HEALTHY CENTER

Botanical: Cytisus scoparius (Linn.)
Family: N. O. Pulses

Description *
* History
* Culture
* Constituents
* Part used as medicine
* Drugs Action and uses
* Preparation
* Substitutes

— Synonyms — Spartium scoparium (Linn.). Genista scoparius (Lam.). Sarothamnus scoparius (Koch). Broom Tops. Irish Tops. Basam. Bisom. Bizzom. Browm. Brum. BREEAM. Green Broom.
— Part Used — Tops.
— Habitat — The increasingly dense brush, a shrub native to England and common in this country, grows wild throughout temperate Europe and northern Asia, being in abundance pastures and sandy heaths. It is not naturalized in sandy soil in North America.

It is remarkable that the only indigenous medicinal plant used as a drug official that we draw from the large order of pulses, or on the tribe module. Though now more generally known as Cytisus scoparius (Linn.), he was also appointed Spartium scoparium (Linn.) Sarothamnus scoparius (Koch) and Genista scoparius (Lam.).

Her long, slender, erect and tough branches grow in large, narrow beams, making it available for broom-making, hence its English name. Local names of Basam, Bisom, Bizzom, BREEAM, browm, Brum and Green Broom have all been given with reference to the habit of making brooms of it, and the genus name, Sarothamnus in which it was previously affected, also stresses that use of the plant, being formed from two Greek words meaning “sweep” and “a shrub. The specific name, scoparius, too, is derived from the Latin scopa, a broom. The generic name Cytisus is said to be a corruption of the name of a Greek island, Cythnus where Broom abounded, but it is likely that the broom known to the ancients, and mentioned by Pliny and Virgil under the name Genista, was a Another species, the Spanish broom, Spartium junceum, such as Scotch broom is in Greece does not appear in southern and eastern Europe, being primarily from western, northern and central Europe.

The medicinal use of the brush as branches of the broom under the name of Genista, Genesta Genestier or is mentioned in the first Herbals printed under Passau, 1485, the Hortus Sanitatis, 1491, the Herball Grete, 1516, and others. It is also the Genista figured by the German botanists and pharmacologists of the sixteenth century.

Broom was used in ancient Anglo-Saxon medicine and by the Welsh physicians of the Middle Ages. He had a place in the Pharmacopceia of London in 1618 and is included in the British Pharmacopoeia of the present time.

Bartholomew says of Broom:
‘Genest bytterness this name because it is full of flavor bytte Mannes. And is a shrub that growyth in a place that is forsaken, stony and untylthed. Presence of one witness that the soil is bareyne Drye and it grows in. braunches and many knotty and hard. Grene in winter and flours in yellow thyche SOMER (on which) wrapped with hevy (heavy) smell and bitter Sauer (flavor). And well, Nethell, Mooste of virtue. ”

— Description — It grows to a height of 3 to 5 feet and produces numerous long, straight, slender branches bright green, hard and very soft, smooth and prominently angled. The leaves are alternate, hairy when young the lower shortly stalked, with three small leaflets oblong, the upper, near the tips of branches, sessile and small, often reduced to a single leaflet. Professor G. Henslow (Floral Walks in highways and byways) said in reference to “sheets” broom “has generally no leaves, stems green undertaking their duties instead. While it grows in damp, it can develop threefoliate leaves. The bright yellow, Papilionoideae large fragrant flowers, blooming from April to July, are borne on stalks axillary, solitary or in pairs, and are replaced by oblong, flattened pods, about 1 1 / 2 inch long, hairy on edges, but smooth on the sides. They are almost black when ripe. They exploded with a bang when the seeds are ripe throw them off by the torsion spring not like valves or sides of the pod. The crackling of the continuous crack seed vessels on a hot sunny day in July is easily discernible. The flowers are very attractive to bees, they do not contain honey, but abundance of pollen.

