Mistletoe

the herb of mistletoe (Visci albi herba)

Mistletoe (Viscum album) is a semi-parasitic shrub that grows as green balls in the crowns of apple trees, poplars, firs and others; it takes water and minerals from its host and makes its own sugar. It is most visible in winter, when the tree is bare.

The young leafy shoots are gathered, with or without the berries, in winter or early spring, when the content of active substances is highest. They are cut with long-handled shears; the shoots are cut up and dried quickly at a low temperature.

The tree the mistletoe grows on affects the drug, so the host is often named on the label. The berries are poisonous and do not belong in preparations. In Ašič's collection mistletoe appears in Mistletoe Drops.

Use and evidence

The EMA has not adopted a positive monograph for ordinary self-medication. The clinical data do not justify claims that a tea treats hypertension, epilepsy or cancer. EMA.