SCOTCH BROOM

The flowers & stems of the Scotch broom plant are used as an herbal remedy primarily for heart problems & bleeding conditions.

You can also use it to ease menstrual symptoms, relieve swelling & to treat gallstones & kidney stones.
Used with uva-ursi, cleavers & dandelion makes an excellent remedy for cleansing the kidneys & bladder & to increase the flow of urine.

Scotch bloom can be taken orally for various heart related conditions or blood circulation that include increased heart rate, abnormal heart rhythms,damage of heart muscle, congestive heart failure, pulmonary edema, peripheral edema & low blood pressure.

Since broom causes the muscles of the uterus to contract, it has been used to prevent blood loss after childbirth.
Extracts have been used for cathartic, emetic, anti arrhythmic & labor-inducing effects.

Leaves & aged flowers have been smoked to produce euphoria.

Makes a good ointment for lice or vermin.
A lymph tonic.

Can be used for circulatory disorders, gout, leg cramps, varicose veins, hemorrhoids, phlebitis, thrombosis & jaundice.

Excellent for fluid retention, sore muscles, menstrual disorders, heavy bleeding after giving birth, bleeding gums, arthritis-like pain, nerve disorders, spleen disorders.

It is very effective to treat dropsy, toothache, ague, sciatica, rheumatism, snakebites.
It is also used to induce vomiting.

PRECAUTIONS:

Use this herb with caution since large doses can cause vomiting, purging, weakening heart, lowered nerve strength & low blood pressure.
Advanced stages of toxicity can cause complete respiratory collapse.
It also speeds up the heartbeat.
Large doses have been reported to cause fatal poisoning.

Sparteine can have effects on heart muscle like electrical conductivity of heart muscle, can cause abnormal heart rhythms & also react with some cardiac medications.
It should be administered under supervision for heart patients & on medications for the same.
Scotch broom also causes altered blood pressure, so it is not advisable for patients with a history of abnormal blood pressure or taking medications for blood pressure.

Due to the presence of the toxic alkaloids, ingestion or smoking of this herb or flowers in large amounts may not be safe & can cause nausea, vomiting, headache, confusion, dizziness, respiratory arrest, weakness, palpitation, diarrhea & gastrointestinal distress.

Scotch broom is not recommended in pregnancy as it can cause uterine contraction & can induce abortion.

RECIPES:

The flower buds are pickled & used as a substitute for capers.
They can also be added to salads.
The tender green tops of the plant have been used like hops to give a bitter flavor to beer & to render it more intoxicating.
The roasted seed has been used as a coffee substitute.

The seeds can be used in tincture form.

Broom flowers & broom flower buds are edible, tasting a little like a mild sweetened pea with a nutty overtone.
They make an excellent addition to spring salads & also make a very palatable wine.

A juice has been made by pressing the bruised, fresh tops & adding one-third volume alcohol, allowing it to sit for seven days, followed by filtration & taken daily as needed.

Tea from chopped root:

place 1 tsp of the herb in a cup of boiling water & allow to steep, covered for 10 min.

Infusion: take 3 tsp tops of young branches to 300 ml boiling water.

Steep 5-10 min.

Decoction: boil 1 tsp flowering tops or seeds in 1 cup water. 

Take 1 -2 cups per day, a mouthful at at time.

Infusion:

Add 1 tsp of dried tops to 200 ml boiling water. 

Take a cup-full once or twice daily as needed.

Tea:
1 tsp of herb for 150- 200 ml of boiling water, steep 5-10 min.
Strain.
Take as a cup-full, up to 3 x daily as needed. 

MAGIC:

Broom plants can be used to purify a home via the sweeping, bringing her blessing.
Broom plants are good for purifying an area or a person with water.

Broom is one of the nine fairy herbs & a cologne prepared from its flowers is said to inspire affection.

The branches of this shrub produced crude but useful brooms, hence the name.

The broom has long been regarded as a plant of ill omen & unluckiest during the month of May.

To sweep the house with blossomed broom in May or even to bring it into the house is said to sweep the head of the house away.

In England, it was once believed that the whipping of a young boy with a branch of green broom would result in the stunting of his growth.

Broom is used in spells for purification & protection.
It is helpful with poltergeists.
Throw Broom in the air to raise the winds.
Burn Broom, burying the ashes, to calm the winds.
The strong smell of Broom can tame wild horses & dogs.