Ingredient 3 of 6
Butcher's Broom and the Brain: Why Synaptril Lists a Leg Remedy
Butcher's broom has no brain evidence: we found no study of butcher's broom for memory, focus or blood flow to the brain. In Synaptril, Ruscus aculeatus root extract is line 3 of the 575 mg blend, likely under about 88 mg. Its known use is traditional, for heavy, tired legs, and even that rests on long use rather than strong trials.
Written by the Synaptril label deskUpdated
The label line01
What is butcher's broom in Synaptril?
Butcher's broom is a small, spiky evergreen shrub, Ruscus aculeatus, that grows wild around the Mediterranean. Synaptril uses an extract of its root. European herbal medicine has long used the root, mostly for the legs.
On the Synaptril label, it is the third of six blend lines. It weighs less than alpha-lipoic acid and more than L-carnitine. The label prints no amount for it.
How the label spells it
The panel reads "Butcher's Broom (Ruscus aculeatus) Root Extract". It does not say how concentrated the extract is or what it is standardized to.
| Name on the label | Butcher's Broom (Ruscus aculeatus) Root Extract |
|---|---|
| What it is | Ruscus aculeatus root, a small evergreen shrub |
| Place on the label | Line 3 of 6 in the 575 mg proprietary blend |
| Amount per capsule | Not printed; line 3 of 6 in the 575 mg blend. Label order caps it at 192 mg; after the magnesium glycinate it is likely no more than about 88 mg (estimate) |
| Amount used in research | Traditional use for heavy legs; no brain dose exists |
| Strength of evidence | No brain or memory evidence found |
| Marketed or traditional use | Traditional remedy for leg heaviness |
| Main caution | No side effects were on record at EMA's review; leg symptoms lasting over 2 weeks need a doctor. |
Evidence02
Does butcher's broom help the brain?
No evidence says it does. We searched for studies of butcher's broom and memory, focus, mood or brain blood flow, and found none.
The European Medicines Agency reviewed the plant in detail. Its assessment lists uses for the legs and for haemorrhoids, and no use for the brain or for thinking (EMA, Rusci rhizoma (butcher's broom)).
So the plain answer for a butcher's broom brain question is "not studied". That is different from "harmful", and different from "works". It means the label gives you a name with nothing behind it for memory.
The label says "Advanced Brain Support" for the whole capsule. No single line backs that up, and butcher's broom has the least to show of all six (21 CFR 101.93, structure/function claims).
Traditional use03
What is butcher's broom traditionally used for?
Butcher's broom is traditionally used for heavy, tired legs and for itchy or burning haemorrhoids. The EU lists it as a traditional herbal medicine for adults, based on long-standing use rather than trials (EMA, Rusci rhizoma (butcher's broom)).
"Traditional use" is a specific EU label. It means the plant has been used safely for a long time for a minor problem. It does not mean studies proved it works.
| Use | Basis | Trial support |
|---|---|---|
| Leg discomfort and heaviness from minor circulation problems | Long traditional use | One study in 166 women; judged not convincing (EMA, Rusci rhizoma (butcher's broom)) |
| Itching and burning of haemorrhoids | Long traditional use | No studies (EMA, Rusci rhizoma (butcher's broom)) |
| Memory, focus or mental energy | None | No studies |
The one trial04
What did the main butcher's broom study find?
It found a small drop in lower-leg swelling. In a 12-week study, 166 women took a butcher's broom product or a placebo, and the product group had more reduction in swelling (EMA, Rusci rhizoma (butcher's broom)).
The EMA still judged the overall benefit not convincing. One study is a thin base, and swelling in the shins says nothing about the brain.
Who
166 women with leg complaints.
How long
12 weeks, against placebo.
Result
Less lower-leg swelling; benefit not convincing overall.
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See packsBlend math05
How much butcher's broom is in one capsule?
The label does not say, but the math sets a ceiling. As line 3 of a 575 mg blend, butcher's broom can weigh at most about 192 mg.
