Broom broom is a plant species that belongs to the butterfly family (Faboideae). However, it has nothing to do with the brooms (Genista), but is assigned to the honeysuckle (Cytisus). It is used in various fields, including as an ornamental plant and in folk medicine.
Occurrence and cultivation of broom broom
In folk medicine, broom is used especially for problems of the cardiovascular system. The winter-hardy switchgrass shrub can grow between one and two meters high. In some cases, broom is also summer-bare and usually does not grow older than twelve years. It is a deep rooter with root nodules. In addition, broom has long, dense green twigs. The leaves are alternate and tripartite. In the upper parts of the twigs, the leaves appear in clusters. Broom forms legumes and has a very unique flower shape. The butterfly shape of the flowers causes the name of the subfamily. As a rule, the flowers are yellow and are pollinated by large bumblebees. The mechanism used for this, in which pollen is ejected, is called the explosion mechanism. Broomrape cannot self-pollinate.Pod dispersal occurs as rolled thumbs or via the crop of pigeons. Dispersal via ants is also possible. The young plants grow almost a meter high in the first year. They are fast-growing. Only from the fourth year the growth decreases strongly. Broom can be found in pastures, along forest edges, or in forest clearings. It also grows in sparse oak and hornbeam forests, provided the soil is acidic. Areas where it can be found particularly often are the Sauerland, the Rhenish Slate Mountains and the Eifel. The reason for this is the alternating field and heath farming practiced there. Low-nitrogen, loamy or sandy soils are preferred. Calcareous soils hardly provide a habitat for broom. The plant is primarily native to Western and Central Europe. Too harsh a climate does not suit it, so it is not found in the Alps, for example. Broom can be found at altitudes of up to 900 meters. The plant also breaks up the soil and enriches nutrient-poor soils with nitrogen. As a result, in places where broom has grown, conifers can grow well afterwards. This is a characteristic that broom has in common with other butterfly plants, which used to be called legumes. Because of its high protein content, it forms symbiotic relationships with certain soil bacteria. This provides for the enrichment with stock material. The plant is not endangered and is common.
Effect and application
Preceding the use, it is necessary to take up the toxicity of the plant. Broom broom is poisonous in all parts because of the alkaloids it contains and because of the flavone glycoside scoparin. It contains sparteine, lupanine and hydroxylupanine. The active ingredients have toxic effects on humans as well as on some animals. Therefore, broom must be used as a medicinal plant only in very small amounts. Symptoms of poisoning are dizziness, headache, vomiting and diarrhea. In addition, in severe cases, circulatory collapse with tachycardia may occur. In addition, cardiac arrhythmia, low blood pressure or hypotension may occur. Said phenomena can occur already after the consumption of five to ten seeds. On the one hand, broom is used as winter food for deer and hares, on the other hand, as an ornamental shrub. This is especially true when the flower colors differ from the standard. For example, various cultivated forms have pink or reddish butterfly flowers. In addition, it is used as a soil conditioner due to its nodule bacteria. Besides the above-mentioned toxins, broom contains biogenic amines such as dopamine and ryamine. Apart from these, the flowers contain essential oils and flavonoids such as astragaline. Due to the alkaloid content, broomrape has a positive effect on health in small quantities. Both the young twigs and the flower buds are used. Both are used in folk medicine and traditional medicine. Both ready-made preparations and tea mixtures can be found in pharmacies. Broom broom is processed into drops, tablets or injection solutions. These may contain up to one percent of the drug. Of the drug, especially the green, dried shoots with leaves and twigs are used. In addition, flowers and leaves are also processed in remedies.
Importance for health, treatment and prevention.
In folk medicine, broom is used especially for problems of the cardiovascular system. In precisely measured quantities, the herb can be taken for cardiac arrhythmias to balance the circulation. This reduces the excitability of the heart and alleviates symptoms such as palpitations, anxiety, dizziness and chest tightness. It can also reduce palpitations. The heartbeat is slowed down and stabilized. From a folkloric point of view, broom is already sufficient to alleviate symptoms in cases of mild discomfort. In addition, the plant is used against edema and as a diuretic. Edema is water retention in the tissues, while diuretics are diuretic drugs. In earlier times, people used the plant to treat snakebites or cure heart weaknesses. In addition, the herb was said to promote labor pains. Sparteine is still used today to induce childbirth. The plant’s effect against snakebites is based on immunizing sheep against viper bites. These are said to have previously eaten broom. However, there are no study results on the mentioned effects. Therefore, the intake should always be discussed with a medical professional. In addition, people who are allergic to any of the active ingredients should refrain from taking broom. The same applies to infants and children who have not yet reached the age of twelve. If symptoms of poisoning occur, a doctor should be consulted immediately.
