Latin Name:

Family:

Precautions:
May cause gastritis in susceptible individuals. Extreme caution is to be exercised by patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), peptic ulcers, gastritis and various allergies.

Adverse Side Effects:
Susceptible individuals may experience nausea.

Drug Interactions:
None known; however, this herb should probably not be used in conjunction with steroids or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs). (See Caution).

How Supplied:

Dosage:

	Proctology (i.e. hemorrhoids, proctitis, pruritus ani (anal itching), anal fissures).
	Phlebology (i.e. varicose veins, varices, chilblains, "heavy legs", surface veins, post-thrombotic syndrome, venous circulatory disorders).
	Opthalmology (i.e. diabetic retinopathy, retinal hemorrhages).
	Gynecology (i.e. menstrual problems, troubles with taking estrogens, cramps of pregnancy, varicose veins of pregnancy).

Butcher's Broom contains a mixture of steroidal saponin glycosides, particularly the modified cholesterol derivatives ruscogenin and neuroruscogenin. These saponins are the starting materials used by the body to produce important endogenous steroid compounds.

Current research has demonstrated that these compounds have been shown to possess anti-inflammatory properties (i.e. by reducing the fragility and permeability of capillary walls) and vasoconstrictive properties. They are additionally known to increase venous tone. The herb has therefore been used to treat venous circulatory disorders, hemorrhoidal problems, varicose veins (especially in pregnancy) and for reduction of capillary fragility and prevention of edema in the lower extremities.

Other herbal preparations which are known to act as bio-enhancing agents (i.e. help to enhance the biological activity of this herb) are bilberry, centella, ginkgo biloba, ginger root and horse chestnut .

Active Ingredients:

The active ingredients are steroidal saponin glycosides, primarily ruscogenin and neuroruscogenin

Butcher's Broom is an evergreen shrub native to the Mediterranean region. It is a member of the lily family.

The active ingredients are extracted from the rhizome of this plant with hydro-alcoholic solution, and the active ingredients are then removed from the resulting solution.