Effects of cancer

Physical well-being The effects of cancer are not limited to the body or a single organ, respectively – rather, it affects the whole person and their general sense of well-being. Cancer patients often feel physically weak and fatigued. They are more prone to suffer from so-called “trivial infections” such as colds, which they cannot overcome […]

Tumor classification

Since there are different types of tumours with different characteristics, it is useful to classify a tumour. Characteristics considered for classification are malignancy, location, size and spread of the tumour. The degree of malignancy (malignancy grade) of the examined tumour tissue is determined by comparing the tumour cells with the healthy cells in their tissue […]

What are complementary therapies?

Complementary therapies are treatment procedures used to supplement conventional therapies. Complementary therapies are not limited to alleviate physical symptoms, but can also strengthen and support people on the levels of vitality, mind and spirit, meaning they have a holistic effect. Complementary medicine is an integral part of the treatment of many cancer patients and offers […]

What are conventional cancer therapies (standard therapies)?

Complete tumour removal is the first and most important goal of conventional cancer treatment. Conventional cancer treatment consists of the three “classical pillars” of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, which are often combined. There are decades of experience with these methods worldwide. The efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents in particular has been repeatedly tested in clinical trials. […]

Cultivation of mistletoe

For a long time the cultivation of mistletoe on certain types of host trees only rarely found in nature, such as mistletoe-bearing oaks and elm trees, has been regarded as an ambitious challenge. It is imperative for sustainable mistletoe cultivation on oak and elm trees to pick sites with a suitable climate and optimal soil […]

Rhythms of mistletoe

The temporally delayed and spatially inhibited growth of mistletoe is closely subjected to harsh rhythms within the seasons. The young mistletoe twigs demonstrate synchronous swinging motions of growth in late May which last until late June. These loosen the annual shoots from their original vertical orientation and direct them toward the centre of the mistletoe […]

Mistletoe fauna

Mistletoe has a manifold relationship with the fauna: birds spread it, insects pollinate it and many natural antagonists regulate the mistletoe stock.Mistletoe embryos cannot free themselves from the fruit. They rely on certain types of birds which feed on its berries during the winter and thereby free the sticky mistletoe seed. The mistle thrush and […]

How does cancer develop?

Each day, millions of cells die inside the body, while new cells are formed, as dying cells first divide and give rise to the next generation of cells to sustain the body’s integrity. The point of time the cell dies (apoptosis) is already determined in its genetic make-up when it is created. When it divides, […]

What is mistletoe therapy?

Geschichte Die Mistel ist im Verlauf der letzten 100 Jahre auf neue Art in den Mittelpunkt der Aufmerksamkeit gerückt. Die keltischen Druiden hatten sie als die «alles Heilende» verehrt. Im Mittelalter wurde sie gegen Leberleiden eingesetzt, später auch zur Blutdrucksenkung. Zu Beginn des 20. Jahrhunderts erwachte ein neues Interesse für die Mistel. Um das Jahr […]

What does integrative cancer treatment mean?

Over the past decades, tremendous progress has been made in the field of standard conventional therapies. Nowadays, cancer therapies are far more effective and specific than just a mere decade ago. However, affected individuals often continue to suffer from the side effects of these therapies for a long time, and their quality of life can […]

Exercise and sport in cancer

Exercise and sport play an important role in cancer prevention. Studies show that people who exercise a lot have a lower risk of developing colon cancer. For post-menopausal breast cancer and uterine cancer, researchers also see a clear link between lack of physical activity and tumour incidence. Exercise could also have a risk-reducing effect on […]

Diet and cancer

A healthy diet can help prevent a variety of diseases. Nutrition may also play a significant role in the development of cancer. It is not only important what you eat, but also how much you eat and how much energy you consume each day. Whether diet can influence pre-existing cancer is far less understood than […]

Agents

Mistletoe contains an array of different mineral and organic agents. wo substances found in mistletoe are of particular pharmacological interest: viscotoxins and mistletoe lectins. Since mistletoe is connected to the water transport system of its host tree, it absorbs the minerals dissolved in the water drawn up from the ground by each type of tree […]

Diagnostic methods

Our body is made up of many different types of cells. Therefore, many different types of cancer can occur. Some types grow rather slowly and do not “spread” (they do not form metastases), some grow at great speed and spread a lot, while others do not form solid tumors, such as the blood cancer (leukemia) […]

Early detection examinations and cancer warning signs

The earlier cancer is detected, the better the chances for recovery. For some cancers, such as breast, uterine, colorectal, skin, and prostate cancers, screening tests are offered with the goal of finding tumours at the earliest possible stages of development. Early stages can usually be treated more successfully and more gently than late stages, in […]

Mistletoe

Kissing under the mistletoe is a very common tradition. But mistletoe has much more to offer: Habitat Mistletoe is a flowering plant without roots on the ground. It lives on trees or bushes and receives water and nutrients from its host plant. There are over 1,000 mistletoe species worldwide. The white mistletoe (Viscum album L.) […]

Elm

The elm’s protruding crown appears light nonetheless. Its branches resemble those of the lungs and bronchi, reflecting its kinship with the respiratory tract. Elms are extremely sensitive and susceptible to disease, though. As elm mistletoe is practically extinct in nature, we treat the young elms on our cultivated sites very carefully and study them closely […]

Fir

Fir trees impress with their mighty main trunk and their dense, dark green needles, which survive several winters. As evergreen trees, they embody the idea of eternal life and are a symbol of birth and resurrection in many cultures. Fir trees embody a strong sustentative power. Their needles are flat, unlike pine trees, and bear […]

Pine

Pines grow quickly, have little demands regarding their environment and can become quite old. With their tall, slender shape, they also leave enough space for the other forest dwellers and like to take themselves back a little. Their wood is stable and they are resistant to adverse conditions With this modesty, the pine is venerated […]

Oak

In contrast to the apple tree, which has roots that mostly stay close to the surface, the oak strives deep into the ground with its taproot system. Strongly connected to the earth, it is also considered a “tree of life”: Oaks become very old and are therefore a symbol for eternal life. They convey a […]

Apple tree

Deciduous trees dynamically convert substances, which can also be seen in the falling leaves in autumn, and therefore show an affinity to the human metabolic area. The lovely blossoms and round, colourful fruits of the apple tree also indicate a strong connection to reproduction processes. These details are significant for the use of this host […]

Mistletoes’ host trees

There are over 1000 mistletoe species worldwide. The white mistletoe (Viscum album L.) found in Central Europe is the one that can establish itself on most different host trees. It occurs in three subspecies: as hardwood mistletoe on various deciduous trees (e.g. apple tree, elm, oak), as pine mistletoe and as fir mistletoe. Bereits Rudolf […]