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by Willow Ragan
© 2000
Druidic Lore / Traditional medicinal uses / Contemporary medicinal uses
Conclusions / Glossary, Notes and Bibliography
 ay the word Mistletoe in a crowded room and depending upon whose ear it falls one of two images is bound to appear in the listeners mind; furtive kisses under Yuletide decorations or solemn white-robed, bearded druids bearing golden sickles, cleaving the plant from ancient oaks.These images have become so ingrained in popular culture that few venture a thought as to their origin or their validity. If as in many things, the absolute truth of their origins has been lost over the centuries, enough clues remain to aid us in understanding the why and how of these beliefs, and the evolution of current traditions. Beyond it's social and religious uses, Mistletoe has been employed as a potent medicine for centuries and continues in this use today with current research being done in its applications in treating Cancer. Before going any further, it is my responsibility to inform you that this is a reference work not intended to treat, diagnose or prescribe. The information contained herein is in no way to be considered as a substitute for consultation with a duly licensed health-care professional. There are currently three species of Mistletoe being used for medicinal purposes, European Mistletoe (Viscum album), a Korean variety (Viscum album coloratum) and an African species (Loranthus bengwensis L). All of these plants are potentially toxic and their use needs to be administered and monitored by a trained professional. The 2000 or so species of Mistletoe form four families, the two main branches of which are Loranthaceae and Viscaceae. Loranthaceae is decidedly tropical preferring places like Australia, Africa and South America and Asia while Viscaceae covers the same territory and extends as far north as Britain. It is worth noting that Mistletoe in its wild state was, until fairly recently, rarely found in Scotland and did not grow in Ireland until its introduction in the 18th century. Mistletoe is a parasitic plant, capable of producing its own chlorophyll but taking it's water and some other nutrients from the host plant. Highly adaptable to climate, this group of plants represents about 50% of all flowering parasitic plants, and flower it does. Unlike the more demure European and American Mistletoes that we are used to, many of the Viscaceae and Loranthaceae species have bright showy flowers in shades of yellow, red and orange. The Viscaceae plants, which include European Mistletoe (Viscum album) and the North American (Phoradendron sp.) varieties, are either male or female. They bloom in early summer and the produce soft sticky yellowish-green berries that ripen by October. Each berry contains one or two seeds, and each seed has typically one or two embryos. The word Mistletoe comes from the old English Mistiltan. There are two schools of thought for the meaning of the name. One that it is from the Anglo-Saxon term mistl (different), tan (twig), acknowledging the plant's unique nature. The other that it is derived from "missel twig," the "mislte" being the Mistle or Berry Thrush, two alternate names for the same bird that feeds on the berries. Mistletoe is propagated through the aid of birds, which is indicated through another of its common names: Birdlime1 . When eaten the sticky seeds are excreted or rubbed onto a branch after the bird consumes the berry part. In fact this is the only way that Mistletoe can get a toe-hold (pun intended) on a host. Anyone desiring to grow their own need only smear the slightly crushed sticky berries on a tree branch and wait. Shoots are usually visible in the second year. Once well established the plant grows quickly, however keep in mind that this is a parasite and if not kept in check it will take over and eventually destroy the host tree. While popular culture would have us believe that only Oaks are proper housing for the revered plant, on further exploration we find that in reality Mistletoe will grow wherever it happens to land. European Mistletoe has a preference for soft barked hardwoods, especially Apple-trees and Birch, it is also found on Ash, Hawthorn, Linden and Larch. Only rarely is it found growing on Oaks in Britain, Scotland and northern France, though in Southern France and Mediterranean areas there are oak species with a more tender bark that allow the Mistletoe to grow abundantly. In North America we can find it on a number of trees, from Maples to Sycamores to Poplars and Pecans as well as Oaks. In the southwest and western states there are species of Mistletoe that are specific to the Mesquite and the Juniper. The Celtic dialect names for Mistletoe mean "high branch." Ughelvarr in Cornish, Uhelvarr in Breton, in Welsh the word is Uchelwydd, almost identical save for the "wydd" element which means tree rather than branch. Since the plant was used in some many ways and grows in the high branches of trees it is difficult to determine whether the "high" is literal or metaphorical since both meanings are possible for the element "ughel." In Irish and Scots Gaelic the word is iul-ioc and an t-uil-ìoc respectively, which roughly translates as All-Heal, one of the more common folk names for the plant. It's many other folk names are indicative of its long and complex history in popular culture; Devil's Fudge, Golden Bough, Holy Wood, Witches' broom, Wood of the Cross, Lingname sactae crucis, Thuderbesem. Notes; 1. A sticky substance made from plants and spread on tree branches in order to catch birds. Return to phrase. |
Druidic Lore / Traditional medicinal uses / Contemporary medicinal uses
Conclusions / Glossary, Notes and Bibliography
