Sweet broom is a medicinal plant of the species Scoparia dulciswidely used popularly as a home remedy for intestinal colic, cough, diabetes, hemorrhoids or urinary tract infection, for example.
This medicinal plant, also known as white coerana or scented broom, is rich in amelina, antidiabetin, scoparic and scopadulcic acids, which give it expectorant, hypoglycemic, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties.
Sweet broom can be found in herbalists, health food stores or compounding pharmacies, and used in the form of tea, always with the guidance of a doctor or other health professional who has experience with the use of medicinal plants.
What is it for
Sweet broom is normally indicated for:
- Itching, prickly heat or skin allergy;
- Intestinal colic, poor digestion or hemorrhoids;
- Cough, asthma or bronchitis;
- Earache;
- Diabetes;
- Malaria;
- Urinary tract infection, vaginal discharge or vaginitis;
- Liquid retention;
- Varicose veins.
Furthermore, some studies (1,2) show that sweet broom can also help in the treatment of herpes, as it can reduce the multiplication of the herpes simplex virus.
The benefits of sweet broom are due to the fatty acids, diterpenes and flavonoids present in its composition, with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hypoglycemic, expectorant and antiseptic properties.
Although it has many benefits, sweet broom does not replace medical treatment and should be used under the guidance of a doctor or herbalist.
How to make tea
To prepare sweet broom tea, all its parts can be used from which the active substances of this medicinal plant are extracted.
Ingredients
- 10 g of sweet broom;
- 500 mL of water.
Preparation mode
Place the sweet broom and water in a container and bring to the boil, letting it boil for 10 minutes. Then let it cool, strain and drink 3 to 4 cups a day.
Possible side effects
The side effects of sweet broom are not yet known, therefore, its use should only be done with medical advice or from a health professional with experience in medicinal plants.
Who shouldn’t use
Sweet broom should not be used by pregnant women as it may cause miscarriage. Furthermore, this plant should also not be used by children or while breastfeeding.
Bibliography
- YANG, Y.; et al. Chemical constituents from aerial parts of Scoparia dulcis. Chin Herb Med. 15. 1; 151-154, 2022
- GRANDI, M, Telma Sueli. Treaty of medicinal plants from Minas Gerais, native and cultivated. 1.ed. Minas GErais, Brazil: Adaequatro Estúdio, 2014. 1137.
- JIANG, Z.; et al. A review on the phytochemistry and pharmacology of the herb Scoparia dulcis L. for the potential treatment of metabolic syndrome. RSC Adv. 11. 50; 31235-31259, 2021
- DRUGS.COM. Sweet Broomweed. 2021. Available at: <https://www.drugs.com/npp/sweet-broomweed.html>. Accessed on October 13, 2021
- PAMUNUWA, G.; et al. Antidiabetic Properties, Bioactive Constituents, and Other Therapeutic Effects of Scoparia dulcis. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2016. 8243215, 2016
- BIESKI, I. G.; et al. Ethnopharmacology of medicinal plants of the pantanal region (mato grosso, Brazil). Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012. 272749, 2012