“In flowers without honey, such as broom, there is a curious way of” exploding “to expel the pollen. In the broom stigma lies in the middle of the five anthers of stamens longer, and when a bee visits the flower of those of the shorter explode and disperse their pollen on bees by pressing the edges of the keel petal closed . “The shock is not sufficient to drive the bees away … The division runs faster now … When the explosion of a second and more violent happens.” The style is horizontal with a flattened end below the stigma, but once freed from the constraint that it curls inwards, forming more than one complete spiral turn. It rises and hits the back of the bee with its stigma. The bee then gathers pollen with its mouth and legs. “(From the fertilization of flowers by Professor H. Mueller, pp. 195-6)

— History — In heraldry, the Broom was adopted at a very early age as a badge of Brittany. Geoffrey of Anjou push it in his helmet when engaging in battle, his troops could see and follow. As he picked on a steep bank that had its roots knit together, it is reputed to have said: “This gold plant, rooted firmly amid rock, yet upholding what is ready to fall will my knowledge. I will keep the field in the tournament and in the court. ” Fulke of Anjou bore it as his personal knowledge, and Henry II of England, his grand-son, as plaintiff in this province has also adopted its medieval name Planta Genista, giving the family name of Plantagenet to his line. It may be seen on the Great Seal of Richard I, which is his first official, heraldic appearance in England. Another origin is claimed for the heraldic use of the broom in Britain. A prince of Anjou assassinated his brother there and seized his kingdom, but be remorseful, he made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, in expiation of his crime. Each evening during the trip, he whipped with a brush of “genetically” or broom, and adopted the plant as his badge, in perpetual memory of his repentance. St. Louis of France continued use of this vein, the establishment of a special order on the occasion of his marriage in the year 1234. The Tail of Genet, the collar of the Order was composed alternately of the fleur de lys of France and Broomflower the Broomflower being carried on the mantle of his bodyguard of a hundred nobles, with the motto ” humiles Exaltate, “He exalts the humble. “The ordinance has been held in high esteem and its bestowal regarded as a great honor. Our Richard II received, and a broom factory, with open, empty pods, can be seen ornamenting his tomb in Westminster Abbey. In 1368, Charles V of France bestowed the insignia of the car broom or chamberlain favorite, and in 1389 Charles VI gave the same decoration to his parents.

The broom is the badge of the Forbes. Thus, according to Sandford, it was the broom Bonny whose Scottish clan of Forbes wore in their bonnets when they wished to arouse the heroism of their heads, and which in their Gaelic dialect they called bealadh in token of his beauty.

‘This humble shrub, Baines says, was no less distinguished than the Rose herself during the civil wars of the fourteenth century.

Besides its use in heraldry, the Broom has been associated with several popular traditions. In some areas it was once considered a sign of abundance, when he bore many flowers. The flowering tops were used to decorate house for the feast of Pentecost, but it was considered unlucky to employ them for menial in full bloom.

An ancient tradition Suffolk Runs:
“If you sweep the house with a broom blooms in May
You are sure to sweep the head of the house immediately.

And a tradition even older than say that when Joseph and Mary fled to Egypt, broom plants were cursed by the Virgin because the crackling of their ripe pods as they touched in passing risked attracting the attention soldiers of Herod to the fugitives.

The brush was put to many uses. When planted on the sides of steep banks, its roots are used to hold the earth together. On some parts of our coast, it is one of the first plants that grow on sand dunes after they have been somewhat consolidated on the surface by the interlacing stems of grass mat and sand other facilities Liaison. It will flourish within reach of sea spray, and, like gorse, is a good plant away from the sea in the growth side.

Broom is grown extensively as a cover for the game, and also in new plantings of the most important species of shrubs to protect them from wind until fully established.

The shrub seldom grows large enough to provide useful wood, but when its stem acquires sufficient size, it is beautifully veined, and being very hard, furnishes the cabinetmaker with most valuable materials for plating.

