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Herbal Wisdom:  Misteltoe  |
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MeadowLark
True Blue Farmgirl
2206 Posts
USA
2206 Posts |
 Posted - Nov 22 2005 : 05:52:48 AM
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Is misteltoe a herb? Where does it grow? What are the legends behind the misteltoe? I have heard it is very poisonous.
If I keep a green bough in my heart, the singing bird will come. |
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asnedecor
True Blue Farmgirl
1054 Posts
Anne
Portland
Or
USA
1054 Posts |
Posted - Nov 22 2005 : 08:39:23 AM
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I believe, correct me if I am wrong, misteltoe grows up in the higher areas of Oak trees parasitically. Kinda like moss. I had a boyfriend in college that use to take his shotgun and shoot the stuff down for Christmas. As far as being a herb, not sure. Maybe someone else can answer that one.
Anne
"Second star to the right, straight on till morning" Peter Pan
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MeadowLark
True Blue Farmgirl
2206 Posts
USA
2206 Posts |
Posted - Nov 22 2005 : 08:42:15 AM
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Anne,  You gave me my chuckle for the day...whoooah what a guy! Now that is what I call Christmas spirit....bet he just wanted to get that mistletoe down to hang over your head for kisses, right?
If I keep a green bough in my heart, the singing bird will come. |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Nov 22 2005 : 09:00:10 AM
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We used to do that same thing when I was little in CAlif..my dad did the shotgun thing..we would package it up and sell it all over the neighborhood just before Christmas...little money hungry kids..we sold quite a bit though.
It is toxic if I remember right. I haven't seen it growing here yet..but not as many oak trees here..so maybe that is right.
Jenny in Utah
It's astonishing how short a time it takes for very wonderful things to happen...Frances Burnette |
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BlueEggBabe
True Blue Farmgirl
417 Posts
Susan
PA
417 Posts |
Posted - Nov 22 2005 : 09:15:40 AM
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yep,the German medical community is using mistletoe for highly specialized cancer treatments and reduction of tumors.
They use it in a sort of drip method like chemo.
Anne and Jenny: love your family harvest methodsnever heard of that!!There are both European and American mistletoe varities.
www.feedsackfarmgirls.blogspot.com
www.farmatcoventry.com
"If more of us valued good food, cheer and song above hoarded gold,the world would be a merrier place."
J.J.R.Tolkien |
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thehouseminder
True Blue Farmgirl
361 Posts
USA
361 Posts |
Posted - Nov 22 2005 : 11:39:17 AM
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My "initiation" into Texas culture when I went to school there involved mistletoe.
I was invited on a "mistletoe" hunt. And yes, it involved shooting it out of the tops of oak trees. It is a parasitic plant and is poison but at least you can touch it unlike other tree parasites: poison oak, poison ivy, poison sumac, etc.
When we were young, there were moments of such perfectly crystallized happiness that we stood stock still and silently promised ourselves that we would remember them always. And we did. --Holly J. Burkhalter , "Four Midwestern Sisters' Christmas Book"
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jpbluesky
True Blue Farmgirl
6066 Posts
Jeannie
Florida
USA
6066 Posts |
Posted - Nov 22 2005 : 11:57:03 AM
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Trees here in North Florida (Oak and others that grow tall) are full of Mistletoe. When the leaves finally fall or turn, you can see it. It grows and thrives on the moisture in the air, like Spanish Moss does. Long ago, if someone was standing under a tree with mistletoe, kissing was allowed, and then the legend brought itself indoors.
I have never used a shotgun (the shot may rain down on you if you do not move away) but I have thrown large pine cones and used long sticks to get it down. After a windy day, you can usually find clumps of it on the ground. I have seen the birds enjoying it at certain times of the year (especially migrating little finches) but I would not suggest eating any! Just kiss under it! :)
I hope the use of it for chemo is successful. That would be wonderful!
"Sell cleverness and buy wonder" |
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junebug
True Blue Farmgirl
2421 Posts
Sue
West Plains,
Mo.
USA
2421 Posts |
Posted - Nov 22 2005 : 12:55:18 PM
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Now that is my kind of hunting!!!
" Age is mind over matter, if you don't mind, it dont' matter"
www.countrypleasures.motime.com |
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asnedecor
True Blue Farmgirl
1054 Posts
Anne
Portland
Or
USA
1054 Posts |
Posted - Nov 22 2005 : 4:09:04 PM
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Meadowlark -
Even though I live in the big city now, back then when I was in college I was in the country on the farm and I dated a true farmboy and yes that was how everyone got the misteltoe down from the trees and apparently that was not just us, Jenny knows and so does Lucinda  . And yes it was probably so he could get kisses - but that is a whole other story and it happened long ago
Anne
"Second star to the right, straight on till morning" Peter Pan
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gothique
Farmgirl in Training
12 Posts
Susan
Norman
OK
USA
12 Posts |
Posted - Dec 14 2005 : 9:34:35 PM
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Har! Mistletoe is the Oklahoma State Flower. Some people got lathered and ruffled about it a few years ago, in the legislature, and wanted to do something about it since the state flower was a parasite. Just a lot more hot air from the Capitol. They didn't change it after all that hemming and hawing.
"Take care of the luxuries, and the necessities will take care of themselves."
-- Oscar Wilde |
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Herbal Wisdom: Misteltoe |
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Misteltoe
