According to mythology, mistletoe magic can stick romance, confer fertility and carry serenity to militaristic couples. The plant is accredited with the power of healing. The characteristics of mistletoe are presently being harnessed by Raphael Medical Centre in Kent, which is new outpatient unit and proffers built-in cancer treatment.
The mistletoe is used by the centre to war unwanted effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy like nausea, fatigue, infections, low mood and weight loss. Experts believe that mistletoe herb improves the immune system and help to kill tumour cells especially pancreatic, breast, colo-rectal, lung cancer together with leukaemia and lymphomas.
The results are so encouraging that Prof Gene Feeder from Primary Care at Bristol University is beginning the first lead study. He stated that patients receiving mistletoe during and after radiotherapy seem to endure those treatments better. The treatment involves two injections a week for two years.
The patients can be injected at home after initial treatment by clinical staff to observe effects. They try to find inflammation at the site of an injection. It may be tender, itchy and painful for two days, explained Dr Maurice Orange MSc, who heads the integrated cancer care clinic at Raphael.
These are enviable for the treatment and after weeks of treatment they snuggle down. Likewise within twenty-four hours of jab they expect patients to experience fatigue, off color, head ache with pains and body aches and raised body temperature. These are positive signs as the immune system is firing into action.
He added that on the basis of reactions they adjust the dose and increased as patients get used to it. The herb mistletoe is an attachment to conservative cancer treatment. Whereas patients now and then want to shun orthodox treatment, his job is to discussing best treatments, often referring patients to sympathetic oncologists.