Butcher's broom
Butcher's Broom in Synaptril: Why Is a Vein Herb Here?
Butcher's broom root extract comes from Ruscus aculeatus, an evergreen shrub long used in Europe for heavy legs and hemorrhoid itching. It is line 3 of the Synaptril blend, so a capsule holds at most about 88 mg. No study links it to memory or focus, and the label does not say why it is included.
Written by the Synaptril label deskUpdated
The basics01
What is butcher's broom root extract?
Butcher's broom root extract is made from the root of Ruscus aculeatus, a low evergreen shrub. In Europe it is a traditional herbal medicine for leg and vein complaints.
The European Medicines Agency accepts it on the strength of long use, not clinical proof. Its two accepted uses are heavy, uncomfortable legs from minor circulation problems, and itching or burning from hemorrhoids (EMA, Rusci rhizoma (butcher's broom)).
On the Synaptril label it reads "Butcher's Broom (Ruscus aculeatus) Root Extract". It is the third of six blend lines, and no amount or extract strength is printed.
| Name on the label | Butcher's Broom (Ruscus aculeatus) Root Extract |
|---|---|
| What it is | Ruscus aculeatus, an evergreen shrub root |
| Place on the label | Line 3 of 6 in the 575 mg proprietary blend |
| Amount per capsule | At most 88 mg (label order and magnesium math); 192 mg by label order alone |
| Amount used in research | 150 mg of root extract per capsule in a three-ingredient leg-vein product |
| Strength of evidence | Some evidence for vein symptoms; none for the brain |
| Marketed or traditional use | Traditional remedy for leg veins and hemorrhoids |
| Main caution | A traditional-use herb in Europe, for adults only; leg symptoms that last over 2 weeks need a doctor. |
The odd one out02
Why is butcher's broom in a brain supplement?
The label does not say why butcher's broom is in Synaptril, and no source we use links it to the brain. Its research covers leg veins and hemorrhoids.
A common guess is "circulation". But the studies measured leg symptoms such as heaviness and pain. None measured blood flow to the brain, memory or focus.
The EMA monograph lists no brain, memory or thinking use at all (EMA, Rusci rhizoma (butcher's broom)). So the label desk treats line 3 as an herb with a real, narrow track record in a field far from the front-label claims.
Butcher's broom is not a bad ingredient. It is just not a brain ingredient on current evidence. See how the six lines fit together in how Synaptril works.
Blend math03
How much butcher's broom root extract is in a Synaptril capsule?
A Synaptril capsule holds at most about 88 mg of butcher's broom root extract. That is a ceiling from the label math, not a printed amount.
Magnesium glycinate fills most of the 575 mg blend: about 567 mg at the typical 14% magnesium share (GlobalRPH, Magnesium Glycinate). That leaves about 8 mg for five lines. In our generous case, a 20% grade, it leaves at most 175 mg.
Butcher's broom is line 3, so it cannot outweigh line 2. Split 175 mg between two lines at most and you get about 88 mg. An even split of all five gives about 35 mg.
| Case | Butcher's broom | Share of 150 mg |
|---|---|---|
| Typical grade (14%) | Under 8 mg | Under 5% |
| Generous grade, even split | About 35 mg | About 23% |
| Generous grade, ceiling | At most 88 mg | About 59% |
| Studied leg product (Boyle et al., Int Angiol 2003) | 150 mg per capsule | 100% |
Slide the magnesium share to watch the room for line 3 grow or shrink.
At 14.1%, 80 mg of magnesium needs about 567 mg of magnesium glycinate. That leaves about 8 mg for alpha lipoic acid, butcher's broom, L-carnitine, turmeric and CoQ10 together.
- Magnesium glycinate567 mg
- Alpha lipoic acidat most 8 mg
- Butcher's broomat most 4 mg
- L-carnitineat most 3 mg
- Turmeric (95% curcuminoids)at most 2 mg
- Coenzyme Q10at most 2 mg
Arithmetic from the label (80 mg magnesium, 575 mg blend, listed most to least by weight (21 CFR 101.36, Supplement Facts)) and the magnesium share of magnesium glycinate (GlobalRPH, Magnesium Glycinate). The exact grade used is not printed, so we show the range. Ceilings, not amounts.
Evidence04
What are the benefits of butcher's broom?
The main butcher's broom benefits in studies are small drops in leg pain and heaviness. They come from a combination product, not the herb alone.
