Mistletoe was already used as a medicinal herb in the days of the druids, and to this day it is also considered a symbol of love. Under their hanging branches you can kiss at Christmas time. Mistletoe, on the other hand, is dried as a tea herb.
Dried mistletoe can be used for tea
When should I dry mistletoe?
Mistletoe is particularly easy to collect in autumn or winter, when the trees on which the mistletoe grows have shed their leaves. In January and February, collecting is often discouraged due to the lack of healing properties. If the new shoots start in spring, finding them in the treetop that is green again becomes more difficult. Accordingly, you should collect and dry mistletoe between autumn and spring.
What do you do with dried mistletoe?
Dried mistletoe can be used to prepare a tea that is said to have a variety of effects. Unlike other herbs, however, mistletoe tea is prepared as a cold extract. When the herb is heated, the toxins it contains can be released and thus transferred to the tea. It is essential to avoid this! Poultices with mistletoe tea are said to relieve varicose veins and eczema and also help with rheumatic pains.
tips
For regular internal use, it is advisable to buy mistletoe tea in the pharmacy, where the active ingredient concentration should be checked.
How is mistletoe dried?
Only cut young mistletoe leaves and shoots and clean them thoroughly. You also remove all berries, they are not dried. Hang the drying goods in a dry, warm and airy place. An attic is often a good choice. After drying, the herb should be stored in a dry and dark place. Moisture makes it moldy easily.
The essentials in brief:
- collect between autumn and spring, not during frost
- Do not damage host tree
- Cut collectibles into small pieces
- hang in a dry and warm place
- Caution: raw mistletoe is considered to be slightly toxic
- keep dry and protected from light
- use in small doses, for example externally for rheumatic pains
- for internal use it is better to use tea from the pharmacy
tips
If you would like to collect mistletoe in nature, this is generally permitted for private use. However, it is essential to avoid damage to the host tree.