Broom Health Dictionary

Broom: From 3 Different Sources


Purification, Protection, Wind Spells, Divination
Health Source:
Author: Health Dictionary
Sarothamnus scoparius L. French: Cytise. German: Kleestrauch. Spanish: Hiniesta. Italian: Ginestra. Chinese: Chin-ch’iao. Dried tops. Contains sparteine.

Action: cardio-active, diuretic, laxative, oxytocic, peripheral vasoconstrictor. Increases power of the heart, slows it down, increases urine. “Works on the conductive mechanism of the heart. Atrial and ventricular fibrillation disappear.” (Rudolf F. Weiss MD)

Uses: ‘Heart’ dropsy. To reduce frequency of the heartbeat. Tendency to extrasystoles. Tachycardia. Liver conditions. Whole plant.

Reported use for tumour. (J.L. Hartwell, Lloydia, 33, 97, 1970) Combination, traditional: with Agrimony and Dandelion root for dropsy. Contra-indications: High blood pressure, pregnancy, lactation.

Preparations: Thrice daily.

Decoction: 1oz (30g) to each 1 pint (500ml) water, simmer gently 10 minutes. Dose: half-1 cup. Liquid extract. 10-30 drops.

Tincture BHP (1983) 1:5 in 45 per cent alcohol; Dose: 0.5-2ml.

Kasbah Remedy (Potter’s). Broom, an important constituent of.

Spartoil drops (Klein).

BROWN SPOTS on the skin. Liver spots. Chloasma, melasma. Melanin is a dark pigment found in the skin and hair. When it is unnaturally concentrated into yellow-brown patches during pregnancy or from taking contraceptive pills it is known as chloasma. The darkness of such patches is enhanced by sunlight. Liver spots are common in the aged.

Topical. Cider vinegar. Castor oil (E. Cayce) Houseleek (traditional). Distilled extract of Witch Hazel. The juice or gel of Aloe Vera has reduced or removed spots after several months twice-daily applications. 

Health Source: Bartrams Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine
Author: Health Encyclopedia
Cytisus scoparius. N.O. Leguminosae.

Synonym: Irish Broom and Besom.

Habitat: Dry, hilly wastes.

Features ? The stem is angular, five-sided, dark green, and branches at an acute angle.

Yellow pea-like flowers appear in May and June. The lower leaves are on short stalks and consist of three small obovate leaflets, the upper leaves being stalkless and frequently single.

Part used ? Tops.

Action: Powerfully diuretic.

Broom tops are often used with Agrimony and Dandelion root for dropsy and liver disorders. For this purpose a decoction of 1 ounce each of Broom tops and Agrimony and 1/2 ounce Dandelion root to 3 pints of water simmered down to 1 quart is taken in wineglassful doses every four or five hours.

Coffin recommends us to ? "Take of broom-tops, juniper-berries and dandelion-roots, each half-an-ounce, water, a pint and a half, boil down to a pint, strain, and add half-a-teaspoonsful of cayenne pepper. Dose, half- a-wineglassful four times a day."
Health Source: Herbal Manual
Author: Health Dictionary

Butcher’s Broom

Ruscus aculeatus, L. Rhizome.

Action: diuretic, diaphoretic, laxative, deobstruent, anti-inflammatory, veinous tonic. Action similar to Wild Yam: used in synthesis of steroid hormones. Antispasmodic. Haemostatic.

Uses: Varicose veins, piles, jaundice, obstructed menstruation, sluggish circulation, oedema. To arrest haemorrhage.

Decoction: half an ounce fine-cut herb to 1 pint water simmered gently 20 minutes. Dose: half-1 cup thrice daily.

Powder, capsules: 270mg. 3 capsules twice daily during meals. (Arkocaps)

Endopharm capsules for piles. ... butcher’s broom

Broom, Spanish

Spartium junceum

FAMILY: Fabaceae (Leguminosae).

SYNONYMS: Genista juncea, genista, weavers broom, broom (absolute), genet (absolute).

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: A decorative plant, often cultivated as an ornamental shrub, up to 3 metres high with upright woody branches and tough flexible stems. It has bright green leaves and large, yellow, pea-like fragrant flowers, also bearing its seeds in pods or legumes.

DISTRIBUTION: Native to southern Europe, especially southern Spain and southern France; mainly cultivated in Spain, France, Italy and USA (as a garden shrub). The absolute is produced in Southern France.

OTHER SPECIES: Closely related to dyer’s greenweed (Genista tinctoria) and the common or green broom (Sarothamnus scoparius or Cytisus scoparius). There are also several other related species of broom, which are rich in their folk tradition.

HERBAL/FOLK TRADITION: The twigs and bark have been used since ancient times to produce a strong fibre which can be made into cord or a coarse cloth. The branches were also used for thatching, basketwork, fencing and, of course, for making brooms. Spanish broom has similar therapeutic properties to the common broom, which is still current in the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia for cardiac dropsy, myocardial weakness, tachycardia and profuse menstruation. However, the Spanish broom is said to be five to six times more active than the common broom, and even that must be used with caution by professional herbalists due to the strength of the active ingredients: ‘A number of cases of poisoning have occurred from the substitution of the dried flowers of Spartium for those of true Broom.’.

ACTIONS: Antihaemorrhagic, cardioactive, diuretic, cathartic, emmenagogue, narcotic, vasoconstrictor.

EXTRACTION: An absolute is obtained by solvent extraction from the dried flowers.

CHARACTERISTICS: A dark brown, viscous liquid with an intensely sweet, floral, hay-like scent with a herbaceous undertone. It blends well with rose, tuberose, cassie, mimosa, violet, vetiver and herbaceous-type fragrances.

PRINCIPAL CONSTITUENTS: The absolute contains capryllic acid, phenols, aliphatics, terpenes, esters, scoparin and sparteine, as well as wax, etc.

SAFETY DATA: Sparteine, which is contained in the flowers as the main active constituent, is toxic. In large doses, it causes vomiting, renal irritation, weakens the heart, depresses the nerve cells and lowers the blood pressure, and in extreme cases causes death.

AROMATHERAPY/HOME: USE None.

OTHER USES: Used in soaps, cosmetics and high-class perfumery; also as a flavour ingredient in sweet rich ‘preserves’, alcoholic and soft drinks.... broom, spanish




Recent Searches