VISCUM ALBUM - a possible treatment for cancer?

Journal/Book: Bristol Medico- Chirurgical J. 88, 17-20. 1973;

Abstract: The evidence presented in this paper suggests that Iscador, extractedfrom the juice of Viscum albam, may well have a useful therapeuticeffect on tumors. This is supported by evidence of some activity inanimal experiments. It would also appear that this is not a consistent,radical or curative treatment and the effects on animal tumors is smallcompared with any cytotoxic agents used at optimal doses. Clinically itis claimed, and this is to some extent supported by animal experiments,that Iscador does not possess the side effects inherent in the usualcytotoxic agents. In fact, the reverse occurs. There is a stimulation ofthe humoral and cell mediated immunological system, rather than thesuppression occurring with cytotoxic therapy. It may have a possiblespecific effect on the genetic material of tumor cells but the evidenceand mechanism for this are as yet far from clear. In spite of itsrelatively weak anti tumor effects it may be a preparation that could beused in the long term treatment of cancer patients alongside surgery andradiotherapy and not be reserved for the more limited role of themajority of current chemotherapeutic agents due to their relative nonspecificity and toxicity.COPYRIGHT BY Elsevier Science BV, Amsterdam, Netherlands END OF DOCUMENT

Keyword(s): cancer

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