Ingredient profile
Butcher's Broom and the Brain: A Vein Herb in a Brain Capsule
Butcher's broom is a small shrub, Ruscus aculeatus, whose root is sold as an extract. For butcher's broom and the brain, no human research exists: studies looked at leg veins, mostly with combination products. In Synaptril it is third of six in the 575 mg blend, so it likely holds well under 88 mg.
Written by the Synaptril label deskUpdated
The basics01
What is butcher's broom?
Butcher's broom is a low, spiky shrub known by its Latin name, Ruscus aculeatus. Supplements use an extract of its root.
The plant has stiff, leaf-like stems and red berries. Its root extract has a long history as a herb for veins and circulation (MSKCC, Butcher's broom).
The Synaptril label names it "Butcher's Broom (Ruscus aculeatus) Root Extract". It does not give the extract strength or ratio, so the amount of plant behind each milligram is unknown.
| Name on the label | Butcher's Broom (Ruscus aculeatus) Root Extract |
|---|---|
| What it is | Ruscus aculeatus root |
| Place on the label | 3 of 6 in the 575 mg proprietary blend |
| Amount per capsule | Not listed; #3 of 6 in the 575 mg blend, so at most 192 mg, and likely under 88 mg |
| Amount used in research | Vein studies used combination products; no brain studies |
| Strength of evidence | No brain or memory studies |
| Marketed or traditional use | Traditional herb for veins and circulation |
| Main caution | Diarrhea reported; MSKCC advises people with diabetes against it after a ketoacidosis case. |
The evidence02
Does butcher's broom help the brain?
No study has tested butcher's broom on the brain. There is no human data on memory, focus or mental energy.
Memorial Sloan Kettering's herb profile does not mention memory or any brain use at all (MSKCC, Butcher's broom). What evidence it covers is about veins, skin and digestion.
So butcher's broom in a brain support capsule is a choice the label does not explain. It may rest on the idea that better circulation helps the brain. That idea has not been tested for this herb.
What it is studied for03
What is butcher's broom studied for?
Butcher's broom is studied mainly for chronic venous insufficiency, a condition where leg veins struggle to send blood back to the heart.
Small clinical studies suggest products containing butcher's broom may ease its symptoms (MSKCC, Butcher's broom). Most of those products mixed it with other ingredients, so the herb's own effect is hard to isolate. Long-term safety and effect are unknown.
| Use | What MSKCC found |
|---|---|
| Leg vein problems (chronic venous insufficiency) | Small studies of combination products suggest symptom relief |
| Hemorrhoids | Evidence lacking |
| Constipation | Evidence lacking |
| Leg cramps | Evidence lacking |
| Promoting urination | Evidence lacking |
| Memory, focus or brain blood flow | Not studied |
The reason04
Why is butcher's broom in a brain support capsule?
The Synaptril label and sales page do not say why. The sales page names no ingredient at all (Synaptril sales page).
A circulation herb in a brain formula is a leap. Leg vein studies tell us nothing about blood flow in the brain.
The FTC's guidance for health products says the product sold should match the dose and form of the product studied (FTC, Health Products Compliance). For butcher's broom and the brain, there is no study to match. Keep that in mind when you read the front claims, such as "Advanced Brain Support*".
The amount05
How much butcher's broom root extract is in Synaptril?
The amount is not printed. As third of six in a 575 mg blend, butcher's broom can weigh at most 192 mg, and likely under 88 mg.
The ceiling comes from label order: the third item can be no more than a third of the blend (eCFR, 21 CFR 101.36). The lower figure assumes a generous 400 mg of magnesium glycinate, which leaves 175 mg to split among five ingredients, and butcher's broom can take no more than half of that. If the glycinate is pure, about 8 mg is left for all five (Magnesium glycinate, Mg content).
Vein studies used combination products, so there is no single studied dose to compare with. What can be said is that butcher's broom is a small share of a small capsule.
