What are the effects of butcher’s broom?
The rootstock of butcher’s broom contains steroid saponins (ruscogenins such as ruscoside and ruscin), phytosterols and triterpenes, as well as a small amount of essential oil. Together, these ingredients increase vascular tone and seal the delicate walls of the smallest vessels (capillaries).
In addition, butcher’s broom has anti-inflammatory and diuretic effects and protects against water retention (edema-protective). The medicinal plant is therefore recognized as a traditional herbal medicine for the adjuvant treatment of:
- Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) with pain and heaviness in the legs, night cramps in the calves, itching and swelling due to water retention in the tissues.
- Hemorrhoid complaints such as itching and burning at the anus
Folk medicine also uses butcher’s broom as a diuretic and diaphoretic, such as for kidney pain and bladder stones. However, the effectiveness of the plant in these cases has not been scientifically proven.
How is butcher’s broom used?
For the production of finished preparations such as capsules or tablets, the dry extract obtained from the root is used. You can find out how to use the preparations correctly from the respective package insert or from your doctor or pharmacist.
Home remedies based on medicinal plants have their limits. If your symptoms persist for a long time, do not improve or even get worse despite treatment, you should always consult a doctor.
What side effects can butcher’s broom cause?
Occasionally, stomach pain, nausea or diarrhea occur after taking butcher’s broom preparations.
What you should be aware of when using butcher’s broom
- You must use butcher’s broom preparations for several months for the treatment to be successful. To avoid vein problems in the warm summer months, you should start taking it in the spring.
- If the treatment causes diarrhea, discontinue the preparation.
- Do not use butcher’s broom during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- Talk to your doctor if you are taking kidney or blood pressure medications. There may be some interactions.
How to get butcher’s broom products
You can get butcher’s broom preparations such as tablets, capsules and drops in your pharmacy and drugstore. Before use, please read the respective package insert or ask your doctor or pharmacist.
What is butcher’s broom?
Butcher’s broom (Ruscus aculeatus) belongs to the asparagus family (Asparagaceae). The evergreen shrub grows in dry locations in the Mediterranean region and from North Africa to the Near East.
From the appearance, leaves seem to grow on the richly branched stems. However, these triangular to lanceolate, leathery hard and up to 2.5 centimeters long outgrowths are leaf-like broadened side shoots of the stems (phylloclades). Nevertheless, they take over the tasks of leaves by producing the vital substances via photosynthesis.
The actual leaves of the butcher’s broom are inconspicuous scales and fall off early. About the middle of the false leaves bloom small white flowers that ripen into red berries in the fall. Butcher’s broom then looks very decorative and is often used for flower arrangements.