The real figure is likely far lower. The 80 mg of magnesium needs about 400-570 mg of magnesium glycinate, which leaves about 5-175 mg for five lines. Shared that way, line 3 is likely under about 88 mg.
There is no brain dose to compare it with, because none was ever studied. The full method is on the Synaptril ingredients page.
| Measure | Most it can be | How we got it |
|---|---|---|
| Label-order ceiling | About 192 mg | 575 mg divided by line 3 (21 CFR 101.36, supplement labeling) |
| Estimate after the glycinate | About 88 mg | About 175 mg left, divided by 2 |
| Studied brain dose | None exists | No brain study found |
Why it is there06
Why would a brain supplement include butcher's broom?
The label and the sales page do not explain it. The sales page names no ingredient at all (Synaptril sales page), so we cannot quote a reason.
A common sales idea runs like this: better circulation in the legs means better blood flow everywhere, including the head. No study we found tests that step for butcher's broom.
The FTC expects health claims to rest on solid human trials, not on a chain of guesses (FTC, Health Products Compliance Guidance). Read how each claim on the bottle lines up with research on does Synaptril work?
Safety07
Is butcher's broom safe to take?
No side effects had been reported when the EMA reviewed it (EMA, Rusci rhizoma (butcher's broom)). That is reassuring, but it is not the same as careful testing in large groups.
The EMA monograph is for adults only. The Synaptril label adds its own limits: not for anyone under 18, and not for pregnant or nursing mothers.
If heavy or swollen legs last more than 2 weeks, see a doctor rather than treating them with a supplement (EMA, Rusci rhizoma (butcher's broom)). On medication or living with a medical condition? Ask a physician before starting, as the label says. Keep taking prescribed medicine.
For the full picture of the brand, read is Synaptril legit?
FAQ08
Butcher's broom questions people search
Why is butcher's broom in Synaptril?
The label does not say, and the sales page names no ingredients, so there is no stated reason. Butcher's broom is a traditional remedy for heavy legs (EMA, Rusci rhizoma (butcher's broom)). We found no study that tested it for memory, focus or mental energy, so its place in a brain formula is unexplained.
Does butcher's broom improve blood flow to the brain?
No study shows that. Research on butcher's broom looks at the legs: one 12-week trial in 166 women found less lower-leg swelling, and the EMA called the benefit not convincing (EMA, Rusci rhizoma (butcher's broom)). Nothing we found measured blood flow in the brain or any thinking skill.
Is butcher's broom good for circulation?
It is a traditional EU remedy for leg heaviness from minor circulation problems, accepted on long use rather than proof (EMA, Rusci rhizoma (butcher's broom)). The single trial was small and judged not convincing. If your legs swell or ache for more than 2 weeks, a doctor should check the cause.
Is Ruscus aculeatus the same as butcher's broom?
Yes. Ruscus aculeatus is the Latin name of the butcher's broom shrub. The Synaptril label lists "Butcher's Broom (Ruscus aculeatus) Root Extract", so it uses the root. European herbal reviews call the dried root and rhizome Rusci rhizoma, which is the same plant (EMA, Rusci rhizoma (butcher's broom)).
Does butcher's broom have side effects?
No side effects had been reported when the European Medicines Agency assessed it (EMA, Rusci rhizoma (butcher's broom)). That does not prove it is free of them, since few people have been studied. Stop the capsules and talk to your doctor if anything new appears after you start.
Is butcher's broom safe during pregnancy?
Do not take Synaptril while pregnant or nursing. The label rules it out for pregnant or nursing mothers. The EU monograph for butcher's broom is also written for adults in general, not for pregnancy (EMA, Rusci rhizoma (butcher's broom)). Ask your obstetrician about any supplement before you take it.
Can butcher's broom help with hemorrhoids?
It is a traditional EU remedy for haemorrhoid itching and burning, but no studies of that use exist (EMA, Rusci rhizoma (butcher's broom)). The amount in one Synaptril capsule is also unknown and likely small. Bleeding or pain from hemorrhoids should be checked by a doctor.
Who wrote this09
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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