The power of the mistletoe

Among people with cancer there is one fact circulating from word of mouth: mistlegus extract, an anthroposophical remedy that stimulates the immune system that is swept away in radio and chemotherapy: it improves physical endurance and mood. "Many seek it because they've heard that it cures cancer. I have not seen that, But if it improves the quality of life", says a doctor.

They are the 11:30am on a Tuesday and Soledad Gunckel, the chemical responsible for the Oncology Pharmacy Providence Mii pharmacist, receives for the third time this morning a person who comes to ask for the same compound: mistlede extract or VISCUM album, an adjuvant cancer therapy whose action is to stimulate the immune system. It is the only pharmacy in all Santiago who sells Helixor, one of the seven brands of mistletoe extracts that exist in the world, but the only one authorized by the Institute of Public Health (ISP) for commercialization in Chile.

Daily Gunckel receives an email, call or direct questions about this drug that is sold by prescription. To streamline the response, the pharmacist put together a list of the names of doctors she knows prescribe mistlede in Santiago and regions; you know it from the prescriptions that patients bring. Of the nearly 30 carrying targeted list, half are allopathic and the other half, anthroposophical.

"We do not have accurate records, but are around 400 cancer patients who are using Helixor", says Gunckel. "Most know him because they heard it during chemotherapy or because a friend told them. Those who use it most are people who do not want or cannot do chemotherapy, either because their cancer is too advanced or because they are older people", Adds.

A young and high type enters the Pharmacy. It asks 18 boxes with cartridges of mistletoe. Each box costs 87 thousand pesos (the most concentrated version of the drug costs 150 thousand). It also carries syringes, to apply to injections. Explains that they are for his mother's 82 years, who is hopeless for renal cancer. He lives in the South and want to have treatment for the whole year. "She is full of tiny tumors, but it doesn't seem that it was hopeless. With the mistletoe has super good quality of life", says the young, before paying with credit card near $ 2,5 million. Twenty minutes later enters a woman's surname mapuche. He wants to buy a mistlede box for a month; says his mother, who is sick with cancer wants to try it; your treating doctor recommended them. Holding the box with 8 blisters, the woman looks at the pharmacist and says, "We have faith in the mistlede".

Anthroposophical remedy

The mistletoe or VISCUM album It is a semiparasitaria plant that grows to the eave of the Apple tree, Oak, Pine, Maple, Elm and birch. It is abundant in the forests of Northern Europe and the Celts considered her a magical high healing power plant.

In 1900 the German philosopher Rudolf Steiner, founder of anthroposophy, started to investigate their properties. Noting that in certain cancer patients it inhibited tumor development, together with Dr. Ita Wegman, It drew up a formula that mixed part of the winter and the summer harvest, because I said so dinamizaban the anticancer potential of the plant. In 1926 Steiner and Wegman launched the first mistlede extract preparation: Iscador.

The questions about which component of the extract caused inhibition of tumor development is cleared in 1949 When, in laboratory, Germany's Karl Winterfeld discovered that mistletogue contained viscotoxins capable of selectively destroying cancer cells (without ravaging good cells) and stimulating the immune system. 20 years later, Frederic Vester was able to more fully describe the complex of proteins forming the summary.

From 1960 from now on with Iscador joined other brands developed by anthroposophical laboratories, including Helixor and Abnova, This last prescription by several Chilean anthroposophical medical and, Although they are not sold in Chile, can be ordered to the laboratory that Germany produces it through the triode anthroposophic pharmacy, What is approved by the ISP. In countries such as Switzerland, Austria and Germany the extract of mistletoe went on to be the drug most prescribed as an adjuvant in conventional therapies for cancer - treatment is covered in public and private - sector and, Therefore, the most studied this disease for complementary medicine therapy.

In Chile the mistletoe has circulated since makes 15 years as part of the recipe book of the anthroposophical medical. But since in 2013 the Xènius Pharma company began bringing Helixor Chile, It began to run more strongly the voice in lathe to it.

Dr. Ana María Duarte is a surgeon from the University of Chile and from ago 12 years, When he decided to devote himself entirely to the anthroposophic medical practice, began to prescribe this medication. "When a chemo or radiation therapy is accompanied by mistletoe, the quality of life of the patient is better", ensures the doctor, who estimates that he has attended more of 7 thousand people with him. Today, 9 of the 10 patients who attends the day suffering from cancer and almost all ask by the mistletoe.

"Before the patients came seeking help, something complementary to the management of the disease. What were finding was an anthroposophical medicine look where, together with follow the development of your illness, the doctor was willing to listen and understand the history of life. In this context, among other drugs anthroposophical raising reparative forces physical and psychic, they were with the mistletoe".

