shusters-and-Using Mistletoe with dried flowers
Using Mistletoe
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In order to bring you an informative article on mistletoe I found wikipedia on the web, where I learned about mistletoe and its many uses, such as how it grows, what trees it favors, medicinal uses, Celtic rituals, and why mistletoe is associated with Christmas, and its importance during the Christmas Holiday.
According to wikipedia information; mistletoe is being used in some areas as cancer treatment (leafy shoots & berries are made into extracts) that can be taken by mouth. European mistletoe was used for centuries to treat seizures, headaches, cancer with side effects such as poisonous, taken raw; itching and redness from injections, low-grade fever, & flue-like symptoms. In the United States mistletoe is available only in clinical trials by injection. Laboratory studies show mistletoe kills cancer cells & stimulates the immune system.
Mistletoe is an evergreen parasitic (most are hemi-parasitic plants) in the order of Santalales, growing in trees producing sugar thru photosynthesis, tapping into stems and roots for water and minerals. Birds feed-off & digest the berries, excreting seeds that stick to branches, bringing about infestation of larger older trees, causing a nuisance to the timber industry. When replacing infected trees, the ideal method is plant trees that are resistant to mistletoe. For treatment of existing trees, it is important to remove mistletoe before it produces seeds by mechanical means. Another method is thru chemical control, using ethephon spray, thoroughly wetting the mistletoe, at daytime temperature of sixty five degrees.
Moving-on to lighter notes and fun facts about mistletoe takes us to Hill City, South Dakota and the famous Mistletoe Ranch, where they celebrate Christmas all year round, where you will find marvelous decorations and exquisite ornaments. They tell the legend that ancient Druids considered Mistletoe to be sacred plants, for use in curing illness, antidote for poisons (thou poisonous itself), protection from witchcraft, and source of good luck. Whenever armies met under mistletoe in the forest, they had to lay down their arms & observe a truce until the next day. From this comes the custom of hanging a sprig of mistletoe above a door frame or hang it from the ceiling of the dwelling, wander beneath a sprig of mistletoe, you became fair game for a quick kiss. While visiting the Black Hills I had the pleasure of Stopping & Shopping this ultimate Christmas store.
One of the largest Dried Flower Wholesalers in the USA got its start in the industry in 1950 with the gathering, packaging & selling of mistletoe, which soon escalated into the flourishing business it is today. I am looking forward to hanging sprigs of mistletoe, allowing lots of kissing time, while listening to my new Christmas single by smash sensation Colbie Caillat. MERRY CHRISTMAS all.
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