There is plenty of reason to snuggle up beneath the mistletoe this holiday season, as the plant is found to be effective in treating colon cancer in Los Angeles.
Trying to find an excuse to catch a certain someone underneath the mistletoe? Well maybe you and yours can find a reason to celebrate the plant this holiday season. According to new research from the University of Adelaide, mistletoe could actually be used as a form of therapy in the treatment of colon cancer in Los Angeles.
The romantic plant has a long and interesting history. The reason you only see the exotic sprig during the holiday season is because it is actually a rare parasitic plant that grows off of larger plants, like apple and oak trees. Mistletoe has long been used in alternative medicine to treat conditions like arthritis, epilepsy, high blood pressure and yes, even in cancer treatment.
While in the past mistletoe has been used to treat generic forms of cancer, more research is giving greater insight into the potential powers of the small plant in the treatment of colon cancer. In a controlled setting, researchers tested the effectiveness of several forms of mistletoe against growing colon cancer cells, and tested the mistletoe against the standard chemotherapy cells. The results indicated that a breed of mistletoe called Fraxini was more effective at killing cancer cells than even chemotherapy, while it was also much gentler on healthy intestinal cells.
Mistletoe Extract and Colon Cancer 
When converted into an extract and injected intravenously, mistletoe extract acts as a chemotherapeutic agent. Mistletoe is a form of phytonutrient. This form of nutrient can stop the abnormal growth of cancerous cells. Mistletoe extract in particular is shown to promote cell death, but is less harsh on the surrounding tissues and healthy cells than traditional chemotherapy.
While fighting cancer cells, mistletoe has the power to simultaneously boost your immune system. By building up your immune system, mistletoe extract helps you to remain healthy and fight off infection, something that many people become incredibly susceptible to during cancer treatment.
Mistletoe extract is not FDA approved in the United States for colon cancer treatment, though it is regularly used overseas to promote the death of cancer cells.
Colon cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer related deaths in the United States, and so the treatment of it should be taken very seriously. Speak with your colorectal specialist about the different colon cancer treatment options available to you. If you are over the age of 50, or have a personal or family history of colon cancer and have not yet had your screening colonoscopy in Los Angeles, then it is probably time to do so. Contact your colorectal specialist for more information about ways to prevent and treat colon cancer.