European Mistletoe

© Steven Foster

This fact sheet provides basic information about European mistletoe—

common names, what the science says, potential side effects and 

cautions, and resources for more information.

Common Names—European mistletoe, mistletoe

Latin Name—Viscum album L.

European mistletoe is a semiparasitic plant that grows on several types 

of trees in temperate regions worldwide. Where the term “mistletoe” is 

used in this fact sheet, it refers to European mistletoe. (European 

mistletoe is different from American mistletoe, which is used as a 

holiday decoration.) Mistletoe has been used for centuries in traditional 

medicine to treat seizures, headaches, and other conditions. Today, 

mistletoe is used mainly in Europe as a treatment for cancer.

The leafy shoots and berries of mistletoe are used to make extracts that 

can be taken by mouth. In Europe, mistletoe extracts are prescription 

drugs that are given by injection. In the United States, mistletoe by 

injection is available only in clinical trials.

What the Science Says 

• Laboratory studies have found that mistletoe kills cancer cells and 

stimulates the immune system.

• The use of mistletoe to treat cancer has been studied in Europe in 

more than 30 clinical trials. Although improvements in survival or 

quality of life have been reported, almost all of the trials had major 

weaknesses in their design that raise doubts about the findings. For 

example, many of the studies had a small number of participants or 

did not have a control group.

Side Effects and Cautions 

• Raw, unprocessed mistletoe is poisonous. Eating raw, unprocessed 

European mistletoe or American mistletoe can cause vomiting, 

seizures, a slowing of the heart rate, and even death. American 

mistletoe is unsafe for medicinal use.
• In countries where commercial mistletoe is available by injection, such as Germany, those 

extracts are considered to be generally safe when used according to product directions and 

under the supervision of a health care provider.

• Injected mistletoe extract may cause itching or redness in the area of the injection. Less 

commonly, side effects may include more extensive skin reactions, low-grade fevers, or 

flu-like symptoms. There have been very rare reports of more serious allergic reactions, 

such as difficulty breathing.

• Because mistletoe has not yet been proven to be a safe and effective cancer treatment, it 

should not be used outside of clinical trials.

• Tell all your health care providers about any complementary health practices you use. Give 

them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure 

coordinated and safe care. For tips about talking with your health care providers about 

complementary and alternative medicine, see NCCAM’s Time to Talk campaign at 

nccam.nih.gov/timetotalk/. 

Sources

American mistletoe. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Web site. Accessed at www.naturaldatabase.com on 

July 7, 2009.

European mistletoe. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Web site. Accessed at www.naturaldatabase.com on 

July 7, 2009.

Horneber M, Bueschel G, Huber R, et al. Mistletoe therapy in oncology. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.

2008;(2):CD003297.

Mistletoe (Viscum album L.). Natural Standard Database Web site. Accessed at www.naturalstandard.com on July 8, 2009.

National Cancer Institute. Mistletoe Extracts (PDQ). National Cancer Institute Web site. Accessed at 

www.cancer.gov/cancerinfo/pdq/cam/mistletoe on June 3, 2010.

For More Information

Visit the NCCAM Web site at nccam.nih.gov and view Using Dietary Supplements Wisely

(nccam.nih.gov/health/supplements/wiseuse.htm).

NCCAM Clearinghouse

Toll-free in the U.S.: 1-888-644-6226

TTY (for deaf and hard-of-hearing callers): 1-866-464-3615

E-mail: info@nccam.nih.gov

PubMed®

Web site: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez

NIH Office of Dietary Supplements

Web site: www.ods.od.nih.gov

This publication is not copyrighted and is in the public domain. Duplication is encouraged.

NCCAM has provided this material for your information. It is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and 

advice of your primary health care provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with 

your health care provider. The mention of any product, service, or therapy is not an endorsement by NCCAM.

National Institutes of Health

♦♦♦

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

D270

Created July 2005

Updated April 2012