Butcher’s Broom

Butcher’s broom is a venoactive herb (improves venous tone/vasoconstriction via ruscogenins acting on α-adrenergic receptors). That’s why it’s used for chronic venous insufficiency, varicose veins and hemorrhoids—not for inner-ear disorders. Major monographs (EMA/HMPC, Drugs.com professional monograph, RxList) list circulatory indications and do not include vertigo. e-lactancia.org

Mechanistically, improving leg-vein tone doesn’t map to the usual drivers of vertigo (e.g., benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, vestibular neuritis, Ménière’s endolymphatic hydrops). There’s no established pathway by which ruscogenins would treat these inner-ear processes, and no guideline or pharmacology source proposes one. (See EMA monograph for approved/traditional uses; none mention vestibular disease.) e-lactancia.org

There are no evidence-based dosing instructions for vertigo, because it hasn’t been studied for that condition. If you still plan to try it, clinicians typically mirror CVI (venous) regimens used in trials/monographs:

• Standardized ruscogenins (total ruscogenin + neoruscogenin): 7–11 mg/day (adults). e-lactancia.org
• Extracts/dry root (adult oral doses used for venous symptoms in EMA monograph): e.g., dry extract 86 mg once–twice daily (5–8.5:1 ethanolic extract), or dried powdered root 350 mg three times daily. e-lactancia.org
• Combination product studied for CVI (Cyclo 3 Fort®): 150 mg Ruscus extract + 150 mg hesperidin methyl-chalcone + 100 mg vitamin C, twice daily. (Studied for leg-vein symptoms, not vertigo.) RxList

If symptoms persist >2 weeks, EMA advises medical review; again, this is for venous complaints, but it’s a sensible safety guardrail. e-lactancia.org

There are no randomized trials showing butcher’s broom treats vertigo or Ménière’s disease. What we do have are venous-disease studies (helpful to understand the herb’s real, evidence-based effects):

• Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (CVI): Ruscus + hesperidin methyl-chalcone + vitamin C improved leg symptoms/ankle circumference over 60 days vs placebo. SpringerLink
• Randomized, placebo-controlled trial (CVI): Ruscus extract alone improved foot/ankle volume over 12 weeks. (Vanscheidt 2002—Arzneimittelforschung). Europe PMC
• Meta-analysis (CVI): Cyclo 3 Fort® trials show benefit on venous symptoms and edema. minervamedica.it
• Systematic review & meta-analysis (CVI): Ruscus-based combinations reduced leg circumference/volume; evidence graded high quality for those outcomes. ResearchGate
• Regulatory monograph: EMA/HMPC lists venous circulatory symptoms and hemorrhoids as uses; vertigo is not an indication. e-lactancia.org