That product, Cyclo 3 Fort, pairs 150 mg of Ruscus root extract with 150 mg of hesperidin methyl chalcone and 100 mg of vitamin C. A meta-analysis pooled 20 placebo-controlled trials plus other studies, about 10,246 people (Boyle et al., Int Angiol 2003).
On a 0-3 symptom scale, pain fell 0.44 points and heaviness 0.53 points more than placebo. Calf and ankle size did not change significantly. The authors noted uneven data quality.
| Measure | Result vs placebo |
|---|---|
| Leg pain (0-3 scale) | 0.44 points lower |
| Heaviness (0-3 scale) | 0.53 points lower |
| Calf and ankle size | No significant change |
| Memory, focus, mental energy | Not studied |
A 2020 Cochrane review of vein drugs (56 trials) included no Ruscus studies (Boyle et al., Int Angiol 2003). More background: what is butcher's broom.
Memory05
Does butcher's broom help memory or focus?
No, butcher's broom has no shown effect on memory or focus. No trial in our sources tested it for thinking, and the EMA lists no such use (EMA, Rusci rhizoma (butcher's broom)).
Even the leg benefits came at 150 mg with two partner ingredients. Synaptril has neither partner and, at most, about 88 mg.
If your memory has changed, see a doctor; many causes, such as low B12 or medicine side effects, are treatable (NIA, Memory Problems and Aging). Sudden confusion, slurred speech, face drooping or weakness on one side means call 911.
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See packsSafety06
Who should not take butcher's broom?
Children and teens should not take butcher's broom: the EMA limits it to adults (EMA, Rusci rhizoma (butcher's broom)). The Synaptril label also rules out anyone under 18 and pregnant or nursing mothers.
Leg or hemorrhoid symptoms need a doctor first. The EMA says to rule out serious causes, and to get checked if symptoms last over 2 weeks or get worse (EMA, Rusci rhizoma (butcher's broom)).
Check your age and status
Adults only. Not during pregnancy or nursing, per the label.
Get leg symptoms looked at
Swelling, pain or heaviness can have serious causes. A capsule is not a check-up.
Bring your medicine list
The label asks anyone on medication to consult a physician. Show the bottle to your pharmacist.
Do not stop or change a prescription because you started a supplement. For more, read butcher's broom side effects and who Synaptril is for.
Line 3 in numbers07
What are the key butcher's broom numbers in Synaptril?
Butcher's broom is line 3 of 6, at most about 88 mg a capsule, against 150 mg in the leg studies.
Other lines08
Which Synaptril ingredient comes after butcher's broom?
L-carnitine is line 4. By the same math, a capsule holds at most about 58 mg of it.
See all six side by side on the Synaptril ingredients page.
FAQ09
Synaptril questions people ask
How much butcher's broom is in a Synaptril capsule?
At most about 88 mg, by our arithmetic. The label prints no amount, but magnesium glycinate fills most of the 575 mg blend. In our generous case 175 mg is left for five lines, and line 3 can hold at most half of that.
Is butcher's broom the same as Ruscus aculeatus?
Yes. Ruscus aculeatus is the Latin name of butcher's broom, a small evergreen shrub. The Synaptril label prints both names and says the extract comes from the root, which is the same part the European herbal monograph covers for adults.
Can the butcher's broom in Synaptril ease heavy legs?
Do not count on it. The leg studies used 150 mg of Ruscus extract with hesperidin and vitamin C. Synaptril has at most about 88 mg and neither partner. Leg heaviness that lasts over 2 weeks deserves a doctor's look.
Is the butcher's broom extract in Synaptril standardized?
The label does not say. It lists "Root Extract" with no ratio or marker compound. Compare the turmeric line, which states 95% curcuminoids. Without a strength figure, there is no way for a buyer to tell how concentrated the extract is.
Why do some Synaptril articles not mention butcher's broom?
Some third-party articles list ingredients that are not on the label, such as Rhodiola or phosphatidylserine. The bottle itself lists butcher's broom as line 3. When an article and the label disagree, trust the label on the bottle in your hand.
Is butcher's broom safe to take every day in Synaptril?
For most adults, a small daily amount is unlikely to be a problem, but long-term data on this capsule do not exist. The EMA limits the herb to adults. Ask your doctor first if you have a health condition or take medication.
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 . Learn about our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by a U.S. retail partner of Synaptril, not by the manufacturer or the distributor. We make money when you buy through our order links.
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