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| Duane Lienemann UNL Extension Educator |
My parents did their very best to provide for us, and Santa always came even if the resources were sparse. It was really more about being together and celebrating the birth of the Christ Child for us. The family all attended Church services and of course the Christmas Program. Especially before our grandparents passed on, we all had to say our parts in the program before we could open our presents. I would bet that would sound familiar to a lot of you. A family prayer before we ate together was a tradition – usually the common prayer that came originally from Germany. “Come Lord Jesus be thou our guest, let thy gifts to us be blessed! Amen.” When I was in Germany a few year back I heard the same prayer only in Ostfrieslandish (Plattduetsch). It goes something like this: “Komm Herr Jesus sei du unser Gast und lass deine Geschenke uns selig sein. Amen” I also found out that there was a second verse. I had no idea, as we only used the first. That verse goes: “And may our souls by thee be fed, ever on the living bread. Amen.” I will spare you the German version on that.
The point is that sometimes we don’t seem as thankful for the “gifts” that we have today. I watch young people tear into one present after another, seldom taking time to really appreciate their gifts. I think that sometimes we, even as adults, may not fully appreciate the real gifts that we have, the people around us, the people that love us, the country in which we live and the wonderful bounty that God has provided us. I think too of the blessings of healing that goes with the spirit of this season. Our family has been hit with cancer, as have many others, and this time of year becomes increasingly important for all of us. I found some information in my readings this week that seemed appropriate as we think of all the trappings of this Holiday season and in particular for me today a plant with some unusual cancer healing properties --- Mistletoe!
You knew that mistletoe may be good for securing a smooch during the holidays, but did you know that it may also be an effective aid against certain types of cancer? A semi-parasitic plant, mistletoe grows on a variety of common trees including apple, oak, elm and pine. As a traditional medicine, mistletoe was used by the Druids and the ancient Greeks, and was widely regarded as something of a cure-all. The plant has been used for centuries in European herbalism for treating epilepsy, hypertension, headaches, menopausal symptoms, infertility, arthritis and rheumatism.
Since the 1920s, mistletoe has also been studied for its applications in treating various forms of cancer, especially solid tumors. For people undergoing cancer treatments, the widely studied plant is often used as a complementary-based therapy. In Europe, mistletoe preparations are regularly prescribed for various types of cancers as its extract demonstrates anti-cancer activity when used against cancerous cells in the lab. It’s been said that mistletoe extract enhances immune function, which increases the production of the immune cells. When administered as a form of therapy for cancer, the extracts are given by injection under the skin, into a vein or directly into a tumor. The anti-cancer activity of mistletoe may be influenced by the host plant. Mistletoe growing on an apple tree, for example, may have a somewhat different chemical composition than mistletoe growing on an elm. However, there does not seem to be any definitive research on which type of extract is preferable for which types of cancer.
Human clinical studies on mistletoe and cancer have been conducted in Europe, primarily in Germany. In a number of studies, mistletoe has demonstrated efficacy against cancer. However, critics in the United States regard these studies as either too small or improperly designed. At present time, two research groups have "investigational new drug" approval to conduct studies on the use of mistletoe extract for cancer. Their studies may further the cause of this treatment in the U.S. However, at this time, the FDA does not recognize the use of mistletoe to treat any form of cancer, and injectable mistletoe extracts cannot be sold in the U.S.
In one study conducted between 1993 and 2000, researchers examined the use of a mistletoe extract (Iscador) in 800 patients with colorectal cancer. They were all treated with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. Researchers found the patients treated with Iscador had fewer adverse events, better symptom relief and improved disease-free survival compared to patients who did not receive the mistletoe extract as adjuvant therapy. This finding concurs with other research, that mistletoe therapy reduces the discomfort and undesirable symptoms of other traditional therapies, such as chemotherapy.
Studies have been done on a mistletoe extract (Helixor A) in conjunction with the chemotherapeutic drug “Gemcitabine” in patients with advanced solid tumors. In the study, the combination of the two showed low toxicity and health benefits in almost half the patients. In this case, mistletoe demonstrated its value as an adjuvant, helping to modify the chemotherapy. Who would have known? I just thought it was for a good excuse to get a Holiday kiss. Happy New Year everyone!!
The preceding information comes from the research and personal observations of the writer which may or may not reflect the views of UNL or UNL Extension. For more further information on these or other topics contact D. A. Lienemann, UNL Extension Educator for Webster County in Red Cloud, (402) 746-3417 or email to: dlienemann2@unl.edu or go to the website at: http://www.webster.unl.edu/home
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