Viscum Album

NAT. ORD., Loranthaceae.



COMMON NAME, Mistletoe.



PREPARATION.--One part of the fresh leaves and berries is macerated in

twice its weight of alcohol.



(The following account of this ancient remedy was

published in the Allgemeine Hom. Zeitung, 1886:)



The Grand Universal Panacea of the old Gauls and Germans.--By Dr. v.

Gerstel, of Regensburg.--T is parasite shrub belongs to the 22d class,

Linne, is found on various trees, and was prized above all others as a

healing remedy in the Gallic and German antiquity. The Druids--their

priests--were at the same time naturalists, metaphysicians, doctors and

sorcerers, and to the mistletoe growing on oaks were ascribed, above all

other plants, marvelous healing powers. That the oak mistletoe was

prized above all those growing on fruit or other trees, as a remedy, may

be due to the fact that in ancient times all oaks and oak groves were

regarded with a holy veneration, being considered the favorite abodes of

the old German deities. The mistletoe growing on oaks was therefore

venerated by the ancient Gauls and Germans as the holiest of heaven-sent

gifts to mankind. It was applied in all diseases, and without it no

religious service could be conducted. From the Germanic mythology we

know that as a priest--a Druid--discovered a mistletoe growing on an

oak, he at once called up all the brethren of his order of the

neighborhood. They doffed the many-colored garments in daily use, and

donned flowing white robes as a sign of humility in the presence of the

divine plant. The highest in rank approached the tree provided with a

golden sickle, bent his knees, and was then lifted by his companions on

high until he could reach the plant. This was then cut with the golden

sickle and prepared and preserved for sacred and for healing purposes.



If it could be secured six days after the new moon, the most exhalted

healing properties were attributed to it, and it was at once made into a

potion which, mixed with the blood of steers that had never done any

work and which had been immolated beneath the oaks, formed a draught

which brought blessings, fruitfulness, health and prosperity to all who

could partake of it.



As at that time, and for a long time after, the origin and propagation

of the parasitic plant was unknown, it was surrounded with a magic halo,

and by virtue of its undoubted healing qualities, especially in gout,

rheumatism, nerve pains of various kinds, neuralgias, especially of the

rheumatic and gouty variety, as well as of its close affinity with and

influence upon the female sexual system, it was accorded the highest

rank among all remedies by the Priestesses, the female Druids.



About the year 1857-58, I passed one year in the town of Steger, in

upper Austria, as physician to Prince Lamberg; there I became well

acquainted with Dr. W. Huber, at the time physician to the

Homoeopathic Hospital of the "Sisters of Mercy," and found in him also

an antiquary of considerable learning. His researches brought to his

notice in what high veneration the mistletoe was held by the ancient

Germans and Gauls and its employment as a universal healing remedy. Dr.

Huber, who was a man of unusual intelligence and of high scientific

acquirements, desired to learn the true sphere of action of this

important remedy, and preparing a mother-tincture from the

mistletoe--lege artis--he proved the several dilutions on himself and

others, men and women, thus truly following the example of Hahnemann and

his disciples. I still possess some of this identical tincture as

prepared by Dr. Huber, who, I am grieved to say, died suddenly of

apoplexy during my sojourn, in the year 1858.



Dr. Huber carefully collated all the symptoms experienced by his

provers; he had a great predilection for the mistletoe, which he

prescribed in many different ailments. He frequently conversed with me

about its healing properties, and often gave it in his hospital and in

his private practice. He used it chiefly in the 3d and 6th decimal

dilution. According to Dr. Huber, the symptoms of Viscum album are

similar to those of Aconite, Bryonia, Pulsatilla, Rhododendron,

Rhus and Spigelia, i.e., are in accord with our foremost

anti-arthritic and anti-rheumatic remedies. Viscum has symptoms in

common with each of these remedies, and is thus particularly useful in

gouty and rheumatic complaints, in acute as well as in chronic cases;

more particularly in those having tearing pains in no matter what part

of the body. It follows well after Aconite in acute rheumatism. It is

also very effective in different neuralgias of a gouty or rheumatic

origin, as in ischias, prosopalgia, periostitis, and especially in

earache, tearing pains in the ears, and otitis. It is a sovereign remedy

in rheumatic deafness. As causa excitans of diseases amenable to it

may be regarded high winds, i.e., all gouty, rheumatic or other

ailments which, similarly to Rhus and Rhododendron, are aggravated

by sharp north or northwest winds, such as we have in winter. For this

reason Viscum is more often applicable in the colder season than in

summer, or at time when gouty or rheumatic affections or pains are

usually aggravated. It has also been found beneficial in asthmatic

complaints if connected with gout or rheumatism.