Pablo Moche anthroposophic doctor has also noticed a growing interest of patients willing to use it. "It makes 10 years ago you said the word mistlede and people would ask 'what?'. It was a rarity. The patient who used it was a visionary who were encouraged to try". That, holds, It was given by a much more adverse context for the use of the drug, not only because it did not directly reach Chile, but because it was fiercely resisted by the allopathic medicine.

"Oncologists were more reticent and absolutely contrary to anything that their patients wanted to prove and that they left provisions. I remember patients with name and surname that they were excited and then sent me an email where I said ' doctor, I spoke with my oncologist and he told me that for any reason use the mistletoe '. That changed today. There are still skeptical doctors, but there is greater openness. Today, When I ask new patients did to me, many tell me that my name gave them her oncologist in a traditional clinic".

The doctor Moche ensures that the most difficult address with patients expectations are. "Many come with advanced cancer looking for the miracle cure, because they have heard that the mistletoe cures cancer, but I have not seen that never. What if I've seen is that it changes the patients quality of life. They say to me, 'Doctor, I have more energy, more mood, I am sleeping better, I feel less cold '. Subtle changes, but perceptible. What you want with the mistletoe is that the patient is better. And that the tumor is a little numb".

Mistletoe in time

It was only a month that Dominga Cuitiño fulfilled one year when an MRI showed that he had a tumor which of 4,5 cm in the brain, impossible to operate. The only way out was to submit it to 42 sessions of chemotherapy doctors assured that it would not reduce the size of the tumor, but at least it would stop its growth. Support it, their life expectancy would not go more than the 4 o 5 years. After hearing the diagnosis, her MOM, Soledad Herrera, and his dad, Ricardo Cuitiño, they left wrecked clinic. They were walking back home when Soledad decided to stop to buy a candle. The owner of the store Carina Vaca Zeller scored him on a paper anthroposophical pediatrician phone and recommended him to take his daughter. In the first query, Vaca Zeller - who has specialized in the indication of mistletoe in children with cancer and before devoting himself exclusively to anthroposophy, He worked at the Catholic University hospital paediatric Oncology-, He explained to them that anthroposophic medicine not only takes into account the physical part of a patient, but also its dimension psychic spiritual and that to help his daughter would use remedies made with compounds of the plant Kingdom, animal and mineral. At the end of the consultation he said, "Did you come for the mistlede?". "We said 'what is that?'", Remember Soledad. The treatment began that same week. "We realized the effects of mistletoe was having on the Dominga seeing not passing him what we saw in other children with chemotherapy", Soledad says. "Never stopped being hungry. He ate before, during and after chemotherapy. I never vomited. Never ceased to have mood or play. And, Although it took her with me to all sides, It never got sick of typical diseases that attack children with cancer by lowering defenses causing them chemo". At the end of the first cycle of treatment, magnetic resonance imaging showed that the tumor had been reduced in 80%. "The doctors were so emphatic that it was impossible that it reduced with chemotherapy, that was not me more than to think that it was thanks to the mistletoe", Soledad says.

Almost two years ago that Dominga ended their chemotherapy. He has never stopped taking mistletoe. Such is the faith that solitude has in the medicine that keeps the blisters in the refrigerator wrapped with a plate of Jesus. For this reason, When's it one dose, Dominga, who in a few weeks will comply 4 years and is going to College, often says to him, "Mom, Is there the power of God?". "For me the mistletoe appeared as a gift, because although expectations say that my daughter is going to live up to the 4 o 5 years, is a matter of looking at how it runs, How plays, the energy that has. It would have to pass a truck over it so that die"

Skeptical and converted

At the National Cancer Institute, where they arrive to receive treatments of chemo and radiotherapy patients with cancer in the area north of Santiago - also of the VI and VII regions-, they are accustomed to patients to ask them if they would benefit from marijuana, therapy with magnets and acupuncture. And also of the mistletoe extract. "They ask why they want to know our opinion: whether or not we recommend it as complementary medicine", says Deputy Director Sergio Barrera, who confirms that from ago 5 years each day are more consultations by the use of the plant extract.

The response, comments, depends on the discretion of each physician. "There are some reluctant and others that indicate an active". It is part of the skeptics on the grounds that "the mistletoe does not pass the standards of evidence-based medicine".

"All the medicine that is practiced must be demonstrated by hard scientific evidence, with statistical demonstration. There are some studies that are more reliable than others. And studies that support the mistletoe are more powerful statistically", ensures.

Although barrier does not recommend the mistletoe in a way Active, nor says the patients to leave it. From your point of view, "patients with cancer have to receive everything that they believe that serves as he does them harm". And what is shown is that mistletoe is harmless".

