Family Name: Loranthaceae
Botanical Name(s): Phoradendron Flavescens
Popular Name(s): American Mistletoe, Golden Bough, False Mistletoe, Birdlime
Parts Used: Leaves.
Habitat: Mistletoe is found from Portugal to Iran and from Scandinavia to Sicily.
Description: This is a parasitic evergreen shrub. The branching woody stem is swollen at the nodes and bears opposite, leathery, yellowish green leaves which are hairy when young but glabrous at maturity. Small whitish flowers appear in May- July followed by white berries in December.
Uses: In classical herbal medicine mistletoe is used to support treatment of hypertension and in Osteo-arthritis. Together with blackthorn, it is used to strengthen the "tired" and weakened heart. It is also used for attacks of dizziness, epileptic states and in cancer therapy.
