The tradition of hanging mistletoe did not originate at the office holiday party. The greenery has been a part of Christmas for thousands of years — as a parasitic plant that often grew on the sacred oak tree. It was thought to be a direct gift from God sent to ward off evil spirits and promote fertility.

Today mistletoe extracts are under serious investigation for their immune-boosting potential and their affect on cancer treatment. America has been slow to take on mistletoe studies, but European scientists have been involved in mistletoe research for years. Austrian philosopher Rudolph Steiner is the mistletoe pioneer. In addition to anthroposophy Steiner busied himself promoting the use of mistletoe as cancer cure, following the belief that as the greenery is a parasite on a tree, cancer is a parasite in the body.

Mistletoe-based cancer treatments are said to stimulate the immune-system cells that destroy cancer cells. Many mistletoe preparations are made from the plant's juice — sold in Europe as Iscador.

The Lukas Clinic in Arlesheim, Switzerland has been using mistletoe in cancer treatment for 75 years.

[more on Mistletoe at Whole Health MD]

(Photo: usgs.gov)