Butcher’s Broom, also known as Knee Holly, Sweet Broom, or Jew Myrtle, is an evergreen shrub with medicinal properties. It is used in herbal remedies to correct system imbalances, alleviate discomfort, improve circulation, and treat varicose veins, among other claims. However, there is no scientific evidence to support these claims.
Also known as Knee Holly, Sweet Broom, or Jew Myrtle, Butcher’s Broom is a small evergreen shrub that is considered to have medicinal properties as well as being ornamental. Used in a number of herbal remedies, the stiff leaves, small flowers, and small red berries of the shrub are often dried and ground into a powder, making it easy to administer the home remedy as a soothing tea, a poultice, or even by adding dust to different types of food. Various claims are made about the efficacy of butcher’s broom, although none of those claims are currently supported by modern medicine.
One of the most common claims made for butcher’s broom is that the herb can help correct system imbalances that inhibit proper function of the intestines. When prepared as a tea, the herb is said to help correct constipation in a relatively short period of time. At the same time, the herb helps alleviate the discomfort that is common when an individual retains water, by allowing the system to quickly and naturally eliminate excess fluid.
Another claim made for butcher’s broom is that the herb can help with circulation problems. For this reason, it is sometimes recommended by alternative practitioners as a way to help people who experience tingling in their feet and hands, or who constantly experience coldness in their extremities. For example, a person suffering from diabetes may find that sensation in their toes has decreased, but seems to recover somewhat after using the butcher’s broom for a period of time.
More recently, butcher’s broom has been heralded as a natural means of treating varicose veins. Proponents claim that regular use can be so effective that there is no need for surgery to correct the problem. There are also claims that the herb can help with the discomfort some people experience with varicose veins, minimizing the pain to the point that it is no longer necessary to take any type of pain medication to get relief.
Other claims are also made about the effectiveness of the butcher’s broom. Since the bush contains rutins and other flavonoids that have been shown to increase blood flow to the brain, some say the herb can help with cases of mild depression, anxiety, and even the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Others claim that butcher’s broom is an effective treatment for hemorrhoids, bruises, and even insect bites. While there is a great deal of anecdotal evidence to support the use of the herb with a number of ailments, there is currently no research to support the idea of sweet broom as an effective treatment for any ailment.
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