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Dyer’s Broom

Scientific Names


• Genista tinctoria L.
• Pea family

Common Names

Dyer’s greenweed
Dyer’s whin
Furze
Green broom
Greenweed
Waxen woad
Woad waxen
Wood waxen
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Description of Plant(s) and Culture

Dyer’s broom is a perennial herbaceous shrub; grows 1-2 feet high, the stems are woody, slightly hairy, and branched. The alternate, nearly sessile leaves are glabrous and lanceolate. Golden-yellow flowers grow in narrow panicles from June to August. The fruit is a long, shiny pod shaped like a green-bean pod.
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Where Found

Grows in dry uplands from Maine to Massachusetts and in eastern New York, also in meadows, pastures, and woods in Europe.
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Medicinal Properties

Aperient, diuretic, stimulant vasoconstrictor, purgative
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Legends, Myths and Stories

Woadwaxen was used by the ancient Britons for yellow dye.

There is another plant called Woad (Isatis tinctoria) of the cruciferae genus is also a dye plant. Woad is cultivated in Britain for the blue dye from the leaves.
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Uses

Dyer’s broom tea acts as a mild purgative and has been recommended for gravel and stones. It stimulates the central nervous system (compared to that of nicotine). Dyer’s broom raises blood pressure by constricting the blood vessels and should be avoided when hypertension is present. The tincture of extract is used externally for herpes or tetters.
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Formulas or Dosages

Infusion: steep 2 tsp. flowering twigs in 1/2 cup water. Take no more than 1 cup per day.
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Warning

Dyer’s broom raises blood pressure by constricting the blood vessels and should be avoided when hypertension is present.
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Bibliography

The Herb Book, by John Lust, Bantam Books, 666 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY. copyright 1974.

Webster's New World Dictionary, Third College Edition, Victoria Neufeldt, Editor in Chief, New World Dictionaries: A Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc., 15 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10023, 1984

The Rodale Herb Book, edited by William H. Hylton, Rodale Press, Inc. Emmaus, PA, 18049., 1974

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