General Description
Butcher's broom (also known as knee holly and Jew's myrtle) is a
perennial evergreen shrub found throughout Northwest Europe and
the Mediterranean region. The plant reaches up to 90 centimeters
in height, with erect, striated stems, from which grow numerous
short branches. Butcher's broom is essentially leafless, but displays
numerous false leaves, which are actually expanded, flattened areas
of the branches, near the tips. From the centers of the false leaves
grow single, greenish-white flowers, which are in turn succeeded
by bright red berries. The plant's thick, white root is used medicinally.
Health Applications
- Vascular health
- Varicose veins
- Hermorrhoids
History and Traditional Use
Butcher's broom received its name because the stalks were once
bound together to make crude brooms, which were used to sweep
butcher's shops. The young shoots were often eaten like asparagus,
which they somewhat resemble. Because the berries remain attatched
to the plant all winter, butcher's broom was often used for a
room decoration, much the same as holly. The root of the plant
was used for a variety of medicinal purposes for over 2,000 years.
Dioscorides and other ancient physicians prescribed it as a mild
laxative and diuretic.1 The 17th century British herbalist
Nicholas Culpeper prescribed butcher's broom decoctions for liver
disorders, kidney stones, congestion, and to aid the healing of
broken bones.2 Modern herbalists recommend butcher's
broom to ease discomforts associated with chronic venous insufficiency,
such as leg cramps, itching, and swelling; and as a supportive
therapy for itching and burning associated with hemorrhoids.3
Chemical Composition
Butcher's broom root contains a mixture of sterols, fatty acids,
and phenolic substances.4 The primary active constituents
are believed to be the steroidal saponins known as ruscogenin
and neoruscogenin, which have shown the ability to constrict blood
vessels in laboratory tests.5 Butcher's broom extracts
are often standardized for consistent ruscogenin concentration.
Vascular Health
Most of the research conducted on butcher's broom has centered
on the herb's ability to dilate blood vessels, particularly those
of the lower limbs. In laboratory studies, researchers at the
Mayo Clinic have observed that butcher's broom extract appears
to lessen the appearance of varicose veins, apparently via multiple
biological pathways.6 In one study conducted on 20
healthy subjects, butcher's broom extract reduced the blood pool
in the lower legs and decreased tissue volume of the foot and
ankle.7 Other studies have shown a combination of butcher's
broom extract, vitamin C, and the flavonoid hesperidin to provide
significant improvement in symptoms of venous insufficiency of
the legs.8-10 Topical preparations of butcher's broom
extract have also been shown to reduce leg vein size in clinical
trials.11,12
Dosage/Toxicity
For supportive therapy for discomforts due to chronic venous insufficiency
or hemorrhoids, Germany's Commission E recommends a daily dosage
of butcher's broom providing the equivalent of 7 to 11 mg of total
ruscogenin (determined as the sum of neoruscogenin and ruscogenin
after fermentation or acid hydrolysis). Butcher's broom has no
known toxicity and is well tolerated at this dosage range, although,
in rare cases, gastric disorders or nausea may occur.3
Topical butcher's broom preparations have not been associated
with any adverse effects. |
