Descripttion

Yellow-green parasitic dioecious shrub that lives on the branches of various deciduous trees (rarely coniferous). It takes inside the branches of the host tree special roots-suckers. Mistletoe has the form of a spherical-branched bush, in diameter by 20-30 cm to 100 cm or more. Its branches are woody, branching wildly. The leaves are opposite, oblong-lanceolate, fleshy, leathery, with indistinct venation. The flowers are small, yellowish-green, sitting in groups of five or six in the forks of the stem. Fruit - white false juicy berries with sticky flesh. Height 20 – 50 cm.

The time of flowering. Blooms early in spring, in March – April.

Habitat. Parasitize on deciduous trees-Poplar, Maple, Willow, Linden, Birch, Oak, Apple, Pear, less often on coniferous-Pine and Fir.

The part used. The whole plant with leaves and berries.

The time of collection. September-October.

Chemical composition

Mistletoe contains viscotoxin (consisting of amino acids and sugars), visceral, extracol, an alkaloid-like substance, choline, acetylcholine, phosphorylcholine, amines viscalbine, norviscalbine, viscamine, tyramine, β-phenylethylamine, alcohols pinite, quebrachine, d-quercite, Inositol, oleanolic and ursolic acids, fatty oil, resinous substances, carotene, ascorbic acid (vitamin C). The plant is poisonous.

Application. Mistletoe is widely used in folk medicine. Water infusion of branches with leaves and berries improves the activity of the intestines, stops bleeding, calms the nervous system, suppresses convulsions and epileptic seizures, relieves headaches and has astringent and antifungal (on roundworms) action. Studies have found that water mistletoe infusion reduces blood pressure, increases the activity of the heart, expands blood vessels and reduces the excitability of the Central nervous system. In folk medicine, mistletoe infusion is used for hypertension, atherosclerosis, dizziness, convulsions, epileptic seizures, hysteria, headache, pulmonary and uterine bleeding.

In scientific medicine, mistletoe preparations "visculenum" and mistletoe and water infusion of mistletoe are used for intestinal atony, pulmonary and nasal bleeding, and especially for hypertension of the first and second stages. The use of mistletoe for hypertension reduces blood pressure, improves the General condition and sleep of patients, reduces irritability, stops headaches and improves performance. The use of white mistletoe, as a poisonous plant, requires caution.

Method of application

1. 1 teaspoon of mistletoe infused in 1 cup of cold boiled water. Take 1/3 cup 3 times a day.

2. boil 30 g of mistletoe in 1 liter of water. Take 1/2 cup 3 times a day.