

Its medicinal benefits, however, go beyond those of a broom and are used in traditional European herbal therapies. Butcher's broom gets its name from its historical use as a bundle to sweep and clean butcher's blocks throughout the Mediterranean, northern Africa, and the Middle East. Butcher’s broom may also help with water retention and constipation, as well as alleviating dark circles under the eyes.Profile: Ruscus aculeatus is a thorny evergreen shrub with limited growth. Additional signs of unhealthy circulation include hemorrhoids, varicose veins and restless leg syndrome. These symptoms primarily include cramps, heaviness, itching, discomfort and swelling. The most significant signs that you may need butcher’s broom are related to poor circulation, especially in the legs. The tannins and flavonoids in butcher’s broom may help to support healthy inflammation management in the vascular system Supplements containing butcher's broom may help to support healthy artery function. Swelling managementĪ combination of butcher’s broom extract, vitamin C and hespirin may also help to manage swelling in the arms. It is often combined with other ingredients such as hesperidin and vitamin C. Related uses of this dietary supplement include the management of swelling and healthy artery function.īutcher’s broom may help maintain healthy circulation. Support for the circulatory system is one of the most common reasons for taking butcher’s broom extract. This extract also contains many other steroidal saponins that may account for this herb’s effects.

Researchers believe that this effect is primarily caused by ruscogin, which is one of the most pharmaceutically active components in butcher’s broom extract. The intended use of Butcher’s broom in herbal medicine is generally to constrict the veins and strengthen capillary walls. The root-like rhizomes and young stems are the most valuable part of the plant in herbal medicine, although some preparations use the entire plant. However, it was only until the 1950s that butcher’s broom was used in western herbal medicine and its popularity has increased dramatically since the 1970s. The use of butcher’s broom in herbal medicine is more than 2,000 years old and was first documented in ancient Greece. These flowers will eventually develop into red berries. Tiny flowers grow on the cladophylls in late winter and spring and are usually green or white in color. The leaf-like structures that grow on the primary stems are actually flattened stems known as cladophylls.

Butchers broom full#
It grows best in full sun with moist soil, and the ideal growing temperature for butcher’s broom is between 40 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit.īutcher’s broom is a small shrub that can grow to a height of one foot. The young shoots of butcher’s broom may also be prepared and eaten like asparagus.īutcher’s broom originates from Central Europe, although it is now cultivated throughout Europe and the Mediterranean region. It belongs to the Asparagaceae family, which includes asparagus. Support for Blood Circulation Butcher’s Broom Background and Benefitsīutcher´s broom, known scientifically as Ruscus aculeatus, is a flowering plant that also has many other common names such as box holly, knee holly, kneeholm, jew’s myrtle, pettigree and sweet broom.
