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.
Like holly and mistletoe, which it resembles, it has separate male and female
plants. Flowers are succeeded by large scarlet berries which remain through the
winter and are often used like holly for room decorations. 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.
Constituents
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.
Properties
Butcher's broom is a mild astringent with anti-inflammatory, deobstruent (removes obstructions in the system), diaphoretic, diuretic and vasoconstrictive properties.
Specific Uses
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.
In the Middle Ages, it was highly valued food. The young shoots have been cooked
like asparagus. The "Aculeatus" were butcher's broom eaters, who farmed the
plant for its sprouts. They appeared to remain remarkably free of circulatory
disorders.
The plant appeared in the medical literature of France, Germany and Italy until
around 1910, when herbs began to fall into disuse, but is now making a comeback
due to recent research showing its benefits in circulatory disorders.
Different parts of the plant have been used for various complaints or
conditions. The root is used in modern medicine to clean the veins. Poultices
have been made of the berries and leaves to help knit broken bones and parts of
the joint.
Recent tests by German and French doctors indicated that butcher's broom root
lessens post-operative thrombosis; showed definite and measurable relief for
hemorrhoid and varicose vein sufferers; and prevented or corrected the
development of phlebitis 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.
Customer Comments:
CIRCULATION - "A man named Dean could barely walk with a cane when he entered my
store. His doctor had told him he would have to amputate his leg due to severe
lack of circulation. His other leg was just a little better. We talked about
building health in the Circulatory System using
BUTCHER'S BROOM,
MEGA-CHEL, and
OMEGA-3 EPA.
He started on them right away. He came back a week later walking without a cane!
He was ecstatic about how much better his legs were feeling. A week after that
he was walking everywhere without pain. Then one day he came in complaining his
legs were feeling like they were just "waking up" - a tingling, painful feeling.
I told him to be patient and the feeling would go away. He went back to the
doctor who confirmed that he no longer needed the amputation. It's been almost
two years and Dean is still taking maintenance amounts of Mega-Chel and
Butcher's Broom faithfully. He literally bounces into my store to buy them." L.H.
Butcher's Broom
(100 capsules)
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Contact: Karen Olerich, Herb Specialist and Natural Health Consultant
Phone: (719) 495-4930
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Karen