422
2. https://www.krebsinformationsdienst.de/mistel#c7463
3. https://www.leitlinienprogramm-onkologie.de/fileadmin/user_upload/Downloads/Leitlinien/Komplement%C3%A4r/Version_2/LL_Komplement%C3%A4rmedizin_Langversion_2.0.pdf