File photo of mistletoe at harvest (© Reuters)

Mistletoe can help you kiss off colon cancer, too

12/24/2012

Once thought only to be of use as a Christmas party icebreaker with the office hottie, mistletoe now appears to have a more noble calling. A study at the University of Adelaide in Australia has concluded that the plant can enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy, and in the case of colon cancer treatment can even be an alternative to chemo. Student Zahra Lotfollahi found that the extract Fraxini in particular reduced impact on a patient's healthy cells, which are as vulnerable as cancerous ones in most chemo treatments. The bad news: ulcers of the mouth are a potential side effect. So the kissing business may be out. [Source]

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Have you ever maneuvered someone under the mistletoe?