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Butcher's Broom

Butcher's broom is a small evergreen shrub, a member of the lily family, which grows in the European areas and North Africa. It has tough, green, barkless stems which send out many short branches with rigid leaves. In the spring it produces small greenish-white flowers. It resembles holy and mistletoe. The name "butcher's broom" probably comes from the old-time practice of using bunches of the twigs tied together to scrub butcher's chopping blocks to remove grease.

Butcher's broom contains: glycolic acid, a diuretic that decreases cholesterol levels and prevents coagulation in the blood; steroidal saponins which lower the level of cholesterol and help prevent atherosclerosis; saponosides and prosapogenins rusiogenises, which are anti-inflammatory and vasoconstricting.

Butcher's broom is a mild astringent with anti-inflammatory, deobstruent (removes obstructions in the system), diaphoretic, diuretic and vasoconstrictive properties.

Butcher's broom has been known for 2,000 years for its healing properties, especially for its benefits to the circulatory system. Theophrastus (c 325 BC.), Pliny (60 AD.) describe its healing of the lame by reducing swellings, and flattening varicose veins in some patients.

There is little doubt that this product has a fortifying effect on the vessel-wall muscles and definite anti-inflammatory properties. Hence, butcher's broom is an excellent remedy for varicose veins, prevention of blood clots, prevention of post-operative thrombosis and hardening of the arteries. For these purposes butcher's broom is best used in combination with other circulatory herbs such as capsicum, hawthorn, ginkgo and garlic. It may also be combined with vitamins, minerals or other medications for circulatory disorders.