Twigs and branches are used not only for making brooms, but are also used for basketry, especially in the island of Madeira. They are sometimes used in northern England and Scotland for thatching cottages and cornricks, and as many alternates for the reeds to build fences or screens.

The bark of the Scotch broom is an excellent fiber, finer but not as strong as the Spanish broom, which has been used since ancient times, it is easily separated by macerating the twigs in water like flax. From the large quantity of fibrous matter contained, the shoots were used in the manufacture of paper and fabric.

Tannin exists in considerable quantities in the bark, which was once used for tanning leather.

Before the introduction of hops, the peaks tender Freen have often been used to communicate a bitter taste to beer, and make it more intoxicating.

Gerard said the broom:
“The common Broom grows almost everywhere in pastures and forests dry low. It blooms in late April or May, then young shoots of flowers should be gathered and placed in brine or salt, which is then washed or cooked sallad are used as capers be and be eaten with no pleasure less. ‘

Broom buds were obviously a favorite treat, as they appeared in three separate tables at the celebration of the coronation of James II. Flowers served the dual purpose of entering and corrective action.

Sometimes a bunch of green Broom tied with ribbons of color was carried by the guests at rustic weddings instead of rosemary, when this aromatic herb proved scarce favorite.

Withering (Arrangement of Plants) said that the green tops were a good winter food for sheep, preventing rot and dropsy in them.

The flowers were used to make an ointment to treat gout, and Henry VIII used to drink a water made from the flowers against indigestion.

Dodoens (Herbal, 1606) recommends a decoction of the tops in dropsy and for ’stoppages affecting the liver.

Gerard says: ‘The decoction of the branches and tops of Broom doth cleanse and open the liver, roe and Kidnie.

Culpepper considered the decoction of Broom to be good not only for dropsy, but also for black jaundice, fever, gout, sciatica and various pains of the hips and joints.

Some older doctors burned the tops to ashes and infused the salts thus extracted in wine. They were known as Salts of Broom (Sal Genistae).

The powdered seeds are also sometimes applied a dye is used. Bruised Broom seeds were formerly used infused in rectified spirit, allowed to stand two weeks, then strained. One tablespoon in a glass of water with mint is taken daily for liver complaints and fever.

The leaves or young tops give a green dye.

The seeds have similar properties to the summit, and have also been used in medicine, but they are not the most used officially. They served as a substitute for coffee.

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— — Culture Broom is most easily raised from seed sown outdoors as soon as ripe. Seedlings may be transplanted in the fall or spring to their permanent position. Prune immediately after flowering, if the buds have not been collected for medicinal use, shortening the old shoots at the base of the promise of youth.

As their roots strike deep into the soil, plants can be grown in dry, sandy soil, where others do not grow. They are well on rough banks.

Broom may also be increased by layers. Choice garden varieties are generally increased by cuttings inserted in cold frames in September.

— Constituents — Broom contains two principles on which its business depends. Sparteine, discovered in 1851 by Stenhouse, about 0.03 per cent is present, is a transparent, oily liquid, colorless when fresh, becoming brown on exposure, an aniline smell and taste very bitter . It is slightly soluble in water but readily soluble in alcohol and ether. Stenhouse said that the amount of Sparteine in Broom is very dependent on external conditions, that grown in the shade to return less than that produced in sunny places.

Scoparin, the main constituent, is a glucoside, occurring in pale yellow crystals, colorless and tasteless, soluble in alcohol and hot water. It represents most of the direct diuretic activity of gorse.

Volatile oil, tannin, fat, wax, sugar, etc., are also present. Broom contains a large amount of alkaline and earthy matter, on incineration yielding about 3 per cent of ash, which contains 29 percent potassium carbonate.

Sparteine certain forms sulfate salts that (official in the British and U.S. Pharmacopceias) is the most widely used in medicine. It occurs in colorless crystal, easily soluble in water.

Oxysparteine (formed by the action of acids on Sparteine) is used as a cardiac stimulant.

