Identity & origin
BOTANICAL IDENTITY
The right name is the first step.
Documentary profile devoted to European mistletoe, the part studied and the limits of current knowledge.
Also known as: European mistletoe
European mistletoe is distinct from American mistletoes.
An illustration is not enough to identify a plant for consumption. Do not forage for a species based solely on this profile.
Uses & evidence
UNDERSTANDING THE USES
Properties & uses.
Cancer research
Mistletoe is not a proven anticancer treatment. Studies, often involving medical injections, have significant limitations.
The references do not establish a benefit. Lack of evidence is not assurance of safety.
Read the sourceThe traditional uses described are not clinical proof of effectiveness. Evidence for one preparation cannot automatically be applied to another.
Precautions before use
BEFORE ANY USE
Precautions & contraindications.
This guidance does not cover every individual situation. Missing information is not a guarantee of safety.
The following warnings do not constitute a complete review of interactions or contraindications. An unstudied combination cannot be considered compatible.
Contraindications & precautions
- Do not consume the leaves or berries: risk of serious effects.
Medicine interactions
- Interactions should be assessed with the medical team, particularly during anticancer treatment.
“Reported” does not prove causality; “possible” may reflect indirect evidence. “None reported” means none in the cited source, not that all combinations have been studied. Do not stop a prescribed treatment based on this profile.
Adverse effects
- Injections: local reactions, fever, headaches; serious allergies reported.
Pregnancy & breastfeeding
Pregnancy: probably unsafe. Breastfeeding: safety unknown, avoid.
Children & adolescents
No pediatric use proposed.
If symptoms persist, worsen or are unusual, consult a healthcare professional. In an emergency, contact the emergency services.
Available evidence
EXPLORE THE EVIDENCE
The available evidence.
European mistletoe is a plant with risks, for which research mainly concerns injectable extracts administered in a medical setting. This has no connection with a homemade infusion of leaves or berries. Oncology studies explore quality of life and tolerability, among other outcomes; they do not demonstrate that mistletoe treats cancer. This profile helps explain the dossier, rather than proposing self-medication.
Quality of life in oncology
Some studies have examined well-being or adverse-effect parameters, but their methodological flaws prevent a reliable benefit from being established.
The references do not establish a benefit. Lack of evidence is not assurance of safety.
Read the referenceInjectable and oral routes
Tolerability observed under medical supervision with an injectable extract does not demonstrate the safety of ingesting the plant. Leaves and berries can cause serious effects when taken orally.
The references do not establish a benefit. Lack of evidence is not assurance of safety.
Read the referenceLimitations to keep in mind.
Any question about mistletoe extract in cancer care must be discussed with the healthcare team. Do not make a home preparation or substitute mistletoe for cancer treatment.
Studies, findings & limitations
THE RESEARCH
What the research shows.
A laboratory or animal result alone does not demonstrate a benefit in humans. Each result must be read alongside the preparation studied and its limitations.
Tolerability does not mean anticancer efficacy
The references do not establish a benefit. Lack of evidence is not assurance of safety.
- Type of research
- NCCIH review including a phase I clinical trial funded by NCCIH and NCI.
- Preparation concerned
- Injectable extract combined with gemcitabine in people with an advanced solid tumor.
- Observed results
- The study explored safety and the possibility of combining the products, among other aspects.
- Limitations to consider
- A phase I trial does not establish a survival benefit; other cancer studies are often of limited quality and do not justify treatment outside a clinical trial.
What can we take from this?
The dossier does not provide a chemical profile that can be used to predict the effect of a product bought online. Injections may cause local inflammation, fever, headaches or allergic reactions; use during pregnancy should be avoided.
Documentary review dated 09/10/2026. The references remain available to check the context.
Sources & last review
CHECKING REFERENCES
Sources for this profile.
- EMA — Visci albi herba: dossier and documentsAccessed on 09/10/2026
- NCCIH — European Mistletoe: Usefulness and SafetyAccessed on 09/10/2026
Image: Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz — Otto Wilhelm Thomé (1885), via Wikimedia Commons · Public domain. View the original image and its licence. Image resized and converted to WebP.