Spanish Broom Drug Interactions, Uses, Effectiveness, Safety & More

Spanish Broom (Spartium junceum) is a tall, bushy shrub in the pea family. It has bright yellow, fragrant flowers and thin, almost leafless green stems. It is native to the Mediterranean region and now grows in many warm parts of the world, where it is sometimes considered an invasive weed.

Historically, people used parts of the plant as a folk medicine for fluid retention and heart problems, and the strong stems were used to make fiber, baskets, and dye. Today the plant is best known for its sweet-smelling flowers, which are used to make an absolute (a concentrated fragrance) for perfumes and cosmetics.

It is not a common or well-studied dietary supplement, and it is important not to confuse it with other plants called "broom" (such as Scotch broom, Cytisus scoparius), which are different but also contain toxic compounds.

Spanish Broom contains quinolizidine alkaloids, including compounds such as cytisine and sparteine. These chemicals can act on the nervous system and the heart, which is likely why the plant was traditionally thought to affect heart rhythm and urine output.

Sparteine-type compounds have been studied in the past for their effects on heart rhythm and the uterus. However, these are powerful and potentially dangerous substances, and the amounts in a homemade preparation cannot be controlled. Much of what is known comes from laboratory and animal research or from poisoning reports rather than careful clinical studies.

In short, the same compounds that give the plant any "activity" are also the ones that make it toxic.

Spanish Broom should be considered toxic when taken by mouth. The flowers and especially the seeds contain alkaloids that can cause poisoning. Symptoms of overdose can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fast or irregular heartbeat, dizziness, low blood pressure, and in severe cases collapse.

People with heart conditions, high or low blood pressure, kidney problems, or any chronic illness should not use it. Children and older adults are especially vulnerable.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Avoid Spanish Broom completely. Its alkaloids may stimulate the uterus and could harm a pregnancy, and there is no safety information for breastfeeding. There is no safe known dose during these times.

Because the fragrance absolute is highly concentrated, essential-oil products should never be swallowed and should be kept away from children and pets.

Even small oral amounts may cause nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and diarrhea. More serious effects from its alkaloids can include a fast or irregular heartbeat, sweating, dizziness, drop in blood pressure, weakness, and confusion.

Severe poisoning can be life-threatening and may affect breathing and heart rhythm. If someone swallows Spanish Broom and develops these symptoms, seek emergency medical care or contact a poison control center right away.

Applied to the skin in perfumes, the fragrance can occasionally cause allergic reactions or skin irritation in sensitive people.

There is no established safe dose for Spanish Broom as a supplement, and it is not recommended for internal use. Because the plant is toxic and its alkaloid content varies, no reliable, safe amount can be given.

We do not provide a dose for this plant. If you encounter a product that contains it, talk with a pharmacist or doctor before considering it, and never rely on homemade teas or tinctures made from the flowers or seeds.