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| Veterinary Botanical
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Jasmine C. Lyon,
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| Established in 2002 by
Susan Wynn, DVM, RH(AHG) |
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VBMA Herbal Wiki |
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| Viscum album,
Wikipedia |
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Mistletoe (Viscum album):
Reading about Mistletoe, I can see why it has a law of
signatures to fit cancer because it is the oddest plant.
This is from Ellen Hopman, "the berries ripen in
midwinter and have a further peculiarity in the the ripe
berries, open flowers, green berries, and immature
leaves can all be found on the same plant. Mistletoe
does not adhere to the linear logic of most plants, with
their budding, flowering, and seed production sequencee.
It also ignores heliotropism and geotropism. It also
germinates only in the light which is different from
most plants which require darkness to germinate. The
flower buds form in May but do not open until February.
The berries ripen the following winter. The process
from flower to fruit can take two years. The name mistl
means different."
So as Mistletoe ignores the normal rhythms and laws of
earthly seasons, it matches the way cancerous cells grow
with an illogical and uncontrolled manner. Mistletoe
extracts have been shown to possess significant
antitumor activity. Fermented mistletoe were shown to
have a very strong effect on liver tumors. Unfermented
more of an effect against leukemia, Korean mistletoe
also showed a good effect on Leukemia. Extracts from the
leaves are not toxic. But extremely large doses from
teas was reported to rarely cause convulsions in
children (One of the homeopathic indications for Viscum)
and the berries should not be used for internal
consumption.
Energetically: it is bitter and sweet,
cold and a little moist.
Meridians: Heart, Liver and lung.
Function: helps heart qi and regulates
circulation and remove fluid congestion, so can be used
for hypertension, cardiac hypertrophy (Hmm, I never had
thought to try this on hyperthyroid cats......), (treats
Liver fire rising) Clears internal wind with phlegm
obstruction. So stroke, paralysis Treat wind/damp
obstruction - including tumors Blood congestion in the
reproductive organs. Relieves pain-can be used for
arthritis and spondylitis and can be used topically to
soften boils and furuncles. Doses for humans in acute
cases of cardiac edema 75 drops of a standard tincture.
taken only a few times but it can be taken for long term
use in cases of hypertension.
American mistletoe can cause mild idiosyncratic
reactions as appetite loss and dizziness. American
mistletoe berries are toxic, (but not European)
Tinctures must be made from fresh, or recently herbs, if
it is old and discolored, the herb's effectiveness is
greatly reduced. the anti-cancerous effects are known
to be strong in European mistletoe, not sure if American
is anti-cancerous. American mistletoe has the strongest
uterine stimulant effect, the Native Americans used it
to promote labor with weak contractions were present.
Finally. after the god Baldur was killed by a mistletoe
twig hurled at him. (Baldur was returned to life)
Mistletoe was given into the keeping of the Goddess of
love, and so since then people were drawn to kiss under
its branches. |
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| HOLMES |
| According to Peter Holmes, the
leaves or considered a mild remedy and is well tolerated
for years and the first sign of an excess is mild GI
irritation. |
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| CULPEPER |
| Culpeper says "This is under
the dominion of the Sun..it doth mollify hard knots,
tumours, and imposthumes; ripeneth and discusseth them,
and draweth forth the humours from the remote parts of
the body. And being mixed with equal parts of rosin and
wax, doth mollify the hardness of the spleen, and cures
ulcers and sores.The mistletoe itself of the oak, make
into powder and given in drink to those that have the
falling sickness.It cures falling sickness, apoplexy,
and palsy very speedily." |
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| BRODNAX |
| So other interesting reports,
in 1880, Dr. Brodnax used this remedy with cows and
believes that it may be given at almost any stage of
labor without harm." (This is American mistletoe) They
felt that the effects was better than that of ergot. It
exerts its full force on the long muscle of the uterus,
acting on the fundus mainly while the cervix remains
soft and uncontracted. |
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| ELLINGWOOD |
| Ellingwood also talks about its
remarkable effects whenever "there is a flow of blood to
the brain, and frequent headaches and flushing of the
face. "In hysteria, epilepsy and other nervous diseases;
in paroxysms if tearing and rending pains, rheumatic and
neuralgic, it is a pain subduer of much power." |
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