The Use of Iscador in Cancer Treatment
Iscador is a treatment for cancer that comes from the mistletoe plant. It was first used in Switzerland and is manufactured by Weleda. Iscador helps stimulate the immune system to fight cancer. Weleda touts the medicine as having very few side effects. It is usually used along with more conventional cancer treatments.
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Mistletoe
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Mistletoe is a plant that grows on oak trees, mainly in Europe and Asia. The species found in North America and Korea is not used for medications. The medicine is made up of the processed twigs, berries and leaves. It must be taken in small doses, because mistletoe is poisonous otherwise.
History
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Rudolph Steiner, the founder of the Society for Cancer Research and co-founder of Weleda, proposed the use of mistletoe for fighting cancer in 1920. He was the founder of anthroposophy, a movement that believed that an intellectual, spiritual world is reachable through inner development. According to Weleda, about 50 percent of Germans with cancer are given mistletoe as treatment. While it is popular in Europe, most U.S. doctors do not use Iscador when treating cancer.
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Function
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It is thought that mistletoe helps boost the immune system, thereby killing malignant cells and shrinking tumors. It is also a natural anti-inflammatory and can help mitigate pain for patients undergoing chemo or radiation therapies. In a study conducted by the Institute for Preventive Medicine in Heidelberg, people taking Iscador have a better chance of cancer survival than those who do not take it by up to 40 percent.
Clinical Studies
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According to Weleda, Iscador has help fight some cancers in animal studies. When given in conjunction with other therapies, including surgery, doctors believe it can stop metastatic spread. It is thought to work best on advanced skin, bladder, stomach and intestinal cancers. There is also evidence that it slows the speed of bone cancer growth. According to the Cancer Cure Foundation, Iscador does not show promising results for esophageal or lung cancers.
Side Effects
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Though side effects from Iscador are rare, some people are allergic to mistletoe; in those people the drug can cause an anaphylactic reaction. Since Iscador raises the body's temperature, feelings of fever and flulike symptoms can be common. Other symptoms are nausea, vomiting, chills and diarrhea. Overdose can result in seizure or death. People with heart conditions and high blood pressure should not take Iscador. It is also important to take the prepared medication, since taking mistletoe berries alone can be fatal.
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