Omnia SanaCommon names in 25 European languages →
The complete database record: 2 documented constituents, 2 pharmacological actions, 4 traditional / indicated uses, with 15 cited sources.
Botanical Description
Evergreen, rhizomatous subshrub (Asparagaceae), 30-80 cm tall. Unusually, its apparent 'leaves' are flattened, leaf-like stems (cladodes) - stiff, dark green, ending in a sharp spine; the true leaves are reduced to tiny scales. Small greenish-white flowers arise from the centre of the cladode, followed on female plants by a bright red berry.[5]
Habitat & Distribution
Native to the Mediterranean region and western Europe, growing in dry woodland, scrub and rocky ground, often in shade under trees.[5]
Harvesting
The underground rhizome, the medicinal part, is dug in autumn or spring from established plants.[5]
Key Constituents
Pharmacological Actions
Venotonic / vasoconstrictive support for chronic venous insufficiency (heavy, tired, swollen legs and varicose veins) - a meta-analysis of a Ruscus-based combination (with hesperidin methyl chalcone and vitamin C) significantly reduced pain, cramps, heaviness and paraesthesia versus placebo
Traditional & Indicated Uses
Relief of haemorrhoid symptoms
Venotonic / vasoconstrictive support for chronic venous insufficiency (heavy, tired, swollen legs and varicose veins) - a meta-analysis of a Ruscus-based combination (with hesperidin methyl chalcone and vitamin C) significantly reduced pain, cramps, heaviness and paraesthesia versus placebo
Anti-oedematous (reduces leg swelling)
more plants for swelling / fluid retention →detailed sources →
Venotonic / vasoconstrictive support for chronic venous insufficiency (heavy, tired, swollen legs and varicose veins) - a meta-analysis of a Ruscus-based combination (with hesperidin methyl chalcone and vitamin C) significantly reduced pain, cramps, heaviness and paraesthesia versus placebo
Traditional Use & History
Butcher's broom takes its name from the traditional use of its stiff, bristly stems bundled together as a broom by butchers. Medicinally its rhizome has a long European tradition, and modern use, supported by clinical trials, is for chronic venous insufficiency (heavy, tired, swollen legs, varicose veins) and haemorrhoids, reflecting its steroidal-saponin-driven venotonic and vasoconstrictive activity.[5, 14]
Preparations
Dosage
Clinical trials for venous insufficiency have most often used standardised rhizome extract in combination products (e.g. with hesperidin methyl chalcone and vitamin C), typically providing the equivalent of roughly 72-150 mg of ruscogenins daily. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
Generally well tolerated; occasional mild gastrointestinal upset is the main reported effect.
Because it is vasoconstrictive, use with caution if you have high blood pressure or take circulatory medicines; safety in pregnancy and breastfeeding is not established, so avoid medicinal doses.
Harvest Readiness
[13]
External Identifiers
References & Sources
- (Alternative Medicine Review) (2001) 'Ruscus aculeatus (butcher's broom). Monograph', Alternative Medicine Review, 6(6), pp. 608-612. Meta-analysis / review
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Ruscus%20aculeatus%20%28butcher%27s%20broom%29.%20Monograph - Vanscheidt, W., Jost, V., Wolna, P., Lucker, P.W. and others (2002) 'Efficacy and safety of a Butcher's broom preparation (Ruscus aculeatus L. extract) compared to placebo in patients suffering from chronic venous insufficiency', Arzneimittel-Forschung, 52(4), pp. 243-250. doi:10.1055/s-0031-1299887 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0031-1299887 - Allaert, F.A (2016) 'Combination of Ruscus aculeatus extract, hesperidin methyl chalcone and ascorbic acid: a comprehensive review of their pharmacological and clinical effects and of the pathophysiology of chronic venous disease', International Angiology, 35(2), pp. 111-116. Meta-analysis / review
