Mistletoe Therapy & Cancer. Dr Simon van Lieshout Explains the Science
In this latest episode of Integrative Medicine Matters, Dr Elizabeth Thompson sits down with NCIM practitioner Dr Simon van Lieshout, a GP trained in Anthroposophic Medicine, to explore the role of mistletoe therapy in integrative cancer care.
Simon reflects on how growing up in Camphill communities and later training in both conventional medicine and holistic healing shaped his belief that scientific medicine and person-centred healing can work together. He discusses the history of mistletoe therapy, from its traditional associations in European culture to its development within Anthroposophic Medicine by Rudolf Steiner and Ita Wegman in the 1920s.
The conversation explores research surrounding mistletoe therapy, including evidence suggesting benefits for quality of life and symptom management during cancer treatment. Simon also discusses research investigating whether mistletoe may have broader effects in cancer care.
He shares a notable patient case in which intensive mistletoe therapy was associated with a substantial reduction in tumour size, while emphasising that such outcomes are uncommon and that this is not the primary purpose of treatment.
This is a thoughtful and wide-ranging conversation about what it means to care for the whole person during serious illness and how integrative approaches can work alongside conventional medical care.
Key Takeaways
- Mistletoe therapy has been used in cancer care for over a century and was developed within Anthroposophic Medicine by Rudolf Steiner and Ita Wegman in the 1920s.
- Research suggests mistletoe may support quality of life and symptom management during chemotherapy and other cancer treatments.
- Some studies suggest mistletoe used alongside standard treatment may have benefits beyond symptom relief.
- Mistletoe appears to have immunomodulatory effects and may support aspects of the body’s immune response.
- Within Anthroposophic Medicine, different mistletoe preparations may be selected according to the individual patient, their condition, and the host tree from which the mistletoe is harvested.
- Simon shared a case in which a patient’s tumour reduced significantly in size following intensive mistletoe treatment, while stressing that this is not a typical or expected response.
- Mistletoe is generally considered safe when prescribed appropriately and is commonly used alongside conventional cancer treatments.
- Anyone considering mistletoe therapy should consult an appropriately trained doctor or healthcare professional before starting treatment.
- For Simon, Integrative Medicine is not about choosing between being a scientist and a healer, but about bringing both perspectives together in service of the patient.
Biography
There are not many doctors who trained at Cambridge and Edinburgh, qualified as a GP, and then spent the next decade building a second clinical discipline from the ground up. Drawn to a deeper understanding of health and healing than conventional medical training alone could offer, Simon went on to study Anthroposophic Medicine, completing his diploma in 2017.
Since 2012 he has practised Integrative Medicine at the Camphill Wellbeing Trust, working alongside experienced physicians trained in Anthroposophic Medicine while continuing to work as an NHS GP.
In 2025, we were delighted when Simon joined the clinical services team at NCIM as an Integrative Medicine Doctor. His particular area of expertise is the use of mistletoe therapy within integrative cancer care. He also supports patients living with fibromyalgia, chronic pain conditions, sleep difficulties, fatigue, digestive disorders, migraines, anxiety, depression, hay fever, and a wide range of other long-term health concerns.
Simon has a particular interest in supporting neurodivergent individuals to better understand their strengths and challenges and to develop practical approaches that help them thrive.
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