A family-member has been diagnosed with multiple myeloma; and I would
like some information regarding complementary (herbal) treatments. I
would prefer references from reliable sites like Medline and PubMed...

1. Have Viscum album (European Mistletoe) been used with success in
the treatment of multiple myeloma? Will it interact with the
antineoplastic drugs used? What dosage is used? (Preferably as
tincture 1:5.) NB! I am interested in the herb, not the homeopathic
remedy.

2. Are there any other herbs or supplements that are beneficial for a
person with multiple myeloma? Please focus on "real stuff"; not things
like colloidal silver, homeopathic remedies or other "snake-oils" and
"quack-cures".

Please ask for clarification if anything is unclear; also let me know
if you think this question is prized to low. Comments from anyone with
will be greatly appreciated!

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Clarification of Question by arsenic-ga on 18 Dec 2003 16:23 PST

Related q: http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=288505

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I found this: http://www.mcp.edu/herbal/mistletoe/mistletoe.pdf 

Maybe it can help whoever answers this q; and it answers my dosage questions.

Hello, arsenic!

It is always very flattering to be mentioned by name! Alternative
medicine is not a field in which I have much expertise. I hope Missy
or Kevin will take a look for you.

Heartfelt best wishes to your friend who struggles with this illness.
I, too, have had a friend with multiple myeloma. Fortunately, there is
a great deal of ongoing research on this disease, and although it is
not yet considered "curable," treatments can be very effective.

~pinkfreud

Oops. I am s to have referred to your family member who has multiple
myeloma as a "friend." I was thinking of my own situation, which did
involve a friend.

Arrgh.

In my second comment above, for "I am s," please read "I am sorry."

Perhaps it is time for me to go to bed now. ;-)

The USDA has a website which has, probably, some of the kinds of
things you are looking for.  For "anticancer" plant and herb remedies,
they list (at the top of the list):

Plants with chemicals having 'Anticarcinogenic' activities. 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
(The number in () indicates how many separate chemicals each species
has for the above activities. For example, if the activities are
"Bacteristat" and "Antibacterial" and the count for a species is (3)
then that plant contains three separate chemicals with those
activities which may indicate more potency than a plant with a single
chemical with those activities.)

Camellia sinensis [ 5 chemical(s) ] - this is tea
Glycine max [ 5 chemical(s) ]       - this is soy
Theobroma cacao [ 5 chemical(s) ]   - this is cocoa
Vitis vinifera [ 5 chemical(s) ]    - wine grapes

after that, the list drops down to "4 chemicals" per plant; and that list is long.

Aside from plants and herbs, very very tiny quantities of arsenic
trioxide have been found to cure some cancers.  If your friend's
doctor is not aware of this, then a new doctor should be found, in my
opinion.

Also, the "latest new thing" for skin cancer is tiny amounts of birch
oil (oil pressed from birch bark) added to lotion or emollient of some
kind.  However, it should be good for more than just the skin -- it's
waiting on those double-blind placebo trials we hear so much about.

And by the way, there's nothing wrong with tiny amounts of silver --
occasionally as an 'antibiotic' -- but it won't cure cancer.  And
shouldn't be taken constantly, just occasionally.  And there's silver
in some things you eat; probably most people get all the silver they
need that way.

Pinkfreud: Thanks for your comment! I hope the treatment will be
effective; they caught the cancer in an early stage. All the best (and
I hope you had a good nights sleep;-)

Siggy: Thanks for you comment too; I have been reading about herbal
treatments and I will take a good look at the USDA page. I know there
is nothing wrong with a little silver; but the main problem is that it
is sold as a "cure-all".