Interactions on record — worth a quick check against your medications. Based on 1 of 2 ingredients. Check your meds →
Dietary supplement

Butcher's Broom 150 mg Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Swanson Superior Herbs

Capsule Category: Botanical
Most serious interaction: Moderate
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Butcher's Broom 150 mg is a dietary supplement by Swanson Superior Herbs with 2 active ingredients. Its ingredients are commonly taken for chronic venous insufficiency, varicose veins, leg swelling and heaviness.Based on those ingredients, 158 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Butcher’s Broom. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Butcher's Broom 150 mg by Swanson Superior Herbs

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

What’s inside

Full disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Full

Every active ingredient lists its own amount on the label.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 2 of its 2 active ingredients.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

This capsule contains two active ingredients — butcher's broom and butcher's broom root extract — both from the same plant. The supplement also includes inactive ingredients (gelatin, maltodextrin, calcium palmitate, silica, and microcrystalline cellulose) that serve as the capsule shell and binding agents.

Does it work?

Moderate evidence
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed

This product doesn't appear to be marketed for a specific use, so we graded Butcher's Broom's overall clinical evidence instead.

Moderate

Some clinical evidence supports Butcher's Broom for:

Why this rating?
  • We looked at the product name, claims, and label statements and couldn't find a stated purpose to grade.
  • Since the label doesn't commit to one use, we graded the ingredient's overall clinical evidence instead.
  • On file: Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) — rated "Possibly Effective" (Natural Medicines).

Butcher's broom is possibly effective for chronic venous insufficiency, a condition in which blood pools in the veins of the legs, causing swelling and discomfort. For other uses listed here — diabetic retinopathy (eye damage from diabetes), hemorrhoids, orthostatic hypotension (dizziness when standing), and lymphedema (fluid buildup in tissues) — the evidence we hold is not strong enough to rate whether it works.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Butcher's Broom

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 1 of the 1 matched ingredient.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 1 of 1.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 1 of 1.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Short-term, butcher's broom is generally well tolerated in most healthy adults, though long-term safety data is limited. The most common side effects are digestive — nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, heartburn, dyspepsia (indigestion), and gastritis (stomach lining inflammation).

If you apply it to skin, sensitive individuals may develop a rash or eczema-like irritation. The data advises against use during pregnancy and while breastfeeding due to insufficient safety information.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Butcher's Broom

Meds to double-check

Moderate interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Moderate identified

The most serious documented interaction for these ingredients is Moderate. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 1 matched ingredient can interact with medications — Butcher's Broom.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • For scale: 158 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

Before taking this product, check with your doctor or pharmacist if you use any alpha-adrenergic agonists (Moderate severity) — such as decongestants or certain blood pressure and prostate medications — or alpha-adrenergic antagonists (Moderate severity) — such as prazosin, doxazosin, or phenylephrine. Your healthcare provider can advise whether this supplement is safe to combine with your specific medications.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with some supporting evidence behind its ingredients' uses. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

If you have chronic venous insufficiency and are interested in plant-based support, butcher's broom may be worth discussing with your doctor. However, it's essential to clear it first with your own healthcare provider or pharmacist if you take any blood pressure medications, decongestants, or drugs that affect adrenaline signaling — the interactions are real and Moderate in severity.

Pregnant or breastfeeding individuals should avoid it. Talk it over with your doctor or pharmacist before starting.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 2 of 2 active ingredients matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Jun 24, 2019.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Butcher's Broom 150 mg, straight from the product label.

Brand Swanson Superior Herbs
Barcode (UPC) 087614140124
Net contents 120 Capsule(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Jun 24, 2019
DSLD ID 203607
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years)
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Butcher's Broom 150 mg by Swanson Superior Herbs, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
1 Capsule(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
1 Capsule(s)
UPC/BARCODE
087614140124
IngredientAmount% DV
Butcher’s Broom350 mg--
Butcher's Broom root extract150 mg--

Other ingredients: Gelatin, Maltodextrin, Calcium Palmitate, Silica, Microcrystalline Cellulose

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
FDA Statement of Identity

Standardized Herbal Supplement

Seals/Symbols

Guaranteed purity & potency

Precautions

Do not use if seal is broken.

Keep out of reach of children.

Storage

Store in a cool, dry place.

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Suggested use: As a dietary supplement, take one capsule two times per day with water.

General Statements

To reorder, call toll free 1-800-437-4148 or visit our website at www.swansonvitamins.com

See for yourself

Butcher's Broom 150 mg by Swanson Superior Herbs label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Butcher's Broom 150 mg by Swanson Superior Herbs

These are the 2 active ingredients this product is made of. Select any to open its full monograph.

Serving size1 Capsule(s) Dosage formCapsule Amounts shown are per serving.

Most supplement products combine several ingredients, and a medication can interact with the product through any one of them. Each ingredient below shows whether it has known drug interactions.

