Mistletoe as a cancer treatment has been in the news lately. Is mistletoe approved by the FDA as a cancer treatment?

Mistletoe is a plant that has been used since ancient times to treat a variety of human ailments. Today, it is used mainly in Europe and Asia, where it is sold under the brand names Iscador, Eurixor, Helixor, Isorel, Vysorel, and ABNOB Aviscum. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved mistletoe as a safe and effective cancer treatment.

Interest in mistletoe as a cancer treatment began in the 1920s. There have been reports that solutions made from mistletoe kill cancer cells in the laboratory and stimulated the body's immune system to fight cancer. The three components of mistletoe that may be responsible for these effects are lectins, alkaloids, and viscotoxins.

However, animal studies looking at whether mistletoe can slow tumor growth have produced mixed results. And there is no proof from well-designed clinical trials (research studies with people) that mistletoe or any of its components are effective treatments for human cancer.

The side effects of numerous mistletoe solutions used in clinical trials have not been serious. However, mistletoe plants and berries can be poisonous to humans if eaten. Mistletoe products are not sold commercially in the United States.

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