Common Name: Jew's Myrtle, Knee Holly, Kneeholm, Kneeholy, Petigree, Sweet Broom

Plant Family: Liliaceae

Origin: Found in woods, bush places and waste lands especially in Southern England 

History: The name Butcher's Broom comes from the tradition of binding the matured branches into bundles which were sold to butchers to sweep their floors and the name Knee Holly was given as it grew to about the height of a man's knee and had prickly leaves like the true Holly plant. It is called Jew's Myrtle because it used to be used in the service for the Feast of the Tabernacles.

Tradition: Culpepper states that it is 'a plant of Mars, being of a gallant cleansing and opening quality...'.  The boughs were also used for flogging chillblains.

Medicinal Parts Used: Herb and root

Usage

Butcher's Broom is used for:

Female Conditions

• female obstructions

Genitourinary Conditions

• dropsy
• gravel
• nephritis
• urinary obstructions

Liver Conditions

• jaundice

Lymphatic Conditions

• scrofulous tumors

Respiratory Conditions

• clears the chest of phlegm
• relieves difficult breathing

Other Uses:

• the young shoots can be eaten like asparagus

Action:

• aperient [a mild stimulant producing a natural movement of the bowels; a gentle purgative]
• deobstruant [an agent that clears away obstructions by opening the natural passages of the body]
• diaphoretic [an agent that promotes perspiration]
• diuretic [an agent that increases the volume and flow of urine which cleanses the urinary system]