Butchers Broom

Chemicals in butcher's broom strengthen certain parts of blood vessels, notably collagen. As a result, butcher's broom tightens blood vessels, which helps to keep blood circulating throughout the body. Butchers broom also acts to improve the flexibility of blood vessel walls. Therefore, less blood leaks out of weak, stretched vessels such as those that cause haemorrhoids. Butcher's broom may also lessen symptoms associated with chronic venous insufficiency, a condition that occurs when valves in the veins that carry blood back to the heart are weak or damaged. The blood that may collect in the veins of the legs can lead to varicose veins, spider veins, or sores on the legs. Chronic venous insufficiency can have more serious effects, which may include blood clots in the legs. Butcher's broom is also a mild diuretic. Because butcher's broom helps to keep fluids from leaking out of blood vessels into surrounding tissue, more body fluid is filtered through the kidneys and eliminated in urine. This effect may lessen swelling. Butcher's broom is also being investigated for the treatment of orthostatic hypotension, which is a drop in blood pressure after standing up. Dizziness, falling, or fainting may result. Butcher's broom may reduce orthostatic hypertension without raising blood pressure as some other treatments do.
Butchers broom is not recommended during pregnancy, while breast-feeding, or during early childhood.
Because it tightens blood vessels, butchers broom may worsen high blood pressure or benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). Individuals with either of these conditions should not use any form of butchers broom without first consulting a doctor.
Taking butchers broom by mouth has been associated with infrequent and mild stomach upset or nausea. Since few reliable studies of its use have been conducted in humans, however, butcher's broom may have side effects that are not yet known. Individuals who experience unexplained side effects while taking butcher's broom should stop taking it and tell a doctor or pharmacist about the side effects.
Even though no interactions have been reported between butcher's broom and prescription drugs, non-prescription drugs, other herbal supplements, or foods, butcher's broom may interfere with medications for high blood pressure due to its constricting effect on blood vessels.
Several of the saponins in butcher's broom are collectively called "ruscogenin" and some butcher's broom preparations are standardized to contain set amounts of ruscogenin-generally between 5 mg and 15 mg.
The number of capsules to take and the number of times per day to take them varies greatly according to the butchers broom product being used and the condition being treated. Anyone who chooses to take a product that contains butchers broom should follow the directions.