Breast cancer has surpassed lung cancer and is leading as the world’s mostly commonly-diagnosed cancer. Many people are looking for alternative forms of treatment, and more holistic methods are gaining popularity. For example, cancer patients have even been paying careful attention to which foods to eat and which foods to avoid.
Cancer patients often turn to naturopaths and herbal practitioners when looking for complementary or alternative cancer treatment methods, particularly when trying to avoid the horrible side effects of radiation or chemotherapy. European mistletoe is an important herbal medicine traditionally used by naturopaths as a complementary remedy for cancer treatment. People have begun using mistletoe to shrink tumors and treat cancer in recent years.
Benefits of Mistletoe for Breast Cancer
The interest in mistletoe for cancer gained popularity in America when Suzanne Somers announced that she was using this plant to treat her breast cancer. Many studies have investigated and reported the anticancer activity of mistletoe extract on animal models and breast cancer cells. Various studies on mistletoe for hormone-positive breast cancer patients showed comparable findings in terms of the possible benefits on survival time, quality of life, remission rate, and alleviating the unpleasant side effects of conventional therapy.
Naturopathic healers and their patients say that mistletoe infusions and supplements shrink tumors, boost the immune system, and treat cancer symptoms like pain and fatigue. Using European mistletoe extract for breast cancer therapy is recommended because of the minimal side effects.
Some of the benefits of mistletoe include:
- Anti-inflammatory properties The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of mistletoe make it a great candidate for helping to treat inflammation, which is a common side effect of cancer and cancer treatment.
- Increasing immunity Mistletoe increases the overall activity of the immune system, which helps fight against medication that harms immunity, such as chemotherapy and radiation. Research reveals that mistletoe may stimulate the immune system to fight cancer.
- Reducing the side effects of cancer treatment Studies in humans show that mistletoe therapy may reduce the negative side effects of cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation. Various studies suggest that mistletoe may also positively affect survival rate and improve the quality of life in cancer patients.
- Killing cancer cells Mistletoe is beneficial because it contains two essential proteins: lectin and viscotoxin. Lectins bind to cancer cells, causing biochemical changes. Viscotoxins boost the immune system, which is how mistletoe kills cancer cells.
- Shrinking tumors Naturopathic healers have used European mistletoe to treat cancer and shrink tumors for years.
Side Effects of Mistletoe Therapy
Common Side Effects
Mistletoe is rarely associated with negative side effects when used in the recommended dosage. Common side effects are generally experienced when the dosage is too high. These include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, low blood pressure, and dizziness.
Rare Side Effects
Rare side effects include seizures, fevers, and chills. Some researchers also suggest that mistletoe is hard on the liver and may cause liver damage.
Precautions
The appropriate dose of mistletoe depends on age, overall health, and other conditions. The direct dosage should always be followed. Precautions should also be taken in the following cases:
- During pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Those with leukemia
- Those who have had an organ transplant
- Those with autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis, lupus, or rheumatoid arthritis
- Before and after surgery
Does Mistletoe Interfere With Chemotherapy?
Mistletoe stimulates the body’s natural disease-fighting mechanisms, which can inhibit the growth of cancer cells and improve the overall quality of life for patients undergoing intense treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy. When used in combination with conventional treatments, mistletoe can boost the effectiveness of treatments like chemotherapy while keeping patients feeling healthy.
How to Use Mistletoe for Breast Cancer Treatment
Mistletoe therapy is available in mistletoe extract, tea, injections, and as an IV. Injections under the skin are generally more popular with naturopaths because this method works like a vaccine and uses lower dosages. However, mistletoe via an IV delivers a higher dose and typically has more impressive results in terms of cancer cell death and tumor shrinkage.
Less common ways include oral consumption or injections into the tumor or pleural cavity. Research has shown that injecting mistletoe may reduce tumor growth and improve the survival rate of patients with breast cancer.
How Much Does Mistletoe Treatment Cost?
Mistletoe therapy is not approved by the FDA yet, and clinical trials are still underway to investigate the effectiveness of this treatment. For that reason, mistletoe treatments are not covered by medical insurance, and the average cost ranges from $100-$200 a month.
The cost and availability of mistletoe therapy are dependent on where in the world you are; it is still under scrutiny in some countries and may not be readily available.
Should You Use Mistletoe for Breast Cancer?
Most people do not experience any severe side effects when taking mistletoe. When used as a complementary therapy, it has shown effectiveness in treating breast cancer and reducing the unpleasant symptoms of conventional treatment. There is promising evidence that supports mistletoe for the treatment of breast cancer. However, more studies are still needed before the FDA approves it.
