Butcher's broom

Butcher's broom is a plant whose root is used to make medicine. Butcher's broom is used for hemorrhoids, gallstones, arteriosclerosis and for symptoms of poor circulation such as pain, heavy legs, leg cramps, varicose veins and swelling. Butcher's broom is also used as a laxative, as a diuretic to increase urine output, to reduce swelling and to speed up the healing of broken bones. In some cultures, the root of butcher's broom is eaten in a similar way to asparagus.

How does butcher's broom work?

The chemicals contained in butcher's broom may cause the blood vessels to constrict. Butcher's broom could improve blood circulation in the legs by preventing blood from pooling in the veins.

How effective is butcher's broom?

Butcher'sbroom may be effective for poor circulation in the legs, including pain, heavy legs, leg cramps, itching and swelling. Taking butcher's broom alone or in combination with vitamin C and hesperidin appears to alleviate symptoms of poor circulation in the legs. There is not enough scientific data to make a statement about the effectiveness of butcher's broom for low blood pressure after standing up. Some clinical studies suggest that butcher's broom may alleviate this problem. There is also insufficient scientific data on the effectiveness of butcher's broom for constipation, hemorrhoids, water retention, bone fractures and circulatory disorders. Further scientific research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of butcher's broom in all these applications.

Safety and side effects

Butcher'sbroom is considered safe and harmless for most people when used for up to three months.

Possible side effects include stomach upset and nausea.

Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: not enough is known about the safety of butcher's broom during pregnancy and breastfeeding. For this reason, pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid butcher's broom to be on the safe side.

Interactions

Care should be taken when using butcher's broom in conjunction with the following medications

Medication for high blood pressure

Butcher'sbroom could stimulate the function of the nervous system, increase blood pressure and accelerate the heartbeat. By increasing blood pressure, butcher's broom may reduce the effectiveness of some medications used for high blood pressure.

Stimulants (alpha-adrenergic agonists)

Butcher'sbroom may stimulate nervous system function, increase blood pressure and speed up the heartbeat. Stimulants can also stimulate the function of the nervous system, increase blood pressure and accelerate the heartbeat. Taking butcher's broom in combination with stimulants could have too strong a stimulating effect. This could increase blood pressure too much and cause the heart to beat too fast.

These stimulants include pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, phenylpropanolamine and others.

Dosage

The following dosages have been investigated in scientific studies:

Oral:

To relieve symptoms of poor circulation (chronic venous insufficiency): 150 mg butcher's broom extract in combination with 150 mg hesperidin and 100 mg ascorbic acid twice daily

References

1. Beltramino R, Penenory A, Buceta AM. An open-label, randomized multicenter study comparing the efficacy and safety of Cyclo 3 Fort versus hydroxyethyl rutoside in chronic venous lymphatic insufficiency. Angiology 2000;51:535-44.
2. Cappelli R, Nicora M, Di Perri T. Use of extract of Ruscus aculeatus in venous disease in the lower limbs. Drugs Exp Clin Res 1988;14:277-83.
3. Redman DA. Ruscus aculeatus (butcher's broom) as a potential treatment for orthostatic hypotension, with a case report. J Altern Complement Med 2000;6:539-49.
4. Vanscheidt W, Jost V, Wolna P, et al. Efficacy and safety of a Butcher's broom preparation (Ruscus aculeatus L. extract) compared to placebo in patients suffering from chronic venous insufficiency. Arzneimittelforschung 2002;52:243-250.