MISTLETOE - THE HERB FOR ALL SEASONS

[Guest guest]

MISTLETOE - THE HERB FOR ALL SEASONS

_http://www.newswithviews.com/Dean/carolyn25.htm_

(http://www.newswithviews.com/Dean/carolyn25.htm)

Dr. Carolyn Dean, MD, ND and

Elissa Meininger

NewsWithViews.com

 

 

When most of us conjure up images of Christmas, we see glimpses of it in

stories told by Charles Dickens, considered the creator of modern Christmas.

We see grand manor houses festooned, that’s right, festooned, with

brightly lit Christmas trees, boughs of holly, mistletoe, colorful poinsettias,

and amaryllis as well as banquet tables groaning from the weight of all

manner of sumptuous food and drink made traditionally to mark this special

season.

 

 

Few of us realize, however, that Dickens drew his images of Christmas from

the literary works of American writer Washington Irving who toured Europe

and wrote of lavish banquets in his 1822 work, “Bracebridge Hallâ€. It was

here Irving alluded to the ancient custom of stealing a kiss under the

mistletoe. Dickens later wrote about this custom in his 1837 book, “Pickwick

Papersâ€.

 

 

However, the mistletoe custom and appreciation of its magical powers go

back much further to the Greeks, who used it in marriage rights because they

believed it was the giver of life and fertility. In Scandinavia, mistletoe

was considered a plant of peace, under which enemies could declare a truce

or warring married couples could kiss and make up. In early England, the

Druids used it in ceremonies to promote prosperity and from the Middle Ages

forward it was used to ward off evil spirits. In fact, the name “mistletoeâ€

in the Druid language means “all-healing†and in those earlier times, in

Europe and Asia, it was also used for all manner of illnesses including

treating rapid heart rates, high blood pressure, and even epilepsy.

 

 

It wasn’t until the 1800s, during the time Irving and Dickens were

creating wonderful images of Merry Old England and Christmas cheer (to brighten

up

the drab lives of their readers), that the mistletoe kissing ball became

an official part of the festivities surrounding the celebration of

Christmas.

 

 

As late as 2001, we Americans had no idea that mistletoe had any healing

powers until TV actress, Suzanne Somers reported that she used it as part of

her protocol to treat breast cancer. She had her tumor removed and used

radiation but opted to avoid chemotherapy and used Iscador, a mistletoe

extract, instead, injecting a small amount into her abdomen every day. During

this time, she appeared on the Larry King Live show to talk about her

experience. Once the story broke, the headlines that followed painted mistletoe

therapy as some sort of bizarre, whacko, unproven, irresponsible, and

dangerous treatment. Even though they knew nothing about it and had no

experience

with it, some of those who went on record to bash mistletoe were prominent

members of modern medicine’s cancer treatment industry. They also painted

Suzanne as a loony, probably to make sure no one followed in her footsteps.

However, those of us who advocate natural health modalities have no

difficulty understanding why Suzanne made her decision to avoid chemotherapy

and

choose something both safe and effective.

 

 

In reality, mistletoe therapy for cancer was developed in the 1920s.

Iscador is the leading cancer treatment in Germany and utilized by half the

doctors in that country. Meanwhile the Swiss have bragging rights to the Lukas

Clinic, a full-fledged, world-class hospital specializing in cancer

treatment using mistletoe as a mainstay for 80 years. Mistletoe therapies are

available in other parts of the world as well and some are used to treat a

number of maladies other than cancer. And, if you know where to find them, there

are Iscador and Iscar treatment experts here in the US. (Iscar is the

homeopathic form of Iscador.)

 

 

There are several types of mistletoe: some have no medicinal properties

and of the medicinal varieties, Viscum album – European mistletoe, is the

most well known. What makes mistletoe particularly intriguing as a potential

cancer medicinal is the fact that some grow as semi-parasites, drawing water

and minerals from their host –much like the cancer they are destined to

treat. Mistletoe bushes grow on the branches of trees such as oak, apple, elm,

pine, birch and maple.

 

 

Back in the 1920s, developers of mistletoe cancer medicinals viewed cancer

as a parasite living on a human body, and were drawn to mistletoe. Many

natural healing arts experts have a rule of thumb philosophy that “like cures

like†and in this case, mistletoe sure fit the bill as functioning

somewhat like cancer on its host. Interestingly, over the years, mistletoe

experts

have learned that the quality and concentration of the healing ingredients

of the medicinal is determined by the type of tree it is living off and

what time of year the mistletoe is harvested. Doctors then are able to match

the actual healing properties of the end product with the exact needs of

each patient. This individualized care is common in the natural healing arts

and drives its product development and use.

 

 

While the American press had a field day condemning Suzanne Somers’ use of

mistletoe, they ignored a major study published by sociologist Dr. Ronald

Grossarth-Maticek. He followed 35,000 people in Germany for 27 years

reaching the conclusion that use of mistletoe, and Iscador in particular, could

prolong life by 40%.

 

 

This study is available in English and makes interesting reading. [Read]

 

 

It is important to note that mistletoe as a cancer treatment is often used

in conjunction with modern medical treatments –perhaps the best of both

worlds. Mistletoe has a quality to help the patient bolster his or her immune

system in such a way that whatever else is being used, these other, often

highly toxic or aggressive treatments, can be better tolerated.

 

 

If you or someone you know is interested in seeking mistletoe therapy, you

may want to contact the Lukas Clinic directly, or checkout the other

websites below. They are all loaded with technical information covering all

aspects of the magic of mistletoe in healing not just people with cancer, but

other serious maladies as well. Above all, Elissa and I urge you to hang

mistletoe this year and enjoy its social benefits and have a very happy

holiday.

 

 

 

Related Sites:

 

1, _www.lukasklinik.ch/_ (http://www.lukasklinik.ch/)

2, _www.iscador.com/_ (http://www.iscador.com/)

3, _http://usa.weleda.com/_ (http://usa.weleda.com/)

 

 

 

ACT FOR HEALTH FREEDOM NOW: Go to _www.friendsoffreedominternational.org_

(http://www.friendsoffreedominternational.org) view and purchase the new

movie on Codex and Free Trade called " We Become Silent " by Kevin Miller

 

 

Also purchase " Death by Modern Medicine. " Proceeds from the sale of these

products are crucial to help us fund our health freedom action. For state

action go to: _www.nationalhealthfreedom.org_

(http://www.nationalhealthfreedom.org) .

 

 

 

 

© 2005 Carolyn Dean -

 

 

Dr. Carolyn Dean is a medical doctor, naturopathic doctor, herbalist,

acupuncturist, nutritionist, as well as a powerful health activist fighting for

health freedom as president of Friends of Freedom International. Dr. Dean

is the author of over a dozen health books, the latest of which is " Death

By Modern Medicine " .

 

 

Elissa Meininger, is Vice President of Friends of Freedom International

and co-founder of the Health Freedom Action Network, a grassroots citizens'

political action group. She is also a health freedom political analyst and

can be heard on the natural health radio show SuperHealth, broadcast weekly

on station WKY (SuperTalk AM 930) in Oklahoma City.

 

 

Website: _www.deathbymodernmedicine.com_

(http://www.deathbymodernmedicine.com)

Website: _www.carolyndean.com_ (http://www.carolyndean.com)

 

E-Mail: _holeopharm_ (holeopharm)