Ingredient 3 of 6
Butcher's Broom Root Extract in Flow Nerves: Evidence and Cautions
Butcher's broom is an evergreen shrub, and its root extract is the third name listed for Flow Nerves. No milligram amount is printed for it. Drugs.com says trials of butcher's broom alone are generally lacking, and WebMD calls its benefits not well defined. No source we read gives a dose for the plant alone or links it to nerves.
- No mgprinted for this name
- No dosein any source we read
- Avoidin pregnancy, per Drugs.com
- 3 medicinetypes WebMD flags
Written by the Flow Nerves label deskUpdated
The basics
What is butcher's broom?
Butcher's broom is the common name of Ruscus aculeatus, a low evergreen shrub. Its root is dried and made into an extract. The brief calls the Flow Nerves ingredient "butcher's broom root extract". The seller's ingredient card says "Butcher's Broom Extract".
In Europe the plant has long been used for leg-vein complaints. WebMD says it is used for problems related to blood flow, such as hemorrhoids, chronic venous insufficiency and varicose veins (WebMD, Butcher's broom). Chronic venous insufficiency means the leg veins do not return blood to the heart well.
Notice what is missing from that list. None of the sources we read names nerves. The seller says the plant is "Traditionally used to promote healthy circulation". Circulation and nerves are different systems, and the seller does not claim a link between them in the quote.
| Name on the list | Butcher's Broom Root Extract |
|---|---|
| What it is | Extract of Ruscus aculeatus, an evergreen shrub; used in Europe for leg-vein complaints |
| Form | The brief says root extract; the sales card says 'Butcher's Broom Extract' |
| Printed amount | Not printed in the material we have. No Supplement Facts image was supplied and the sales page prints no milligram for this name. |
| Amount used in research | No source we read gives a dose for butcher's broom alone |
| How the label compares | The label prints no amount; the extract ratio is not printed |
| Strength of evidence | Drugs.com says trials of butcher's broom alone are generally lacking; WebMD calls the benefits 'not well defined' |
| Marketed or traditional use | Sold as 'traditionally used to promote healthy circulation' |
| Main caution | WebMD lists medicines for high blood pressure and for an enlarged prostate, and pseudoephedrine, to discuss with a provider; Drugs.com says the pregnancy advice is to avoid it. Allergic reactions can be serious. |
The picture at the top is the vendor's illustration of the ingredient. It is not a photo of what sits inside a capsule.
The evidence
Is there evidence for butcher's broom?
The evidence for butcher's broom alone is thin. Drugs.com says clinical trials using the plant alone are generally lacking and that it cannot be recommended for any indication (Drugs.com, Butcher's broom). WebMD calls the benefits "not well defined" (WebMD, Butcher's broom).
Drugs.com adds a detail. More support exists for combination products that pair butcher's broom with hesperidin methyl chalcone and vitamin C, and that support is for venous symptoms in the legs (Drugs.com, Butcher's broom). Flow Nerves is not that combination, and venous symptoms are not nerve symptoms.
| Question | What the sources say |
|---|---|
| Trials of the plant alone? | Generally lacking (Drugs.com). |
| Benefits? | Not well defined (WebMD). |
| A dose for the plant alone? | None in the sources we read. |
| Any source naming nerves? | None we read. |
The numbers
How much butcher's broom is in Flow Nerves?
The material we have does not say how much butcher's broom is in one Flow Nerves capsule, and it does not say how strong the extract is. No Supplement Facts image was supplied.
An extract ratio tells you how much dried root went into each unit of extract. A ratio such as 10 to 1 would mean ten parts of root for one of extract. This one is not printed, so even a milligram figure would be hard to read. That is a second gap on top of the first.
No study dose exists to compare with, either. That is why there is no dose bar for butcher's broom here. The table below shows the whole picture for this one name.
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| Amount per capsule | Not printed |
| Extract ratio | Not printed |
| Form named | Root extract (brief); "Extract" (sales card) |
| Study dose for the plant alone | None found |
The formula page explains why a blend can hide the answer. A fair question for the seller is: how many milligrams, and at what ratio?
