Butcher's Broom
Botanical Description & Habitat
Ruscus aculeatus
Family
Asparagaceae (Liliaceae)
Habitat
Native to Mediterranean regions, from the Azores to Iran
Medicinal Parts
Roots
Historical Properties & Uses
The folklore history of butcher's broom dates back to the time of Greek civilization. Laxative and diuretic uses for the whole plant were described by Dioscorides. The plant grew abundantly in the Mediterranean region, from the Azores to Iran, and was, therefore, widely used by the people of these areas.
European herbalists recommended butcher's broom for various ailments, including the mending of broken bones, but despite such recommendations, butcher's broom never became a very popular herb.
It wasn't until the middle of this century a truly promising use for the plant was found. It was the rhizomes (underground stems) of the plant, not the herb, that contained the active principles. The ruscogenins were discovered during the routine search for new sapogenins suitable for use as raw materials in the preparation of steroids.
French scientists were the first to reveal butcher's broom extract possessed vasoconstriction (blood vessel narrowing) and anti-inflammatory properties. Since that time, the extract has become very popular in European medicine as a treatment for venous circulatory disorders (especially for women complaining of a heavy sensation in the legs), as well as hemorrhoidal ailments.
This herb has approval status by the German Commission E for use with venous insufficiency, as well as leg cramps, itching and swelling.
References:
Blumenthal, M (Ed.): The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council. Austin, TX. 1998.
Method of Action
The active components of butcher's broom are ruscogenins. In guaranteed potency form, these saponins should be present in a 10% concentration.
Whole butcher's broom should be used, since isolated ruscogenins may not possess the same activity or lack of toxicity as whole plant materials.
Butcher's broom products that are not carefully manufactured are often found to be seriously lacking in ruscogenin content. Like all saponins, the ruscogenins are steroidal in structure.
Ruscogenin is the aglycone of ruscin. Neo-ruscogenin, another steroidal saponin, is also biologically active, and its presence in the guaranteed potency herb preparation is counted with ruscogenin. This is done, even though the two aglycones occur in variable amounts of each, depending on the region where the butcher's broom rhizomes were gathered, because the two chemicals are almost identical, both in chemistry and in activity.
The aglycones are more similar to each other than are isomers (which are identical except for rotation); neo-ruscogenin simply has one more double bond than ruscogenin.
Reports from the early '50's showed that simple alcohol extracts of whole butcher's broom rhizomes were every effective in constricting peripheral blood vessels.
Concomitant toxicological screenings suggested the herb was extremely safe to use, much more than other preparations being used to treat hemorrhoids.
Based on the low toxicity findings, several pharmaceutical houses quickly prepared creams, salves and ointments for testing as external applications to hemorrhoids in human patients. The results were highly significant.
Clinical trials with external preparations have been supported down through the years by continued pharmacological investigation of the vasoconstrictive effects.
Besides the simple vasoconstrictor action, butcher's broom tones up a sluggish venous system and reduces capillary fragility. An enzymatic effect reduces pain and swelling.
Insufficient circulation to the extremities is reversed. This pertains also to circulation problems involving the retina.
It wasn't until the mid '60's and later, the anti-inflammatory property of butcher's broom was established. In carrageenin and beer yeast-induced edema studies, butcher's broom demonstrated good anti-inflammatory effects compared to several standard anti-inflammatory drugs.
Perhaps the most extensive pharmacological study was conducted in Europe in 1972. This study not only compared the anti-inflammatory effect of butcher's broom with several additional agents, it reported good efficacy of butcher's broom in other aspects. For example, butcher's broom reduced capillary permeability in the rabbit, and thereby stabilized the flow of nutrients, toxins and other particulate matter across venous membranes. But it did not have this effect on capillaries in rats.
The reasons for this species difference were not clear, but the result clearly suggested the necessity for more research on the cardiovascular properties of butcher's broom. No changes in blood pressure were noted, nor was any toxic activity seen in heart muscle preparations.
Some researchers had worried butcher's broom might possess some hemolytic property. This problem, evidenced by the rupture of red blood cells with release of hemoglobin into the plasma, is common with many anti-inflammatory drugs. The hemolytic action of butcher's broom proved negligible, less than others, even when doses were adjusted for equal anti-inflammatory action.
Other variables measured over long periods of butcher's broom ingestion, without significant change, included body weight, blood sugar levels, hepatic function, diuresis, electrolyte secretion, and morphological/anatomical appearance of cells, blood and organs.
Butcher's Broom for Hemorrhoids
By far, the most research has been on hemorrhoids and related conditions. Without attempting a lengthy review of rather mundane and repetitious research here, we can summarize by stating the vast majority of results were positive. Both external and internal hemorrhoids yielded to repeated application of butcher's broom, over several days or weeks. Inflammatory states of the ano-rectal mucosa were quickly reduced in size (and pain), and the return of a healthy appearance was achieved within a short time.
Butcher's Broom for Circulation Disorders
Circulation disorders of the legs have also been the subject of considerable research activity.
Dramatic improvement in both subjective and objective measures is observed within days. The ubiquitous "heaviness in the legs" symptom, commonly reported by mothers and working women, responds to treatment, in most studies, within days to a few weeks.
More resistant to permanent alteration, but still capable of cure, are varicose veins, varicose ulcers, and surface veins. Phlebitis, resulting from insufficient circulation, and associated complications ranging from edema to varices, have all yielded to treatment with butcher's broom.
In ophthalmological trials, such conditions as diabetic retinopathy (including microaneurysms and punctate exudates) and retinal hemorrhaging have been successfully treated with butcher's broom.