The full blend math sits on the Synaptril ingredients page.
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See packsSafety06
Is butcher's broom safe for people with diabetes?
Memorial Sloan Kettering advises people with diabetes not to use butcher's broom. The advice follows a single serious case.
A 39-year-old woman developed diabetic ketoacidosis, a dangerous buildup of acids in the blood, five days after using it (MSKCC, Butcher's broom). One case does not prove the herb caused it. It was serious enough for MSKCC to warn against use.
Synaptril also contains alpha lipoic acid, which may lower blood sugar (Linus Pauling Institute, Lipoic acid). Two diabetes-related flags in one capsule are a good reason to talk to your doctor first.
If you have diabetes, do not stop or change insulin or any other medicine to try a supplement. Ask your doctor before you start. See who Synaptril is for.
Side effects07
What side effects does butcher's broom have?
The main side effect reported for butcher's broom is diarrhea, mostly with one combination product called Cyclo 3 Fort (MSKCC, Butcher's broom).
Skin reactions have followed use on the skin. MSKCC lists no known drug interactions, but that means none are recorded, not that none exist (MSKCC, Butcher's broom). Natural does not always mean safe (NIH ODS, Supplements: What to know).
- Diarrhea, mainly with a combination product
- Skin reactions after topical use
- A diabetic ketoacidosis case in a woman with diabetes
- Long-term safety unknown
Read all Synaptril side effects before you order.
Other ingredients08
Where does butcher's broom fit among the Synaptril ingredients?
Butcher's broom sits in the middle of the blend, third of six. It is the only Synaptril ingredient with no brain research of any kind.
Next in line is L-carnitine, which has many memory trials in a different form: L-carnitine for memory.
FAQ09
Butcher's broom: questions people ask
What is butcher's broom root?
It is the root of Ruscus aculeatus, a small shrub with spiky, leaf-like stems. Supplements dry and extract the root. Synaptril lists a root extract third in its 575 mg blend but does not print the extract strength or the amount per capsule.
Why would a brain supplement include butcher's broom?
Neither the label nor the sales page explains it. The herb is known for leg vein circulation, so the thinking may be that better blood flow helps the brain. No study has tested that for butcher's broom, and vein results do not carry over to the brain.
Is there evidence butcher's broom improves blood flow to the brain?
No. The research covers leg veins, mostly using combination products (MSKCC, Butcher's broom). MSKCC's profile does not mention the brain, memory or focus at all. Any claim that it raises brain blood flow has no study behind it that we could find.
Is butcher's broom safe with high blood pressure?
The sources we use do not say. MSKCC's profile does not discuss blood pressure and lists no drug interactions (MSKCC, Butcher's broom). That is a gap, not a green light. If you take blood pressure medicine, show your doctor the Synaptril label before you start.
How is butcher's broom traditionally used?
It has been used as a herb for veins and circulation, and also for hemorrhoids, constipation, leg cramps and to promote urination. MSKCC says evidence is lacking for all of those except some vein symptoms, where small combination-product studies look positive (MSKCC, Butcher's broom).
Does butcher's broom cause diarrhea?
It can. MSKCC lists diarrhea as a reported side effect, mainly with the combination product Cyclo 3 Fort (MSKCC, Butcher's broom). Synaptril holds a small amount, likely under 88 mg, but its 80 mg of magnesium can also loosen stools in some people (NIH ODS, Magnesium).
Is Ruscus aculeatus the same plant as butcher's broom?
Yes. Ruscus aculeatus is the Latin name for butcher's broom, and the Synaptril label prints both. Using the Latin name makes the plant clear, since common herb names can vary by region. The label specifies the root, not the stems or berries.
Who wrote this10
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the sales page and linked NIH, FDA, CDC, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . See our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by Getsynaptril, a stocked U.S. Synaptril counter, not by the manufacturer or the distributor. We are paid when you buy through our order links.
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