Mistletoe Side Effects and Warnings

Safety Issues

In large clinical trials, use of injected pharmaceutical-grade mistletoe products has not been associated with serious adverse effects, although pain at the injection site and mild flu-like symptoms are common. Severe allergic reactions may occur rarely. ¹ Oral use of a mistletoe product has been associated with hepatitis. ² Mistletoe berries and perhaps the leaves can cause severe toxicity, especially in children. ³ American mistletoe may be more toxic than European mistletoe. ⁴ Mistletoe is not recommended for use in young children, pregnant or nursing women, or people with severe liver or kidney disease.