The anesthesiologist María Antonieta Rico, the German clinic pain unit, strongly defined as an "allopathic physician, pure scientific", but he accepts the use of mistletoe in patients with advanced cancer. Palliative care "reach the patients who do not find the cure in conventional medicine, his prognosis is poor and they are going to die of cancer. That makes people seek. Our duty as physicians is to be informed about what to offer complementary medicine to make good decisions and not to be exposed to things that do them harm". The mistletoe, confesses, for years he calls attention. "Seriously studying literature that supports it, all German, There is some evidence that mistletoe has some antitumor actions. In patients with advanced cancer and difficult to manage as the pain symptoms, lack of appetite, bad mood and fatigue, I have seen that they have a better outcome. But I've also seen patients who have used it but have not had the same benefit. I have the impression that certain types of tumors, especially digestive, extract more responsive".

A skeptical oncologist, converted today, is the doctor Rubén Urrejola. By 10 years was medical director of the Arturo López Pérez Foundation (Falp), and calculates that it has served to close of 500 patients with mistletoe. Today prescribed by virtually all its patients. But not always believed in it.

Does 15 years, When he was still a medical director of the Falp, Urrejola met a friend who wanted to bring Helixor, one of the brands of mistletoe, to Chile. Asked if he knew the German drug. "I said, 'I don't know him or care. "My plants and things of the magician Merlin does not give me'". Its name has addressed it by deciding to stay in ignorance. Then the doctor began to investigate. He left for Germany where he was received by a group of quimioterapeutas, radiation therapists, Surgeons Oncologists who wore mistletoe on a daily basis as an add-on treatment. He visited hospitals and clinics and returned with a Briefcase full of medical samples.

His first patient on his return in Santiago was the Pope's medical colleagues with prostate cancer. I was sick in bed, full of metastasis. "The family was waiting to die", says Urrejola. Soon you begin to treat it, noted that the bone cintigrama, where is evidence of metastases, I was going to improve. "Short tale: the gentleman rose, He returned to his usual work and survived 5 years with treatment. After 5 years, in a week he fell into bed and died. But he survived five years. And with good quality of life", says the doctor.

Mistletoe extract is a remedy anthroposophic described as adjuvant cancer therapy. In Chile the only authorized by the ISP is marketed under the name of Helixor.

Mistletoe until the end

Four months ago Naomí Navarro (38) wanted to tell her experience with mistlede. It had been two years taking it and was thankful because it had improved their quality of life even though he knew that his cancer had not turned.

They were the 11 in the morning on a Friday in May when the refrigerator of his Department pulled out a box with phials of mistletoe extracts. He took one and extracted every last drop with a thin syringe. He sat in a Chair, He unfastened his pants and injected the liquid near the pelvis. Naomi was hopeless by a cancer to the bones that had made 5 years.

"I have no test that proves what I say, but I'm sure that is the mistletoe which has me standing today", said that morning.

Designer and landscape architect, had 32 years when one day, practicing swimming, He felt a stitch so strong in a rib that could not follow swimming. A few days later doctors told him that he had a cancer to the bones so advanced that stretched by its column and a full rib had him worm-eaten. They gave him 3 months of life. After months of chemotherapy, the cancer went into remission. But a year and a half later, they came back pains. Cancer attacked her, This time, from the waist down.

The 24 August, After battle 5 years against cancer to the bones, the designer and landscaper Navarro Naomi passed away. Until the last day I used mistletoe. Months before, in an interview to Paula, commented, "It has helped me not to feel pain and with that I am paid".

"My cancer is fast: it leaves you prostrate very quickly. The only way that do not proceed is with chemotherapy", told that Friday. "But when I turned a second time I said, 'Is all the ordeal of side effects coming back? Drop my hair, make me sores on the skin, in the feet, in the mouth, in the vagina?'. I said no. Bye. Until I came here and I have to deal with it in some way. I told my doctor that I didn't make me more chemotherapy. Wasn't ready for all that Calvary again". It was then that appeared the mistletoe. "To my doctor in palliative care, I told him that I was determined to go to Peru to treat me with ayahuasca. Then he said, 'Let's try the mistlede?'. I had heard some of it. I then accepted", said.

Two-year Naomi injected it is three times a week. That Friday she told that I had experienced significant improvements. "I know that thanks to the mistletoe I'm not in a wheelchair. If I can resist injections treatment I applied, at the beginning I threw on the bed and produced me a pain so great that it resisted even the touch of clothing, It is thanks to him. And I know because since I take it those pains never occurred. I had no more sores. With the mere fact of not having that pain, I'm paid".

Naomi never ceased to use it. Even at the end. The 24 last August, He died as a result of the aggressive cancer affecting it.

Source: www.paula.cl