Side effects
What are the side effects of butcher's broom?
The common side effects of butcher's broom are diarrhea and nausea. WebMD also says allergic reactions can be serious (WebMD, Butcher's broom).
Drugs.com links oral use to digestive effects too (Drugs.com, Butcher's broom). Take the capsule with a meal and a full glass of water, as the Flow Nerves directions say, and confirm them on your bottle.
Swelling of the lips, face or throat, hives or trouble breathing after a supplement need 911 right away. Report a serious reaction to FDA through MedWatch (FDA, MedWatch).
Medicine check
Which medicines interact with butcher's broom?
WebMD lists three kinds of medicine to discuss with a provider before butcher's broom: a medicine for high blood pressure, a medicine for an enlarged prostate, and pseudoephedrine, a decongestant. WebMD adds that the interactions are not fully understood (WebMD, Butcher's broom).
Drugs.com says no well-documented drug interactions exist. It notes that the plant contains compounds that stimulate alpha-adrenergic receptors, so interactions with such agents are theoretically possible (Drugs.com, Butcher's broom). The two sources differ in tone, so ask your pharmacist about your exact medicines.
| If you take | Why to ask first |
|---|---|
| Blood pressure medicine | WebMD lists it to discuss with a provider. |
| Enlarged prostate medicine | WebMD lists it too. |
| Pseudoephedrine | A decongestant; WebMD lists it. |
| Blood clot, kidney or liver history | WebMD says to tell your provider. |
The Medicine Switchboard maps all six names to the medicines they touch.
Who should avoid it
Is butcher's broom safe in pregnancy?
Drugs.com says to avoid butcher's broom in pregnancy and while nursing. WebMD says it is not known whether the plant affects pregnancy or breastfeeding (Drugs.com, Butcher's broom).
Both point the same way: do not take it on your own. Ask a doctor first if you are pregnant, trying to conceive or nursing. Flow Nerves is for adults 18 and older. Anyone with high blood pressure, blood clots, or kidney or liver problems should also ask first.
If you have new numbness or tingling, see a doctor before any supplement. Mayo Clinic says to seek medical care right away (Mayo Clinic, Peripheral neuropathy). Our guide on when to see a doctor lists the warning signs.
FAQ
Flow Nerves questions people ask
What is butcher's broom?
Butcher's broom is Ruscus aculeatus, a low evergreen shrub. Its root extract is the third name listed for Flow Nerves. It has been used for leg-vein problems, and no amount is printed for it.
What is butcher's broom root extract?
It is an extract made from the dried root of the butcher's broom plant. The brief says root extract and the seller's card says extract. The strength, or extract ratio, is not printed.
How much butcher's broom is in Flow Nerves?
No amount is printed in the material we have. No Supplement Facts image was supplied. Ask the order desk at +1 (302) 200-3480 for the milligrams and the extract ratio per capsule.
What are butcher's broom side effects?
WebMD lists diarrhea and nausea as common side effects and warns that allergic reactions can be serious. Drugs.com links oral use to digestive effects (WebMD, Butcher's broom).
Can I take butcher's broom with blood pressure medicine?
Ask your pharmacist first. WebMD lists medicine for high blood pressure among those to discuss with a provider, and says the interactions are not fully understood (WebMD, Butcher's broom).
Is butcher's broom safe while pregnant?
Drugs.com advises avoiding it in pregnancy and lactation. WebMD says it is not known whether it affects pregnancy. Ask your clinician before taking any product that contains it (Drugs.com, Butcher's broom).
Does butcher's broom help nerves or circulation?
The seller says it is traditionally used for circulation. WebMD calls the benefits not well defined, and Drugs.com says trials of the plant alone are lacking. No source we read links it to nerves (WebMD, Butcher's broom).
Who wrote this
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the brand panels and linked NIH, FDA, CDC, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is the information site for a U.S. stocking partner for Flow Nerves. It is not the manufacturer or a distributor named on the label. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
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