The mistletoe moreover stands in a peculiarly close relation to the

female sexual system (uterus), and especially to the climacteric period,

when women cease to menstruate and chronic or periodical haemorrhages are

often met with. Viscum also promotes labor pains similarly to

Pulsatilla and Secale, and is especially efficient in effecting the

expulsion of the placenta, also in incarcerated placenta.



When the great army of gouty and rheumatic ailments which may befall all

parts of the body are taken into consideration, as well as the manifold

sufferings originating in the female sexual system, which manifest

themselves as menorrhagias as well as amenorrhoea, but more often are

caused by congestive states,--when we consider the powerful influence of

the mistletoe on these forms of diseases as brought out by the careful

homoeopathic provings on the healthy, is it to be marvelled at that

the old Gauls and Germans venerated it, by whose mysterious origin they

were overawed, as a sovereign remedy for their ailments and sufferings,

as a sacred gift presented by the gods of mankind?



(The following clinical case is from Hom. World, 1876,

by Dr. Ivatts:)



October 24, 1875.--T. H----, aet. about fifty. Rheumatism for the last

six years of ankle, wrists, and knuckle joints, also pains across the

lumbar muscles. Extreme distress on motion, with weariness and pain.

Great pain in walking. Worse on commencing to move, but after continuing

the movement for a time the pain diminishes. No pain when at rest except

when warm in bed, when the ankle and wrist joints are occasionally very

bad. Patient holds a degree L.R.C.S.I., but has relinquished practice

for fifteen years and travelled abroad. Never could get relief from the

rheumatism.--Viscum album No. 1, five drops twice a day. November

14.--After taking medicine for ten days the weary feeling gradually

diminished, and the muscular motion became free from distress. Has now

continued medicine for three weeks, and he says, "I am quite free from

rheumatic pains." February 18, 1876.--Saw patient to-day, and he tells

me he has continued quite free from the rheumatic pains since November.



(Dr. E. M. Holland wrote as follows concerning the

remedy, Medical Summary, 1898:)



My first case of child birth in which I used Mistletoe (Viscum

album) was May 30, 1897. Was called to see Mrs. C.; second confinement;

there was but little advancement; I sent the husband to my office, three

blocks away, for some Mistletoe, and I gave the lady half a

teaspoonful with a swallow of water every twenty minutes, and before one

hour had passed labor was on in good shape, and in half an hour longer

all was over.



I returned to my office, and in less than half an hour I was called to

see a colored woman, much of a lady, mother of two children; on

examination I found only a slight advancement of the child, mouth of the

womb but little dilated. I learned that she had been just about the same

for twelve hours. I prepared a mixture and ordered a teaspoonful every

twenty minutes; this dose contained 30 drops of the Mistletoe. I was

not well, and returned to my office, leaving instructions to notify me

when labor was well on; my office was four blocks from her residence. I

reclined on a lounge, intending to return in about an hour, but dropped

into a doze, and in about one and a half hours the husband came on the

run, notwithstanding they had sent a little girl for me. He reached my

office panting, and exclaimed: 'For God's sake, hurry, for her insides

have all come out.' On my arrival, I found the child and afterbirth all

in a pile. The confusion was soon calmed down by the assurance that all

was well.



Soon after this I was called to see Mrs. M., the mother of seven

children. I had been with her in six of the seven confinements, and

knowing that she had always been tedious I gave the messenger a small

vial of the same mixture and same dose, labelled it teaspoonful every

twenty minutes, stating that I would be there in an hour or two, and I

was; but the child was born about fifteen minutes before.



On the 14th day of July of the present year I was called to attend Mrs.

B. in her third labor, some two miles in the country. I left home at

3:30 A.M. When I arrived at the house I found nothing to indicate that I

would be permitted to return home sooner than--I will say a number of

hours. I found presentation all right, some dilatation, but there was

but little advancement. The pains seemed to be of excruciating

character, but not the kind to do more than wear the patient out. She

told me that the same kind of pains had been on for a day and night, so

I continued with the Mistletoe in half-teaspoonful doses every twenty

minutes. Pains came on; in just one hour her extreme agony ceased. Labor

came on, and in half an hour more the child was born.



