Courtesy of Lucky Mojo
Dian Kuswandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
| Wed, 12/09/2009 11:06 AM | Life
It’s a symbol of good luck and harmony – that’s why you can see it tied into a bunch with a ribbon and hung under many doorways during Christmas.
In some old traditions, people use it as a love charm as the myth goes it can seal a couple’s love when they kiss under its fresh-cut leaves. Yes, we’re talking about mistletoe.
With hundreds of mistletoe species growing around the world, it is no wonder the plant has long been part of many cultures – in their myths and ancient healing practices. As its name – derived from the Celtic word mil’ioc or “all heal” – suggests, this parasitic plant that grows on many kinds of trees has long been believed to help cure many ailments, thanks to its hallucinogenic properties.
Scientists aiming to find cures for cancer have discovered – through research and clinical trials – that extracts of the plant seem to have an inhibiting effect on tumor growth. Rudolph Steiner, an Austrian Swiss physician and founder of the Society for Cancer Research, first proposed the use of mistletoe to treat cancer back in 1920. Since then, its use has become widespread.
In Europe today, mistletoe extracts from species growing on apple, oak, maple, elm, and pine trees are commercially available as alternative medicine to cure cancer, sold under the Iscador, Eurixor and Isorel brands. And Indonesian scientists are also participating in this race to find a cure for cancer, studying indigenous mistletoe species to support earlier research conducted in Western countries.
| Wed, 12/09/2009 11:06 AM | Life
It’s a symbol of good luck and harmony – that’s why you can see it tied into a bunch with a ribbon and hung under many doorways during Christmas.
In some old traditions, people use it as a love charm as the myth goes it can seal a couple’s love when they kiss under its fresh-cut leaves. Yes, we’re talking about mistletoe.
With hundreds of mistletoe species growing around the world, it is no wonder the plant has long been part of many cultures – in their myths and ancient healing practices. As its name – derived from the Celtic word mil’ioc or “all heal” – suggests, this parasitic plant that grows on many kinds of trees has long been believed to help cure many ailments, thanks to its hallucinogenic properties.
Scientists aiming to find cures for cancer have discovered – through research and clinical trials – that extracts of the plant seem to have an inhibiting effect on tumor growth. Rudolph Steiner, an Austrian Swiss physician and founder of the Society for Cancer Research, first proposed the use of mistletoe to treat cancer back in 1920. Since then, its use has become widespread.
In Europe today, mistletoe extracts from species growing on apple, oak, maple, elm, and pine trees are commercially available as alternative medicine to cure cancer, sold under the Iscador, Eurixor and Isorel brands. And Indonesian scientists are also participating in this race to find a cure for cancer, studying indigenous mistletoe species to support earlier research conducted in Western countries.