SCOTCH BROOM CYTISUS SCOPARIUS

SCOTCH BROOM (Cytisus scoparius (L.) Link) XXX

Synonyms :
C. scoparius var. andreanus (Puiss.) Dippel, C. scoparius var. prostratus (C. Bailey) F. Hanb. ex. A. K. Jacks., C. scoparius var. sulphureus Goldring, Genista andreana Puiss., Sarothamnus scoparius (L.) Wimm. ex W. D. J. Koch, S. scoparius var. prostratus C. Bailey, Spartium scoparium L.

Activities (Scotch Broom) :
Abortifacient (1; PH2); Anaesthetic (1; MAD); Antiarrhythmic (1; APA); Antihemorrhagic (f; CAN); Anuria (f; MAD); Bradycardic (1; CAN; MAB); Cardiodepressant (1; CAN; CRC); Cardiotonic (1; APA; CRC; MAD); Depurative (f; HHB; PHR; PH2); Diuretic (1; APA; CAN; CRC; MAD); Emetic (f; CAN; MAD); Euphoric (1; APA); Hypertensive (1; APA; CAN; KOM; MAD; PH2); Hypotensive (1; PH2); Laxative (f; CAN; CRC; MAD); Negative Chronotropic (1; KOM; PH2); Negative Inotropic (1; KOM; PH2); Oxytocic (1; CAN); Poison (f; CRC); Sympathomimetic (1; KOM; PH2); Tachycardic (1; CAN); Tonic (f; APA); Uterotonic (1; APA; CAN; CRC); Vasoconstrictor (peripheral) (1; CAN; CRC; KOM; PH2).

Indications (Scotch Broom) :
Abscess (f; APA; CRC); Ague (f; CRC); Albuminuria (f; HHB); Anasarca (f; MAD); Angina (f; MAD); Arrhythmia (1; APA; CAN; PH2); Arthrosis (f; MAD); Ascites (f; MAD); Bite (f; PH2); Bleeding (f; CAN); Bright’s Disease (f; MAD); Bronchosis (f; PHR; PH2); Cancer (f; CRC; JLH); Cancer, spleen (f; CRC; JLH); Cardiopathy (2; CAN; KOM; MAD; PH2); Childbirth (f; APA; CRC; HHB); Circulosis (2; KOM); Climacteric (f; MAD); Congestion (f; CRC; MAD); Cystosis (f; MAD); Diphtheria (f; CRC); Dropsy (f; CRC; MAD); Dysmenorrhea (f; MAD); Eczema (f; MAD); Edema (f; PHR; PH2); Gallstone (f; PHR); Gingirrhagia (f; PHR); Gout (f; CRC; MAD; PHR; PH2); Gravel (f; CRC); Headache (f; HHB); Heart (f; CRC); Hemophilia (f; PHR; PH2); Hepatosis (f; CRC; PHR; PH2); Herpes (f; MAD); High Blood Pressure (1; PH2); Hypotension (1; CAN; KOM; PH2); Hypertony (f; CRC; HHB); Jaundice (f; CRC; PHR; PH2); Kidney Stone (f; PHR; PH2); Low Blood Pressure (1; APA; CAN; KOM; MAD; PH2); Metrorrhagia (f; CAN); Myalgia (f; APA; CRC); Nephrosis (f; CRC; MAD); Neurosis (f; PH2); Pain (f; HHB); Palpitation (f; CAN); Psoriasis (f; MAD); Rheumatism (f; CRC; MAD; PHR; PH2); Sciatica (f; CRC; PHR); Scrofula (f; MAD); Snakebite (f; PHR); Splenomegaly (f; CRC; PHR); Splenosis (f; MAD; PH2); Sterility (f; MAD); Swelling (f; APA; CRC); Tachycardia (f; CAN); Toothache (f; CRC); Tumor (f; CAN); Water Retention (1; APA; CAN; CRC; MAD).

Dosages (Scotch Broom) :
Level tsp chopped flower shoot/cup water 3–4 ×/day (APA); 1–2 g dry tops as tea (CAN); 1–2 ml liquid top extract (1:1 in 25% ethanol) (CAN); 0.5–2 ml top tincture (1:5 in 45% ethanol) (CAN); 1–1.5 g dry herb (no more than 1 mg/ml sparteine); 2–4 ml liquid shoot extract (PNC); 4–8 ml concentrated shoot infusion (PNC); 8–15 ml concentrated shoot decoction (PNC).

Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Scotch Broom) :
Class 2b (JAD), 3. Abortifacient (AHP). Bravely, Commission E says no known side effects or contraindications (KOM). A rather heroic herb I do not recommend, like CAN which says, “broom is not suitable for self medication.” Containing tyramine, it should not be used with MAOIs (KOM). Commission E reports flower contains only low level of alkaloids (major alkaloid sparteine), so that toxic alkaloidal effects should not be expected. Contraindications: hypertension; Interactions: MAOIs (the flower may contain more than 2% of tyramine). And as early as 1938, it was contraindicated in acute nephropathy (MAD). Sparteine was reported as a cardiac depressant (CAN). Also contraindicated in cardiopathy and high blood pressure. Contraindicated during pregnancy (AEH). Because sparteine is oxytocic, its use in pregnancy and lactation is to be avoided (CAN). Here I see the oft-repeated anomaly, a low dose may have the opposite effect (tachycardic) of high doses (bradycardic). Sparteine is more quinidine-like than digitalic, a powerful oxytocic once used to stimulate uterine constrictions (CAN). Sparteine sulphate can produce respiratory arrest (CAN). Sparteine is a negative chronotropic and a negative inotropic. Doses corresponding to >300 mg sparteine (ca. 30 g herb). May induce dizziness, headache, ocular palsy, palpitations, prickly sensations in the extremities, profuse sweating, sleepiness, and weakness of the legs. Flowers may contain 2% tyramine, a hypotensive, sympathomimetic, and vasoconstrictor. German experts consider broom on par with quinidine for arrhythmia (But quinidine is an herbal derivative, too). Madaus mentioned, as early as 1938, that genistein and sarothamnine’s activities were little know at that time (MAD). Ironically, Commission E approves this poisonous herb (Cytisus) for functional heart and circulatory disorders, whereas the PDR (PHR; PH2) indicates Commission E approval of the herb for hypertension (I refuse to add that to indications above, because it is more liable to cause than cure hypertension; I think they intended hypotension as an indication), while contraindicating the herb and flower in high blood pressure. So, it even contradicts itself.