Symptom → Plant Sources
Butcher's Broom (Ruscus aculeatus) as a tool for helping with Swelling / fluid retention
Anti-oedematous (reduces leg swelling)
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Full Butcher's Broom monograph →All plants for swelling / fluid retention →
Numerous extracts of the plants, natural compounds and their derivatives, acting on the venous system, including horse-chestnut seed extracts aescin, rutin, troxerutin, diosmin and hesperidine. They have a long tradition in herbal medicine for their venotonic and anti-oedematous properties. This review is concerning Rusci aculeati rhizoma, which recently taken in Poland on the symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency and hemorrhoids.
The genus Ruscus (Asparagaceae family) is native to the Mediterranean, Southern and Western Europe and is represented by perennial, rhizomatous, and evergreen shrubs. Among the approximately seven species spread throughout Europe up to Iran, Ruscus aculeatus L. (butcher's broom) is the most widely distributed and appreciated. This review provides an overview of the traditional use of Ruscus spp., the current knowledge of the chemistry of this genus, and the pharmacological studies carried out on Ruscus spp. extracts. The underground parts of Ruscus plants are a source of steroidal saponins that can be classified into two structural classes: the hexacyclic spirostanol saponins and the pentacyclic furostanol saponins. The main aglycones are ruscogenin and neoruscogenin. From the pharmacological point of view, the most studied Ruscus species is undoubtedly R. aculeatus , a very ancient phlebotherapeutic agent. Pharmacological investigations since the discovery of the vasoconstrictive and venotonic properties of ruscogenin and neoruscogenin in the underground parts of R. aculeatus are discussed. Preparations based on Ruscus species are currently used for the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency, varicose veins, haemorrhoids, and orthostatic hypotension. Finally, analytical techniques for the quality control of R. aculeatus extracts are reported.
2 sources supporting Butcher's Broom for Swelling / fluid retention. Includes scientific publications, books, monographs and traditional-use references.
Mechanistic basis
This use is associated with the plant's venotonic / vasoprotective action. Further evidence for that pharmacology:
Aim Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) of the lower limbs is a major cause of morbidity and varicose veins affect 20% to 60% of adults in the western world. The treatment of patients with CVI attempts to reduce both clinical symptoms and the development of chronic venous disease. A meta-analysis using data from all clinical trials and studies of Cyclo 3 Fort, a combination of root extract of the Ruscus aculeatus plant (150 mg per capsule), hesperidin methyl chalcone (150 mg) and ascorbic acid (100 mg), was carried out to estimate the overall effect on the symptoms and severity of chronic venous insufficiency. Methods The meta-analysis included 20 placebo controlled, randomised, double blind studies and 5 randomised studies against a comparator drug. There were 6 single arm studies of Cyclo 3 Fort alone with no placebo arm. In all studies the response to Cyclo 3 Fort was compared to baseline values. In total there was information from 10,246 subjects. Results On a 4 point symptom severity scale, where 0 corresponds to no symptoms and 3 to severe symptoms, Cyclo 3 Fort significantly reduces the severity of pain by 0.44 (0.12) points; cramps 0.26 (0.08), heaviness 0.53 (0.11), and paraesthesia 0.29 (0.10) compared to placebo. There is also a significant reduction in venous capacity of 0.70 (0.19) ml/100 ml with Cyclo 3 Fort compared to placebo. We also found reductions in the severity of oedema 0.43 (0.20) points, and decreases in calf and ankle circumference, 0.73 (0.37) cms and 1.17 (0.83) cm, respectively, among patients treated with Cyclo 3 Fort compared to placebo which were not statistically significant. Conclusion Despite questions surrounding the variability of data quality and sample size of some of the studies, we conclude that in patients with CVI Cyclo 3 Fort significantly reduces the severity of the symptoms compared to placebo. This study is a strong and objective demonstration of the clinical efficacy of Cyclo 3 Fort in treating patients with CVI.
This monograph summarises the botany, steroidal-saponin chemistry, venotonic and anti-oedematous pharmacology, clinical uses (chronic venous insufficiency, haemorrhoids) and safety of Ruscus aculeatus (butcher's broom).
In a multicentre double-blind randomised placebo-controlled trial of 148 women with chronic venous insufficiency, 12 weeks of Ruscus aculeatus extract significantly reduced leg volume, ankle and lower-leg circumference and subjective symptoms (heavy, tired legs, tension) versus placebo, with good tolerability.
This review summarises over 50 years of pharmacological and clinical evidence for Ruscus aculeatus extract combined with hesperidin methyl chalcone and ascorbic acid, documenting its venoconstrictive, microcirculatory and lymphatic effects and clinical efficacy in relieving symptoms of chronic venous disease.
This review concludes that Ruscus extract acts on veins, capillaries and lymphatics with anti-inflammatory properties, and that two meta-analyses confirm a significant decrease of chronic-venous-disease symptoms and ankle circumference, supporting a Grade A recommendation for the Ruscus/HMC/vitamin C combination.
This review and case report describes Ruscus aculeatus, an alpha-adrenergic agonist with vasoconstrictive and venotonic properties, as a safe phytotherapeutic option for orthostatic hypotension, reducing venous pooling in the limbs without causing supine hypertension.
A herbal preparation based on Ruscus aculeatus root extract (with Vitis vinifera, diosmetin and magnolol) reduced cytokine secretion from LPS-stimulated endothelial cells and nearly abolished AP-1 and NF-kappaB activation, demonstrating an anti-inflammatory mechanism relevant to chronic venous disease.