Butcher’s Broom

Interacts with
158 drugs
350 mg per serving

Butcher's broom is a plant extract most often used for circulation problems in the legs, such as chronic venous insufficiency, where some evidence sug...

Butcher’s Broom monograph & interactions

Butcher's Broom root extract

Interacts with
158 drugs
150 mg per serving Form: Ruscogenins

Butcher's broom is a plant extract most often used for circulation problems in the legs, such as chronic venous insufficiency, where some evidence sug...

Butcher's Broom root extract monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Gelatin, Maltodextrin, Calcium Palmitate, Silica, Microcrystalline Cellulose. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Butcher's Broom 150 mg by Swanson Superior Herbs Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Butcher's Broom 150 mg?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

Go to the checker
158Drugs
158 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Butcher's Broom 150 mg with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

Butcher’s Broom2 drug types · 158 drugs

Alpha-Adrenergic Agonists

Theoretically, butcher's broom might increase the effects and adverse effects of alpha-adrenergic agonists.
Animal and in vitro studies show that butcher's broom has alpha-adrenergic agonist effects.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Alpha-Adrenergic Antagonists

Theoretically, butcher's broom might reduce the effects of alpha-adrenergic antagonists.
Animal and in vitro studies show that butcher's broom has alpha-adrenergic agonist effects.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Butcher's Broom 150 mg, from the product label.

Swanson Superior Herbs

See all Swanson Superior Herbs products
Name
Swanson Health Products
City
Fargo
State
ND
ZipCode
58104
Phone Number
1-800-437-4148
Web Address
www.swanson.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Butcher's Broom 150 mg by Swanson Superior Herbs: Common Questions

Does Butcher's Broom 150 mg by Swanson Superior Herbs interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Butcher's Broom 150 mg has a known interaction with 158 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Butcher's Broom 150 mg contains 2 active ingredients, and an interaction can come from any of them. We check every ingredient, combine the results into one list per medication, and show which ingredient and mechanism is responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
What is butcher's broom supposed to do?
Butcher's broom is possibly effective for chronic venous insufficiency, a condition in which blood pools in the legs and causes swelling. For other conditions like hemorrhoids or diabetic eye damage, there isn't enough reliable evidence to know if it works.
Can I take this if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
No, the safety data advises against it during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. If you're pregnant, planning pregnancy, or nursing, talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking this supplement.
What are the most common side effects?
Digestive upset is the main concern — nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, heartburn, indigestion, and stomach inflammation. These are usually mild and short-term, but in rare cases severe symptoms can occur. If you apply it to skin, it may cause a rash in sensitive people.
How long is it safe to take butcher's broom?
The evidence on short-term use shows it's generally well tolerated in healthy adults, but we don't have good data on long-term safety. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about how long it's appropriate for you to use it.
Will this interact with my blood pressure medication?
It depends on what type of blood pressure drug you take. Butcher's broom may interfere with certain alpha-adrenergic medications. Use the interaction checker on this page with your specific medications, and then confirm with your doctor or pharmacist before starting.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Not sure if Butcher's Broom 150 mg is safe with your meds?

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Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Butcher's Broom 150 mg label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Butcher's Broom 150 mg's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 8 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Butcher's Broom 8 references
  1. Beltramino R, Penenory A, Buceta AM. An open-label, randomized multicenter study comparing the efficacy and safety of Cyclo 3 Fort versus hydroxyethyl rutoside in chronic venous lymphatic insufficiency. Angiology 2000;51:535-44.. PubMed
  2. Redman DA. Ruscus aculeatus (butcher's broom) as a potential treatment for orthostatic hypotension, with a case report. J Altern Complement Med 2000;6:539-49..
  3. Landa, N., Aguirre, A., Goday, J., Raton, J. A., and Diaz-Perez, J. L. Allergic contact dermatitis from a vasoconstrictor cream. Contact Dermatitis 1990;22(5):290-291. PubMed
  4. Cluzan, R. V., Alliot, F., Ghabboun, S., and Pascot, M. Treatment of secondary lymphedema of the upper limb with CYCLO 3 FORT. Lymphology 1996;29(1):29-35.
  5. Parrado F, Buzzi A. A study of the efficacy and tolerability of a preparation containing Ruscus aculeatus in the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency of the lower limbs. Clin Drug Invest 1999;18(4):255-61. DOI
  6. Sadarmin PP, Timperley J. An unusual case of Butcher's Broom precipitating diabetic ketoacidosis. J Emerg Med 2013;45(3):e63-e65. PubMed
  7. Ramirez-Hernandez M, Garcia-Selles J, Merida-Fernandez C, Martinez-Escribano JA. Allergic contact dermatitis to ruscogenins. Contact Dermatitis 2006;54(1):60. PubMed
  8. European Medicines Agency. Assessment report on Ruscus Aculeatus L rhizome. EMEA/HMPC/261939/2007. London, September 4, 2008. Available at: http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/Herbal_-_HMPC_assessment_report/2009/12/WC500018288.pdf. Acces

See these in context on the Butcher's Broom monograph →

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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