In all these cases the placenta came readily and everything progressed

well after birth. I said I left my office at 3:30 A.M., and I was at

home again by 7 A.M. It may be that four cases are not sufficient to

decide on the merits of a remedy, but the change was so decided and

prompt that I am satisfactorily convinced that in Mistletoe we have an

oxytocic that is superior to all remedies hitherto tried.



* * * * *



After the foregoing was compiled, Dr. George Black's exceedingly

interesting brochure of 79 pages, Viscum album, the Common Mistletoe,

etc., etc., appeared, and anyone wanting a complete history of the drug

should procure a copy.



Dr. Black (Torquay, England) publishes all the known provings, and in

addition some very thorough ones conducted by himself; from these we

select the following striking symptoms:



Proll experienced a sensation as if a large spider were crawling over

his hands; a glow rising from feet to head, and he seemed to be on fire,

though his face was pale, this repeatedly; also violent aching pain in

right foot recurring frequently. Proving with the tincture in increasing

doses up to 40 drops.



Two women took the drug to produce abortion; every muscle of the body

was paralyzed, including bowels, save those of the eye, and both died on

the 8th and 9th day, starved to death.



The provings by Dr. Black. A well-built woman, aged twenty, took

repeated doses of the drug from [Greek: theta] up to 30th. The most

striking symptoms were: Sudden, severe thumps of the heart that then

went on beating at a tremendous rate; it slowed down and was followed by

trembling in the limbs; after this was very marked jerking of the limbs,

and twitching; hot feeling, though not actually hot. "A feeling as if I

should bite some one if I did not keep my teeth clenched. A wretched

feeling as if I should do something awfully wrong if I did not keep

myself under control." Several months later the effect of the drug was

still strongly in evidence; "thinks she will go out of her mind, feels

as if she would have an epileptic fit, says she would feel far happier

in an asylum."



A second prover, Mrs.---- aet 37, experienced jerking and twitchings of

the muscles, shooting pains in left ovarian region, and, on movement,

lumbar pain and stiffness. Proving made with 3d dilution.



Third prover, aet 27, a woman. First marked symptom was a shooting pain

in left ovary; then pain and twitching in leg, when aching stopped it

felt very hot; aching repeated, and only relief was shifting the

position of the leg to a cool place in the bed; again a dreadful pain in

the region of the left ovary--"a fearful aching" "it was a pain you

couldn't have put up with long without doing something;" later: "I have

had no pain, but a great twitching in my hands and legs for a long time,

just like a person with chorea--first my left hand jumped, then both

legs, my heart seemed to beat very fast." "When hands were held it

seemed to alleviate the jerking and twitching." The pain in ovaries,

also in other parts of the body at times, the twitchings and jerkings,

and the frequent hot feeling continued during all the proving. It was

made with the 3d and [Greek: theta].



The fourth proving was made by Dr. Black himself, chiefly with the 3x

and [Greek: theta].



This proving is quite long. From it we note the following symptoms:

Severe pain in right shoulder joint. Muscular twitching in right leg.

Dull pain under left false ribs. Neuralgic pain in sciatic nerve. Back,

lumbar region, stiff and weak. Pain in right knee joint, painful to move

and tender to the touch. Weight and oppression of the heart, with

gripping feeling as if a hand were squeezing it; the load seemed to

lift, with great relief, but came back again. A curious sensation of

tickling about the heart. Twinges of pain in the great toes. The last

record some days after ceasing the proving reads as follows: "I think it

was the same night as the previously recorded symptoms that I went to

bed between 12 and 1 o'clock, and after lying down experienced a curious

general tremor through my body, as if all the muscles were in a state of

fibrillary contraction; not a single involuntary jerk, nor the continued

twitching of the muscle or a portion of one, but a general state

affecting the whole body. It lasted until I fell asleep."



Therapeutically the drug has been used for palsy, "incompetency and

tumultuous distressing cardiac action," mitral disease, chorea,

epilepsy, retention of placenta, catarrhal deafness, menorrhagia,

sciatica, rheumatism, periostitis, hydrothorax, and transient deafness.



The Druids sweepingly asserted that it would "heal all diseases."