Blog · Ingredient safety
Butcher's Broom Side Effects: Few Reports, Thin Data
Butcher's broom side effects are poorly mapped. The European monograph on the root says none had been reported when it was assessed, but that rests on long traditional use, not large safety trials. Synaptril lists butcher's broom root extract third in its blend with no printed amount. The label's own caution applies.
Written by the Synaptril label deskUpdated · 4 min read
What is known01
What are the side effects of butcher's broom?
No side effects of butcher's broom had been reported when the European Medicines Agency assessed it. That is not the same as proof of safety, because the herb is approved on traditional use only (EMA, Rusci rhizoma (butcher's broom)).
The assessed uses are relief of heavy, uncomfortable legs from minor circulation problems, and itching or burning from haemorrhoids, in adults. There are no brain or memory uses in that record.
Other herbs show why this matters. A long history of use can hide rare problems, and only formal study finds them. Turmeric looked mild for years before liver injury reports built up (NIH LiverTox, Turmeric). The point is not that butcher's broom is risky, only that quiet records are not proof.
A short list of safety data means gaps, not a clean bill. Few people have studied the root extract in large groups, so rare effects could simply be unrecorded.
The record02
What does the research record on butcher's broom contain?
The record on butcher's broom is small: a traditional-use monograph and one 12-week study of 166 women. That study found less lower-leg swelling than placebo, but the agency judged the overall benefit not convincing (EMA, Rusci rhizoma (butcher's broom)).
| Question | Answer in the EU record |
|---|---|
| Approved basis | Traditional use only |
| Leg heaviness study | One, 166 women, 12 weeks, not convincing |
| Haemorrhoid studies | None |
| Reported side effects | None at assessment |
| Brain or memory use | None given |
The monograph also says to see a doctor if symptoms last longer than 2 weeks, since leg or haemorrhoid problems can have causes that need a proper check.
On the label03
Why is butcher's broom in Synaptril?
The label does not say why butcher's broom is in Synaptril. It lists "butcher's broom (Ruscus aculeatus) root extract" third in the 575 mg blend and prints no amount.
Label rules cap that line at 192 mg, and the glycinate math puts it near 88 mg at most, as our estimate (21 CFR 101.36, supplement labeling). We found no brain or memory research on the herb, and we say so plainly. See the butcher's broom page for more.
This matters because a blend hides the herb's share. If it is near the 88 mg estimate, the dose is small. If it were nearer the 192 mg ceiling, it would be a larger share of the capsule. Only the maker knows which.
So the herb's side effect profile counts, but the reason for its place in the blend is a question for the seller.
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See packsCaution04
Who should be careful with butcher's broom?
Anyone who is pregnant, nursing or under 18 should avoid the Synaptril capsule, as its label states, and the herb's data do not cover those groups.
Pregnancy and nursing are listed on the Synaptril label as reasons not to use it, and the herb's own record has no data for those groups either.
Ask a physician first if you take any medicine or have a condition, especially one that affects circulation or blood pressure. Keep taking prescribed medicine. Report any unusual reaction to the FDA through its portal (FDA, Report a Supplement Problem).
These can signal a clot or vein problem. A supplement is not a diagnosis. See a doctor, and do not wait on a capsule.
| Label line | Place | Per capsule | Amount used in research | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magnesium Glycinate (magnesium 80 mg, 19% DV) | 1 of 6 | 80 mg magnesium (printed) | RDA 310-420 mg a day from all sources; supplement limit 350 mg (NIH ODS, Magnesium) (Mah & Pitre 2021, magnesium and sleep) | No memory trials found; a small sleep-onset effect in older adults |
| Alpha Lipoic Acid | 2 of 6 | at most 288 mg by label order; likely under 175 mg | 600 mg a day in small Alzheimer's studies (Linus Pauling Institute, Lipoic Acid) (MSKCC, Alpha-Lipoic Acid) | Too limited to judge for memory |
| Butcher's Broom (Ruscus aculeatus) Root Extract | 3 of 6 | at most 192 mg by label order; likely under 88 mg | Traditional use for heavy legs; no brain dose exists (EMA, Rusci rhizoma (butcher's broom)) | No brain or memory evidence found |
| L-Carnitine | 4 of 6 | at most 144 mg by label order; likely under 58 mg | Memory studies used acetyl-L-carnitine, 1.5-3 g a day (a different form) (NIH ODS, Carnitine) (Cochrane, acetyl-L-carnitine for dementia) | Unclear; a Cochrane review found no routine benefit |
| Turmeric (Curcuma longa) Rhizome Extract 95% Curcuminoids | 5 of 6 | at most 115 mg by label order; likely under 44 mg | 180 mg curcumin a day as Theracurmin in one 18-month pilot (NCCIH, Turmeric) (NIH LiverTox, Turmeric) (MSKCC, Turmeric) (Small et al. 2018, curcumin and memory) | Small, mixed pilot trials |
| Coenzyme Q 10 (as Ubiquinone) | 6 of 6 | at most 96 mg by label order; likely under 35 mg | Typical supplements 30-100 mg a day (NCCIH, Coenzyme Q10) (Linus Pauling Institute, Coenzyme Q10) (MSKCC, Coenzyme Q10) | No cognitive benefit in brain-disease trials |
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FAQ05
Butcher's broom safety questions
Is butcher's broom safe to take every day?
The EU record reports no side effects but rests on traditional use, not long safety trials (EMA, Rusci rhizoma (butcher's broom)). Daily use in a blend with unknown amounts is untested. Ask a physician first and follow the label's one capsule limit.
Does butcher's broom interact with medicines?
The monograph we cite lists no interactions, which reflects little study, not proof of none. Ask a pharmacist, and bring the Supplement Facts panel so the full list of blend ingredients can be checked.
Can butcher's broom cause stomach upset?
The assessed record lists no reported effects at all, so no rate exists. Any new capsule can upset a stomach. If it happens, stop the product and ask a physician instead of guessing the cause.
Is the butcher's broom in Synaptril a root or a leaf extract?
The label says root extract of Ruscus aculeatus, and the EU monograph covers the rhizome, which is the underground part (EMA, Rusci rhizoma (butcher's broom)). The extract strength and amount are not printed.
Should I tell my doctor about butcher's broom?
Yes. List it with every other supplement, along with the amounts if you know them. Here the amount is not printed, so bring the Supplement Facts panel. A physician can only weigh a risk they are told about.
Who wrote this06
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the sales page and linked NIH, FDA, CDC, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by an American Synaptril authorized shop, not by the manufacturer or the distributor. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
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Ready to try Synaptril?
Start with a medicine check, then choose your pack. Three or six bottles cost less per bottle and ship free, and each pack comes with the 60-day money-back guarantee.
- Secure checkout
- 60-day money-back guarantee
- Ships from the U.S.