Health Benefits of Butcher’s broom

The botanical name of butcher’s broom is Ruscus aculeatus. L., which belongs to the Liliaceae family. Europe is the native place of this shrub. However this herb is widely found in the Mediterranean region, African countries, Azores islands, west of Portugal, and Iran. Locally this herb is referred to as butcher’s broom may due to the presence of hard root in it or potent antibacterial effect of this herb cut or destroy the bacteria and sweep-out from the body. The herbal extract of butcher’s broom is used as veterinary medicine. This herb is topically applied to treat mastitis in cattle. In European countries, butcher’s broom in combination with other herbal extract is locally applied to treat mammary edema in cattle, horses, sheep due to its anti-inflammatory property. Traditionally this herbal remedy is used to improve the blood circulation due to its anti-contestant effect.

Almost 2000 years back, herbal history found that this herb was used as laxative and diuretic in different European countries. In folk medicine, water or wine-soaked rootstock used to treat abdominal complaints. Century ago, Greek physicians recommended butcher’s broom to remove a kidney stone. During the 17th century, Nicholas Culpepper, an English herbalist prescribed an oral dose of decoction of the woody part of the root and external application of a poultice made up of berries on the fractured bone for healing purpose. Butcher’s broom products are registered as traditional herbal medicines after finalizing Community Herbal Monograph in 2008 under the European Medicines Agency.

Phytochemicals present in butcher’s broom

The rhizome of butcher’s broom contains steroid saponins, which is the primary constituent of this herb. Aglycones, neuroscogenin, ruscine, ruscogenin, rucoside are different types of steroid saponins. Along with these, different types of flavonoids are also present in this herb.

What is the Mode of action of butcher’s broom followed to prevent and cure diseases?

The dried rhizomes of this herb are usually therapeutically recommended. Steroidal saponins and ruscinogens are bioactive compounds provide several health benefits.

Butcher’s broom is typically used as venous insufficiency, as it helps to increase the venous tone. Application of butcher’s broom containing herbal remedy exerts an electrolyte-like reaction on the capillary cell wall, it also reduces inflammation due to its antiphlogistic action.

This herb helps to contract veins for consistent blood flow. This can be achieved by increasing the noradrenaline activity in the synaptic regions of the nerve and also stimulates the activity of the alpha receptor. Venotopic and vascular protective effect of Butcher’s broom provides symptomatic relief from hemorrhoidal disorders.

Different Forms of butcher’s broom

There are different butcher’s broom herbal formulations are available in the market. Ruscogenins is a butcher’s broom herbal formulation contains steroid saponins, phytosterols, and triterpenes, the combination of bioactive phytochemicals of this herb. Apart from this, the following are different dosage forms available in herbal medicinal shops:

Butcher’s broom rhizome powder
Dried aqueous extract and Dried ethanolic extract are also available. These extracts also available in tablet and capsules forms.
Ruscugenines is a herbal product of butcher’s broom available in European countries. Ointment and suppositories are two dosage forms are useful to treat hemorrhoidal crisis.

The usual recommended dose of butcher’s broom is 36.0 to 37.5 mg twice a day. The aim to calculate the dose is to supply 7 to 11 mg of ruscogenin daily. It is also necessary to mention that the formulated dosage forms of butcher’s broom rhizome with recommended dose is essential to intake for obtaining the benefit of this herb. Homemade butcher’s broom preparations like herbal tea prepared with butcher’s broom rhizome unable to treat chronic venous insufficiency due to insufficient dosing.

Uses of butcher’s broom

Chronic Venous Insufficiency

Butcher’s broom herbal remedy is recommended as supportive therapy in the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency. This herbal remedy gives effective result to relieve symptoms like pain, cramps, and heaviness in the legs. Butcher’s broom improves blood circulation by contracting the veins. It helps to reduce swelling and edema in the legs due to its venotropic action.

A multi-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial conducted by Vanscheidt W, et. al in 2002 confirmed that Butcher’s broom herbal remedy is effective and safe to treat lower leg edema in patients with chronic venous insufficiency. According to this study research result, regular oral ingestion of Butcher’s broom preparation gives symptomatic relief associated with chronic venous insufficiency.

Another double-blind trial conducted on 166 women participants who had chronic venous insufficiency to check the efficacy of butcher’s broom. The study participants receive either placebo or butcher’s broom tablets with a dose of 36.0 to 37.5 mg of a methanol dry extract for 12 week treatment period. The study result showed the swelling of leg significantly lowered compared to placebo. This study result also indicates the positive effect of treatment with butcher’s broom formulation.

Hemorrhoids Treatment

German Commission E. approved butcher’s broom herb for treating hemorrhoids condition. It gives relief from itching and burning sensation. A multi-centered clinical trial supports the safety and efficacy of this herb in treating hemorrhoids condition. This study reported that 69 percent of the hemorrhoids affected patients get benefitted from this herbal treatment. This herbal preparation can also effective to treat pregnancy-related varicosities, one of the primary cause of hemorrhoids development. Treating with this herb can rectify venous insufficiency and research study also support its safety in using this medication pregnancy. The estimated dose of this herbal preparation obtained from clinical research is 30–60 drops alcoholic tincture thrice a day.

Lymph-Edema

Lymph-edema is usually a common complaint after breast cancer surgery. In this condition, significant swelling of the arm is noticeable. A double-blind study conducted on 57 women who had lymph-edema to evaluate the butcher’s broom efficacy. In this research, the study participants received either placebo or combination therapy of butcher’s broom with modified citrus bioflavonoid trimethylhesperidin chalcone. The study result showed that combination therapy significantly reduces lymph-edema.

Orthostatic Hypotension

Autonomic nervous system disorders lead to autonomic insufficiency, which is a contributory factor of Chronic orthostatic hypotension (OH). Vasoconstrictive action and venotonic properties of butcher’s broom ameliorates the symptoms of orthostatic hypotension. This herbal treatments also improve the quality of life of the affected patients.

Diabetic Retinopathy

Herbal experts expect butcher’s broom can control diabetic retinopathy. A small scale trial conducted to check the efficacy of this herbal medicine reported that butcher’s broom can control the progression of diabetic retinopathy and some study participants (23.1%) improve their conditions.

Premenstrual Syndrome

Butcher’s broom alleviates premenstrual syndrome, such as mood disorders, mastalgia, and ankle edema. The researchers recommended 2 capsules of butcher’s broom in a day for three months helps to improve the patient’s conditions.

Safety and Precautionary Measures

Yet now no research data available for the evaluation of the safety issues of butcher’s broom during pregnancy and lactation. Therefore, experts are not recommending butcher’s broom containing medication to pregnant or nursing mothers. There is no definite clinical trial conducted for pediatric application of this herb, so keep away this medicine from children and adolescents. The side effects associated with butcher’s broom include nausea and stomach discomfort associated with oral intake. However, such type of side effects rare with the recommended dose or topical application. There is no history found with drug-drug interaction. No research data found carcinogenic, mutagenic, reproductive toxicity.