The flowers contain volatile oil, fat, wax, chlorophyll, yellow coloring matter, tannin, a sweet substance, mucilage, albumen and lignin. Scoparin and sparteine alkaloids have been separated from them.

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— Part used as medicine — Young, herbaceous tips of flowering branches are collected in early spring, usually in May, because they contain most of the alkaloids in late winter. They are used officially both fresh and dried.

Broom Juice (succus Scoparii) is to be obtained by pressing the bruised, fresh tops, adding a third volume of alcohol and cancellations during seven days, filter before use.

For the expression of juice from the fresh tops are collected in May June Broom Juice is official in the British, French, German and United States Pharmacopoeias.

Infusion of Broom (Infusum Scoparii) is given by infusion with the dried tops of boiling water for fifteen minutes and then strained. It was introduced in the British Pharmacopoeia of 1898, instead of the decoction of Broom of the above questions.

The fluid extract of Broom of the United States Pharmacopceia is prepared from the tops of dry powder.

The drug, as it appears in commerce, consists of very long, much-branched, robust and flexible branches, which are parallel and close to each other and are about 1 / 25-1 / 12 inch thick, narrowly five wings, alternating, slight nodes, dark green and usually naked, internally, greenish white.

When fresh, whole plant has a pungent and peculiar, especially when bruised, which almost entirely disappears on drying.

The peaks are dark green when fresh and brownish dark green when dried.

The quality of drug deteriorates with keeping, and this condition can be determined by the partial or complete loss of the slight smell of drugs has recently dried.

Flowers deep yellow, dried, are widely used separately under the name Flores Genistae or Scoparii Flores.

Broom Seeds are used sometimes and as active as the tops. Water and alcohol extract their active properties.

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— Medicinal Action and Uses — Diuretic and cathartic. Broom Tops are used as decoction and infusion, often with sea cicadas and ammonium and potassium acetate, as a diuretic low, generally in the complaints dropsy of cardiac origin. The action is due to scoparin contained, whose action on the renal mucosa is similar to that of Buchu and Uva-Ursi.

The infusion is made from 1 OZ. dried tops to a pint of boiling water, taken in doses wineglassful frequently. When acute renal inflammation is present, it should not be given.

Broom Juice in high doses, is likely to disturb the stomach and intestines and is often used as an adjuvant to other diuretics only.

A compound decoction of broom is recommended in medicine herbal as much benefit in bladder and kidney ailments, as well as chronic dropsy. To make this, 1 ounces Broomtops and 1 / 2 ounces Dandelion roots are boiled in a pint of water up to a pint, adding towards the last 1 / 2 ounces juniper berries crushed. Once cooled, the decoction is strained and a small quantity of cayenne added. A wineglassful is taken three or four times a day.

Statements by various researchers, both clinical and pharmacological effects on the Sparteine in preparations broom, have raised points of view completely opposite effect on the nerves and circulatory system. It is to produce a transient rise in blood pressure, followed by a longer period of decreased vascular tension. Small doses slow the heart for a short period of time and then accelerate its speed and at the same time increase the volume of the pulse. Those calling for his job application it is a useful heart tonic and regulator in chronic valvular disease. It has no cumulative action, such as digitalis.

At high doses, Sparteine causes vomiting and diarrhea weakens the heart, depresses the nerve cells and decreases blood pressure and has a strong resemblance to the action of Conine (Hemlock) on the heart. In extreme cases, death is caused by impaired activity of respiratory organs. Pastoralists have long been aware of the narcotic properties of broom, because Sparteine, having noticed that sheep after eating it first becomes excited and amazed, but the intoxicating effects are soon off.

— Preparations — Fluid extract, 1 / 2-1 drachma. Juice, B.P., 1 to 2 grams. Infusion, B.P., 1 to 2 oz

— Substitutes — It is essential that real Broom be carefully distinguished from Spanish Broom (Spartium junceum), since a number of cases of poisoning have occurred from the substitution of dried flowers for Spartium those broom true.