Iscador An Inside View.
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 1995 May / Jun Vol IV No 3.
Alpana Muzumdar.

Anthroposophy was pioneered by Rudolf Steiner in the year 1913. Iscador is an Anthroposophic Medicine discovered by Rudolf Steiner for the treatment of Cancer. It is an extract of Mistletoe (Viscum album). Steiner considered Man as a whole; he realised that diseases of the civilised world are due to mans lack of understanding of emotion as he explained the cause of Cancer "Cancer is the laughter that was not expressed and the tears that were not shed". He also said Cancer is basically a process which starts in a child and is triggered off owing to emotional mental shock or grief.

The medical substances used for treatment of cancer is Viscum album with white berries. It is a half parasite or partial parasite. It is used for preparation of Iscador after 7 years of growth. 7 is an important number in an anthroposophy, as everything is Cosmos is in the multiples of 7.

Depending on which host tree Viscum album grows it is useful in different types of Cancer.

1. Iscador A (Albies-alb): Used generally as a prophylaxis for Ca as well as for Ca Stomach and Intestines.
2. Iscador Ac (Apple tree) : For Women, digestive and urogenital, Ca, thyroid combined with Metals.
3. Iscador-P (Pine tree): Respiratory and Skin Ca also Breast Can after menopause.
4. Iscador QU (Oak): Usually in Men.
5. Iscador Uc (Em-ulmus): Bronchial Ca in Women. Metals in combination with Iscador enhance the action on particular organs.
   1. Argentum: Urogenital and Breast.
   2. Hydrargyran: Intestines and Lymphatics.
   3. Copper: Liver, Gall Bladder and Kidney.

Investigations

Other than the ones used generally, Blood Crystallization is also used. The Berries are harvested at the Peak of Summer and Winter. The sap of the Berries harvested at peak of Winter is rotated in a horizontal plain in clockwise direction at a regular speed and the sap of berries collected at peak of summer is dropped from a fixed height at a fixed rate. This mixture is then mixed with Spring Water to derive different strengths of the drug. The parameters of dosage is very individual but ones commonly used are -

1. Body temperature - Usually rectal should go to just above 380C as fever is a good reaction.
2. Lymphocytes increase - 1st increase in granulocytes then increase in T Lymphocytes and B Lymphocytes. Large granular macrophages. Interferon increase. Therefore extra Intra Cellular spaces activated.
3. Local reaction.
4. Cu and Fe regulation is essential in a Ca Patient.

When Cu and Fe lever is in normal range recurrence is rare and prognosis is good.

The dosage of Iscador is also very individualised but recent studies have shown that it should not be very frequently repeated.

The auxiliary modes of treatment are just as important as Anthroposophy, like Homoeopathy, considered man as a whole; so the spiritual rejuvenation is also stressed.

1. Art therapy -
   1. Music makes the patient extrovert and Sociable.
   2. Painting frees the patients soul from fixed attitudes. Colour therapy brings forth mental weaknesses.
   3. Clay modelling supports from giving forces in the patients body.
2. Bath with massage in the figure of 8.
3. Heil Gurhthermy - A new form of movement therapy. It counter acts the deformation of organs and pathological drugs in Organic functions.
4. Diet - Light Diet. Small meals at regular intervals. Vegetable diet preferable.

To avoid

Alcohol, Smoking, tomatoes. Small quantities of mushrooms, new potatoes, sugar.

The commonly seen effects of treatment in a Ca patient are:

1. Improvement in General Condition.
2. Improvement in appetite and weight gain.
3. Better sleep.
4. Relief of tiredness and depression
5. Improvement or Urinary and Bowel functions
6. Slowing down or Cessation of Tumour growth.
7. Occasional regression of Tumours.
8. Reduced incidence of metastases.

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