Butcher's Broom

Butcher’s broom is an evergreen herb of the lily family that is found in the Europe and North America. It is a shrub with green bark, short branches and rigid leaves. This herb is commonly used to treat varicose veins and hemorrhoids, as well as a host of other medical conditions.

It is because its stiff twigs were often bound together and used by the butchers of Europe to keep their boards clean that the herb R.aculeatus got its common name, ‘butcher’s broom’. Though its extracts, poultices and decoctions were used throughout the ages, its medicinal uses came to light only in the last century.

The ruscogenins found in the butcher’s broom extract helps in the narrowing of the blood vessels and reduction of inflammation and swelling. It is also proven effective in the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency which is a condition that resembles varicose veins. This amazing herb is used in numerous forms, such as a laxative, cytotoxic agent, diuretic and treatment for circulatory diseases. It is also valuable as an anti-inflammatory agent that is used to prevent atherosclerosis.

The glycolic acid in butcher’s broom works as a diuretic that decreases cholesterol levels and thus prevents the coagulation of blood. Steroidal saponins found in butcher’s broom lowers the level of cholesterol and prevent atherosclerosis. Butcher’s broom is mainly used to help in the microcirculation of the skin. It helps in decreasing capillary permeability and when used in skin care, it increases circulation, decreases edema and swelling, and fights cellulite.

Many parts of the butcher’s broom are applied in the treatment of constipation, urinary tract infections, kidney stones and various gastrointestinal problems. It is mainly the roots and young stems of the plant that are used for medicinal purposes. In addition to ruscogenin, you will also find neuruscogenin in the butcher’s broom, which is the element that contains medicinal properties. However, it has not been proven that it is absolutely safe to use butcher’s broom when pregnant or when lactating. So, try not to take it when you are expecting unless you have approval from a qualified physician.

Since butcher’s broom is effective in fighting cellulite, it is used in many anti-cellulite creams. It is also found in ointments and suppositories to treat hemorrhoids. Butcher’s broom extracts are capsulated with vitamin C or flavonoid to help treat venous insufficiency. It is recommended that you take 1,000 mg of butcher’s broom thrice a day for the best results.