Suggested dosing of Iscador, viscum album (mistletoe)
Hypertension
Crude fruit or herb to make tea
10 g/day
Cancer
No standard dose
Iscador: fermented mistletoe extracts
10 mg extract contains 750 ng lectin
IV/SC
- 0.1 to 30 mg several times per week have been used
Solid Tumor
- Intratumoral/SC/IV: preparations containing lectin 20,000 ng/mL or viscotoxins 100 mcg/mL have been used
Suggested uses of Iscador, viscum album (mistletoe)
Cancer: adjunct to chemotherapy, hypertension
Efficacy
Reviewing 21 clinical studies, Horneber et al (Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008) concluded:
- Evidence from RCTs to support anticancer effects of mistletoe is weak
- Some evidence that mistletoe extracts may offer benefits on QOL measures during chemotherapy for breast cancer chemotherapy, but these results need replication
- More high quality, independent clinical research is needed to truly assess the safety & effectiveness of mistletoe extracts
Iscador, viscum album (mistletoe) adverse (side) effects
Oral: N/V, hepatitis, hypotension, seizure, coma, death
Parenteral: chills, HA, angina, orthostatic hypotension, allergic reaction
Warnings
Contraindications
Hypersensitivity, oral ingestion
Cautions
This is European mistletoe; do not confuse with American mistletoe (Phoradendron spp.)
Pregnancy and lactation
Pregnancy category: N/A
Lactation: N/A
Pregnancy categories
A: Generally acceptable. Controlled studies in pregnant women show no evidence of fetal risk.
B: May be acceptable. Either animal studies show no risk but human studies not available or animal studies showed minor risks and human studies done and showed no risk.
C: Use with caution if benefits outweigh risks. Animal studies show risk and human studies not available or neither animal nor human studies done.
D: Use in LIFE-THREATENING emergencies when no safer drug available. Positive evidence of human fetal risk.
X: Do not use in pregnancy. Risks involved outweigh potential benefits. Safer alternatives exist.
NA: Information not available.
Pharmacology of Iscador, viscum album (mistletoe)
Metabolism: N/A
Excretion: N/A
Mechanism of action
Lectins, alkaloids, viscotoxins: biological response modifiers, cytotoxic agents
