Mistletoe Uses

We have quite a bit of mistletoe in my area. I know it is considered a parasitic plant, but I'm wondering if anyone has experience doing anything productive with it?

It seems it has historical uses as teas and tinctures with a decent list of potential health benefits, but then several websites (webMD and medline, to name two) state that it is poisonous in all forms.

I'm not looking to get poisoned, but I am curious. Does anyone here have first hand experience with mistletoe tea?

The only uses I have used mistletoe for was when I was much younger.

As a teenager or young adult, it was fun to stand under the mistletoe and get kisses.

WebMD said, "But some reports suggest that eating up to 20 berries or 5 leaves might not cause serious adverse effects. American mistletoe can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, hallucinations, and heart problems in some people.

https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-297/american-mistletoe

Here are some benefits:

https://draxe.com/nutrition/mistletoe/

Dr Axe said, "Is It Poisonous?

Why might mistletoe be bad? Because mistletoe can sometimes wind up causing damage to “host trees” that it grows on, it’s earned a reputation as being “poisonous” and is even called a “parasite” by some.

The International Academy of Herbal Arts and Sciences states: “Mistletoe burrows roots into the inner wood of trees and feeds from their sap, and a heavy infestation with mistletoe can kill branches of the host plant or even the entire host.”

I let it grow on my mesquite trees without any ill effects that I know of.

Anne Miller wrote:The only uses I have used mistletoe for was when I was much younger.

As a teenager or young adult, it was fun to stand under the mistletoe and get kisses.

Perhaps THIS is the best use still, haha. I did try to search the forum for mistletoe with nothing turning up, but then after posting was shown this post as a recommendation, so I obviously had my search settings wrong.

https://permies.com/t/154231/kitchen/Mistletoe-herb-medicine-lore

According to this post, the European Mistletoe has medicinal uses but American Mistletoe is different and to be avoided. Maybe that's my answer. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

EDIT: here is an excerpt from that post

So, what of American Mistletoe?  American Mistletoe is Phoradendron leucarpum, which as indicated by the name, a completely different plant.  Yes, it looks almost identical… and it grows the same way.  American Mistletoe is commonly seen on hardwood trees and is a beautiful plant for holiday decoration.  Many southern kids, just a generation or two ago, made their Christmas money by collecting mistletoe once the leaves fell from the trees… usually by shooting it down. And yes, American Mistletoe may have some herbal use…. But, it is extremely poisonous!  


American mistletoe (Phoradendron leucarpum) is rarely used medicinally. Some herbalists believe that it has an opposite effect from the European mistletoe (Viscum album).  However, both the American and European species contain toxic proteins which are similar in their chemical composition and produce similar side effects, including hypotension, bradycardia, and vasoconstriction in test animals.

American mistletoe often called false or oak mistletoe is believed by some herbalists to stimulate smooth muscles, causing a rise in blood pressure and increased uterine and intestinal contractions.