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Combination%20of%20Ruscus%20aculeatus%20extract%2C%20hesperidin%20methyl%20chalcone%20and%20ascorbic%20acid%3A%20a%20comprehensive%20review%20of%20their%20pharmacological%20and%20clinical%20effects%20and%20of%20the%20pathophysiology%20of%20chronic%20venous%20disease - Jawien, A., Bouskela, E., Allaert, F.A. and Nicolaides, A.N (2017) 'The place of Ruscus extract, hesperidin methyl chalcone, and vitamin C in the management of chronic venous disease', International Angiology, 36(1), pp. 31-41. doi:10.23736/S0392-9590.16.03788-3 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.23736/S0392-9590.16.03788-3 - Masullo, M., Pizza, C. and Piacente, S (2016) 'Ruscus Genus: A Rich Source of Bioactive Steroidal Saponins', Planta Medica. doi:10.1055/s-0042-119728 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0042-119728 - Rodrigues, J.P.B., Fernandes, A., Dias, M.I., Pereira, C. and others (2021) 'Phenolic Compounds and Bioactive Properties of Ruscus aculeatus L. (Asparagaceae): The Pharmacological Potential of an Underexploited Subshrub', Molecules, 26(7), pp. 1882. doi:10.3390/molecules26071882 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26071882 - Redman, D.A (2000) 'Ruscus aculeatus (butcher's broom) as a potential treatment for orthostatic hypotension, with a case report', Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 6(6), pp. 539-549. doi:10.1089/acm.2000.6.539 Clinical study
https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2000.6.539 - Chakuleska, L., Michailova, R., Shkondrov, A., Manov, V. and others (2019) 'Bone protective effects of purified extract from Ruscus aculeatus on ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis in rats', Food and Chemical Toxicology, 132, pp. 110668. doi:10.1016/j.fct.2019.110668 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2019.110668 - Nocera, R., Eletto, D., Santoro, V., Parisi, V. and others (2023) 'Design of an Herbal Preparation Composed by a Combination of Ruscus aculeatus L. and Vitis vinifera L. Extracts, Magnolol and Diosmetin to Address Chronic Venous Diseases through an Anti-Inflammatory Effect and AP-1 Modulation', Plants, 12(5), pp. 1051. doi:10.3390/plants12051051 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12051051 - Vlase, L., Kiss, B., Balica, G., Tamas, M. and others (2009) 'High-throughput LC/MS/MS analysis of ruscogenin and neoruscogenin in Ruscus aculeatus L', Journal of AOAC International, 92(4), pp. 1055-1059. doi:10.1093/jaoac/92.4.1055 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1093/jaoac/92.4.1055 - Bencsik, T., Balazs, V.L., Farkas, A., Csikos, E., Horvath, A., Acs, K., Kocsis, M., Dosedel, M., Fialova, S.B., Czigle, S., Nagy, M., Toth, J., Protti, M., Mercolini, L., Mladenka, P., Szentpeteri, J. and Horvath, G (2024) 'Herbal drugs in chronic venous disease treatment: An update', Fitoterapia, 179, pp. 106256. doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2024.106256 Clinical study
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2024.106256 - Lichota, A., Gwozdzinski, L. and Gwozdzinski, K (2019) 'Therapeutic potential of natural compounds in inflammation and chronic venous insufficiency', European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 176, pp. 68-91. doi:10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.04.075 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.04.075 - Plants For A Future 'Ruscus aculeatus (Butcher's Broom)'. Available at: https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Ruscus+aculeatus Traditional / reference
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Ruscus+aculeatus - Bylka, W. and Kornobis, J (2005) 'Butcher's Broom, in the treatment of venous insufficiency', Polski Merkuriusz Lekarski. Preclinical
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Butcher%27s%20Broom%2C%20in%20the%20treatment%20of%20venous%20insufficiency - Boyle, P., Diehm, C. and Robertson, C (2003) 'Meta-analysis of clinical trials of Cyclo 3 Fort in the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency', International Angiology, 22(3), pp. 250--262. Meta-analysis / review
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Meta-analysis%20of%20clinical%20trials%20of%20Cyclo%203%20Fort%20in%20the%20treatment%20of%20chronic%20venous%20insufficiency
Selected studies & references
All 14 studies in the Knowledge Finder →
This profile is assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database, which we curate by hand. How this site is built.