You want the most effective treatment possible when you get a cancer diagnosis. Mistletoe extract contains potent toxins that destroy cancer cells. Here’s what you need to know.
Scientists have a way of finding cures and treatments in the most unusual places. They discovered penicillin in mold, Botox® in botulism, and now, cancer therapy in mistletoe.
Mistletoe extract is safe when administered by an experienced medical professional. Researchers in the United States study mistletoe extensively, and some cutting-edge physicians offer it as a complementary or alternative medicine (CAM) for cancer.
Dr. Leonard Kaplan is one of them.
At OWM Integrative Wellness in Buffalo, New York, Dr. Kaplan uses his advanced education and years of clinical experience to improve the lives of cancer patients. Board-certified in physical and pain medicine, Dr. Kaplan is an integrative cancer specialist trained at the prestigious Metabolic Terrain Institute Approach to Cancer. Here’s why he includes mistletoe therapy in our comprehensive lineup of integrative cancer therapies.
What’s in mistletoe?
Mistletoe is a green, leafy plant that attaches itself to other plants and trees. So, technically, it’s a parasite. Its favorite hosts are pine, poplar, spruce, oak, elm, and apple trees, and the type of tree changes the chemical composition of the extract.
Humans have used mistletoe for centuries to treat various ailments. Still, its extract has only been a part of modern medicine since the 1920s. Over the years, researchers have discovered some potent compounds within the plant, specifically:
- Viscotoxins: proteins that kill specific cells and stimulate immunity
- Polysaccharides: anti-tumor molecules
- Lectins: molecules that bind to certain cells and change them
Injections and intravenous treatments of mistletoe extract can multiply the number of natural killer cells in your immune system.
Mistletoe cancer therapy
Dr. Kaplan and our OWM Integrative Wellness team surround you with care and support during your cancer treatment and beyond. We know that fighting cancer includes much more than chemotherapy and radiation; it involves an ever-changing life landscape that affects your mental health, relationships, finances, stress levels, and sleep quality.
No single treatment addresses all the ways cancer impacts your life. In fact, some treatments lead to their own complications. That’s why we offer help from multiple sources that complement one another. From intravenous ketamine and high-dose ozone therapy to low-level laser photodynamic therapy and mind and body therapy, we cover all the bases.
We include mistletoe therapy because research shows promising results for treating cancer and reducing cancer treatment side effects. Here are some findings related to various cancers:
Colorectal cancer
Patients treated with mistletoe extract stayed disease-free, lived longer, had fewer adverse effects, and reported better symptom relief.
Breast cancer
Patients who added mistletoe therapy to their standard cancer treatment had a better survival rate and fewer adverse drug reactions than those who only had the standard treatment and no mistletoe therapy.
Pancreatic cancer
Patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer who received mistletoe therapy survived longer than those who didn’t receive it.
Mistletoe won’t cure your cancer, but it can significantly improve your quality of life as you battle it. One study reported that adding mistletoe therapy to traditional anticancer treatments can address insomnia often associated with cancer treatments, reduce fatigue, and improve physical functioning.
