Mistletoe: Why Some Kiss Under it, Others Use it Medically, and All Should be Cautious With It
by www.SixWise.com
Adults turn into kids again every year when the mistletoe
gets hung. As the tradition goes, any woman standing beneath
it is puckered up and ready for a kiss, though in modern times
men, too, can take their turn under the holiday plant.
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Mistletoe may be the most fun plant around ... as
long as you don't eat any of its poisonous berries.
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There are two major types of mistletoe, European, which has
pairs of oval-shaped leaves and waxy white berries, and American,
which is similar but has shorter, broader leaves. It is the
American mistletoe, native to North America, that is used
in holiday decorations.
Mistletoe Medicine
The mistletoe plant, particularly the berries but also the
leaves, is poisonous, but ironically has also been used, in
the form of extracts, tinctures, teas and intravenous injections,
for many medicinal purposes.
Most notably, European mistletoe has been used to treat cancer
in Europe and parts of Asia for decades. In fact, although
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not reviewed or
approved the use of mistletoe for the United States, it's
estimated that Germans alone spend more than $30 million each
year on mistletoe preparations to fight cancer.
According to doctor Brent Bauer, Mayo Clinic's director of
Complementary and Intergrative Medicine, chemicals in mistletoe
may boost the immune system and slow or stop the growth of
cancer. Trials are underway in both the United States and
Europe to investigate this further, as human studies so far
have yielded conflicting results.
Bauer pointed out that you should never eat or drink mistletoe
extract, because its poisons could lead to death. However,
he says, "We should treat all herbs
with respect because there are a great number of chemicals
that can be both good and bad and often times how we use them
or knowledge about how to do that is what determines whether
they're good or bad."
Lengthening Lives of Cancer Patients
One study, published in the May 2001 issue of Alternative
Therapies in Health and Medicine, did find some good news
about mistletoe: It appears to prolong
survival in people with breast, rectum, colon, throat, lung
and stomach cancers. In the study, 56 people received
mistletoe extract while another 56 received a placebo. Results
showed:
Mistletoe Traditions: Beyond Christmas
Using mistletoe for medicinal purposes is a trend that has
spanned many cultures and for centuries. Not to mention has
been associated with improving a variety of illnesses. Some
of the first recorded uses for this plant include:
- Treating diseases of the spleen
- Menstruation problems
- Infertility
- Ulcers and swelling tumors
In the Middle Ages, mistletoe was regarded as a treatment
for epilepsy and nervous convulsive disorders. Other uses
included bone fractures, labor pains and lowering blood pressure.
More recently, mistletoe has been used for:
- Hypertension
- Hypertensive headache
- Degenerative inflammation of the joints
- Hysteria
The Kissing Tradition
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Ancient cultures believed mistletoe had beneficial
effects on fertility, conception and illness, and would
protect its keeper from evil.
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All of this talk about mistletoe begs the question, "Where
did the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe come from?"
There are a number of theories out there, but the definitive
answer has yet to be found.
Some believe the tradition stems from the ancient Druids,
who regarded mistletoe with much esteem. They believed it
would protect its keeper from evil, provide an antidote to
poison and cure illnesses. Branches of the plant were used
to bring in the New Year, which may be why we use mistletoe
to decorate for the holiday season today.
The first recorded case of someone actually kissing under
the mistletoe occurred in 16th century England. However, some
say the premise evolved much earlier than that when people
believed the plant had powerful effects on fertility and conception.
Mistletoe Etiquette
Many people think that you can kiss under the mistletoe for
the entire season, but this is not necessarily the case. As
the real tradition goes, every time a kiss is made, the man
must take a berry from the mistletoe branch. When all the
berries have been removed, there's no more kissing allowed.
If you're going to be decking your halls with mistletoe this
season, please remember that although it is traditionally
thought to bring peace, goodwill and love, it
is a poisonous plant that can cause a lot of harm to humans
and pets alike. Mistletoe can cause weakness, blurred
vision, vomiting, irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure,
hallucinations and convulsions if ingested.
Lastly, here's a great tidbit to know if you'd like to impress
your friends and coworkers at this year's holiday party: Mistletoe
does not grow on the ground. It is actually a parasitic shrub,
nicknamed the "vampire plant," that grows on other
trees. It earned this nickname because it is able to drain
water and minerals directly from underneath tree bark, allowing
it to survive even during drought.
Hopefully, you'll find yourself underneath some mistletoe
this year, and, if you want to sneak a kiss even though all
the berries are gone, go ahead ... we won't tell!
Recommended Reading
The Health
Benefits of House Plants, Including the Top Nine Healthiest
Plants!
How
to Keep Your Spirits High During the Upcoming Holidays
Sources
Medicinal
Mistletoe
Whole
Health MD: Mistletoe
Why
Mistletoe is a Kiss-mas Plant
Kissing
Under the Mistletoe