Butcher's Broom in Post-operative Recovery
In hospital settings, butcher's broom has been used to accelerate post-operative recovery, especially where there was prolonged and heavy bleeding, or when anti-coagulant therapy was being administered, or in patients suffering from phlebitis.
Finally, research has shown chilblains (a common vasomotor disorder of the extremities) can be successfully treated with butcher's broom. Chilblains are usually the result of sensitivity to cold, brought on by circulatory disturbances (not to be confused with frostbite). The toning effect of butcher's broom on the peripheral capillaries could be responsible for its therapeutic effect on chilblains. Chilblains arising from other causes are not susceptible to treatment with butcher's broom.
Drug Interactions & Precautions
Possible Interactions
The antiinflammatory activity of butcher's broom can be seriously inhibited by phenobarbital and certain other sedatives and hypnotics (chloral hydrate, meprobamate, etc.), as well as a beta-adrenergic blocking agents (propranolol).
Colchicine may increase sensitivity or enhance the response to butcher's broom.
The sympathomimetic action of the uterine relaxant Ritodrine Hydrochloride and the vasocontricting property of butcher's broom are additive.
Safety Factors & Toxicity
Side effects, apart from occasional nausea or gastritis, are not known to have occurred using therapeutic doses. Studies on toxicity have shown a remarkable lack of such effects, even at high doses.
This herb has approval status by the German Commission E.
References:
Blumenthal, M (Ed.): The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council. Austin, TX. 1998.
Preparation & Administration
Butcher's broom, in guaranteed potency form, as recommended here, is available in capsules.
Normal dose is 100mg daily.
This herb has approval status by the German Commission E for use with venous insufficiency, as well as leg cramps, itching and swelling.
Daily dosage of the raw extract is 7 - 11 mg total ruscogenin.
References:
Blumenthal, M (Ed.): The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council. Austin, TX. 1998.
Note: This Herbal Preparation information is a summary of data from books and articles by various authors. It is not intended to replace the advice or attention of health care professionals.
References
Blumenthal, M (Ed.): The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council. Austin, TX. 1998.
Capra, C. Studio farmacologico e tossicologico di componenti del ruscus aculeatus L. Fitoterapia, 43, 99, 1972.
Cahn, Herold & Sanault. Antiphlogistic and anti-inflammatory activity of F 191. Int. Symp. Non Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs. Milano, 1964.
Capelli, R et al., Use of extract of Ruscus Aculeatus in venous disease of the lower limbs. Drugs Exp. Clin. Res. 1988, 14(4):277.
Caujolle, F., W. Stanilas, G. Roux & P. Labrot. Recherches pharmacologiques sur l'intrait de ruscus aculeatus L. 69e Congres Assoc. Fr. Avanc. Sci., Toulose, 1950.
Maujolle, F., P. Meriel & E. Stanilas. Sur la valeur du fragon en medication antihemorroidaire. Therapie, 7, 428, 1952.
Caujolle, Meriel & Stanilas. Sur les proprietes pharmacologiques de ruscus aculeatus L. Ann. Pharm. Franc., 11, 109, 1953.
Chabanon, R. Experimentation du proctolog dans les hemorroides et les fissures anales. Gaz. Med. de France, 83, 3013, 1976.
Chevillard, L, M. Ranson & B. Senault. Activite anti-inflammatoire d'extraits de fragon epineux (ruscus aculeatus L.). Med. Pharmacol. Exp., 12, 109-114, 1964.
Cohen, J. Fraitement par le ruscus des incidences veineuses de la contraception orale. Vie Medicale, X, 1305, 1977.
El Sohly, MA: Constituents of Ruscus aculeatus. Lloydia, 1975, 38(2):106.
The Lawrence Review of Natural Products. Sep, 1991.
Lemozy, J., P. Suduca, J.M. Garrigues & A. Saint-Pierre. Interet du proctolog dans le traitment des hemorroides et des fissures anales. Mediterranee Med., 92, 87, 1976.
Marcelon, G., T.J. Verbeuren, H. Lauressergues & P.M. Vanhoutte. Effect of ruscus aculeatus on isolated canine cutaneous veins. Pharmacology, 14, 103, 1983.
Moscarella, C. Contribution a l'etude pharmacologique du ruscus aculeatus L. (fragon epineux). These de Pharmacie, Toulouse, 1953.
Mowrey, Daniel B., Ph.D. Exper. Psych., Brigham Young University. Director of Nebo Institute of Herbal Sciences. Director of Behavior Change Agent Training Institute. Director of Research, Nova Corp.
Pris, J. Proctolog - utilisation dans un service d'hematologie. Gaz. Med. France, 84, 2423, 1977.
Rubanyi, G., G. Marcelon & P.M. Vanhoutte. Effect of temperature on the responsiveness of cutaneous veins to the extract of ruscus aculeatus. Gen. Pharmac., in press.
Sterboul & Krawiecki. Etude clinique d'un vasomoteur veineux. Extrait de fragon epineux. Gaz. Hop. Civils et Militaires, 134, 375, 1962.
Tarayre, J.P. & H. Lauressergues. Etude de quelques proprietes pharmacologiques d'une association vasculotrope. Ann. Pharm. Franc., 34, 375, 1976.
Tarayre, J.P. & H. Lauressergues. Action anti-oedemateuse d'une association enzymes proteolytiques, flavonoides, heterosides de ruscus aculeatus et acide ascorbique. Ann. Pharm. Franc., 37, 191, 1979.
Verne, J.M., C. de Montrichard, L. Chevillard & M. Ranson. Ann. de Chirurgie, 14, 1221-1251, 1960.
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