By Cathy Wong, ND – Examined by a board-certified physician.
Butcher’s broom (Ruscus aculeatus) is an herb used to treat chronic venous deficiency. Drawn out from a small evergreen shrub discovered in Europe and North Africa, butcher’s broom is thought to help stimulate flow.
Butcher’s broom is typically combined with hesperidin and ascorbic acid (a kind of vitamin C) in treatment of chronic venous insufficiency.
How do You Know if You Have Venous Insufficiency
What is Chronic Venous Insufficiency? Chronic venous insufficiency is a condition where the veins do not effectively return blood from the legs to the heart, and is linked to problems like varicose veins, ankle swelling, and nighttime leg cramping.
Chronic venous insufficiency results from partial vein obstruction or blood leakage around the valves of the veins and can be treated with compression stockings, lifestyle changes (such as avoiding extended periods of sitting or standing), and/or surgery.
Risk factors for chronic venous insufficiency include a history of deep vein thrombosis in the legs, weight problems, and pregnancy.
Symptoms of venous deficiency include:
- swelling of the legs or ankles (edema)
- pain that becomes worse when you stand and gets better when you raise your legs
- leg cramps
- aching, pulsating, or a feeling of heaviness in your legs
- itchy legs
- weak legs
- thickening of the skin on your legs or ankles
- skin that is altering color, particularly around the ankles
- leg ulcers
- varicose veins
- a sensation of tightness in your calves.
Using Butcher’s Broom for Chronic Venous Insufficiency
Although research on making use of butcher’s broom in the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency is limited and outdated, some research studies recommend that taking butcher’s broom might offer particular advantages to people with this condition.
For instance, a 2002 study from the German journal Arzneimittel-Forschung concluded that butcher’s broom is “a safe and efficient treatment for patients experiencing chronic venous deficiency.”
By the research study’s end, those who had actually gotten butcher’s broom experienced considerably greater improvements in a number of symptoms (such as heaviness and exhaustion in the legs and sensations of tingling and stress). The treatment group likewise showed greater enhancement in quality of life.
In addition, several research studies have focused on the results of taking butcher’s broom in mix with hesperidin and ascorbic acid in treatment of chronic venous insufficiency. In a 2007 study released in International Angiology, for instance, 124 patients with chronic venous deficiency took a combination of butcher’s broom, hesperidin, and ascorbic acid every day for 8 weeks. Starting from the 2nd week, research study individuals showed a considerable reduction in a series of symptoms (consisting of pain, cramps, and swelling).
Cautions
Butcher’s broom may activate mild side effects, such as upset stomach and diarrhea. In addition, taking butcher’s broom in combination with specific medications (such as blood-thinning drugs) may be harmful to your health. For that reason, it’s important to look for medical suggestions if you’re considering making use of butcher’s broom supplements.
Supplements have not been evaluated for safety and due to that dietary supplements are mainly uncontrolled, the content of some products may vary from what is specified on the item label.
Also, remember that the safety of supplements in pregnant women, nursing mothers, children, and those with medical conditions or who are taking medications has actually not been established.
Where to Find It
Offered for purchase online, butcher’s broom supplements are sold in numerous natural-food shops and in stores concentrating on dietary supplements.
If you’re thinking about using butcher’s broom in the treatment of chronic venous deficiency, make sure to consult your physician prior to starting your supplement program. Self-treating chronic venous deficiency with butcher’s broom and avoiding or delaying standard care might have serious consequences.
How to Prevent Venous Insufficiency
If you have a family history of venous insufficiency, there are actions you can take to lessen your chances of establishing the condition:
- Do not sit or stand in one position for long stretches of time– get up and move often.
- Do not smoke and if you do smoke, stop.
- Get routine exercise.
- Keep a healthy body weight.
