[MPWG] Fw: PRESS RELEASE --- Mistletoe - Long History of Folk Medicine, Sealed with a Kiss

[Patricia_DeAngelis at fws.gov]

News Release


Mistletoe – Long History of Folk Medicine, Sealed with a Kiss


Modern Research Shows Potential New Uses


(Austin, TX. December 21, 2005) The time-honored herb mistletoe, so
prevalent in homes and offices during the winter holidays, has a history
that goes back to ancient Druids in northern Europe as well as old Roman
culture.


The Christmas tradition of hanging mistletoe for kisses dates back several
thousand years to a time when boughs of mistletoe were hung to protect
against evil spirits, and to promote fertility. Some of these ancient
cultures considered the oak to be the most sacred of trees; the parasitic
mistletoe often grew on this revered tree and was thus believed to have
come directly from God.


Mistletoe was used as a folk medicine for female complaints, particularly
menstrual problems, probably owing to its association in ancient fertility
rites, although few modern researchers have investigated this traditional
use.


Various species of this parasitic plant were used during ancient Roman
times for treating epilepsy and other neurological disorders. The Romans
also used mistletoe as a remedy for tumors and cancers.


In Europe, modern mistletoe extracts are being investigated for their
potential effects on the immune system and as potential adjunct therapies
in the treatment of certain types of cancers. There is a growing body of
scientific research that suggests potential benefits of various mistletoe
preparations in these areas, but more research is needed and mistletoe has
not been accepted by modern medicine for any clinical use.


An extensive article on the history, folklore, and modern medicinal
research on mistletoe has just been published in HerbalGram, the quarterly
journal of the nonprofit American Botanical Council (
www.herbalgram.org/herbalgram). The peer-reviewed article contains over
6000 words and is based on 73 references to the historical, scientific, and
medical literature. Its author, Juanita Evans, is currently a student at
the University of North Carolina School of Medicine.


About the American Botanical Council


Established in 1988, the American Botanical Council (ABC) is the leading
nonprofit, member-based international organization working to educate
consumers, healthcare professionals, researchers, educators, industry, and
the media on the safe and effective use of herbs and medicinal plants
products. ABC is located on a 2.5 acre site in Austin, Texas where it
publishes HerbalGram, a peer-reviewed quarterly journal. ABC is also the
publisher of The ABC Clinical Guide to Herbs, a continuing education and
reference book, which contains extensive monographs on the safety and
efficacy of 29 popular herbs. More information is available at
http://www.herbalgram.org/.


AMERICAN BOTANICAL COUNCIL


P.O. Box 144345, Austin, TX 78714-4345


Phone: 512-926-4900 x121; Fax: 512-926-234


Contact: Nancy Moon


Email: nancy at herbalgram.org


Web site: http://www.herbalgram.org/