Weeds & Seeds Swap

It has been a while since I focused in on an herb, not necessarily because it is growing in my garden, but because of my 20+ year fascination with herbs, and their culinary and medicinal properties.

This picture, used with permission, shows the bushy plant with it’s berries that goes by the botanical name ruscus aculeatus.  Years ago I remember an acquaintance using Butcher’s Broom and another product often used for oral chelation to save their legs, they were in danger of losing them because of complications related to diabetes.  I remember the person describing the feeling coming back in the legs as circulation returned, amazing memory.

Butcher’s Broom is native to western Europe, the southern states in the US, and in some areas of the Mediterranean.  Though it looks like a bush, it is part of the Lily family.

Historical Use Info: 

Information is available about this pretty bush with it’s bright red berries that dates back to early Greek civilization when rhizomes (a stem of the plant that is underground to which the roots are attached) were used for inflammation and the circulatory system.  Pliny, a naturalist from the early years after Christ’s death, used it to successfully treat varicose veins, if you believe his description of seeing the swellings become flat.  Other early uses include laxative and diuretic, rejuvenation.  In Europe it has been used medicinally for over 2000 year.  The more current herbalist, Nicholas Culpeper called it “the plant of mars” siting it’s strong cleansing and “opening” abilities.  The herb has been listed in Materia Medica since the 14th century, and as an approved therapeutic herb in European Pharmaceutical Codex.

What Science Says:

Scientists have discovered, while looking for new sapogenins, that it contained actives that were necessary for the synthesis of steroids. It contains ruscogenin, a steriodal, that is similar in structure to diosgenin, the active given much acclaim for it’s benefits in the herb Wild Yam.  Perhaps this is why it seems to have anti-inflammatory properties.

Other pharmaceutical studies have found that butcher’s broom has vasoconstrictive properties, which means it may benefit those with varicose veins, phlebitis, and hemorrhoids.  Also other properties in the plant have been found to reduce “bad” cholesterol (LDL) and may reduce coagulation of the blood…keep this in mind if you are taking blood thinners and giving thought to using this herb.

There is more that I could share, but must run, please know that you can contact me any time if you would like me to cite where the information comes from in my posts, I have that information…none is used without permission.

If you would like a fact sheet about any of the items marked in red, please send me an email. Thanks!

All the usual disclaimers apply…I’m not a doctor…do not use this information to diagnose…if you decide to use this for your own purposes you are responsible for the outcome.