Horse Chestnut

Horse Chestnut

With thanks to Virginia Hills

Latin Name: Aesculus hippocastanum
Family: Sapindaceae

Part used: Seeds; Leaves; Bark (more astringent than seeds)
Energetics: bitter; pungent; astringent; cool & dry
Iris: All iris types.
Interactions: Please check with your Healthcare Provider.

CONTRA-INDICATIONS

Not suitable for children.
Caution in pregnancy, lactation and in patients with pre-existing cholestasis or liver/kidney disease.
Not safe to consume raw (seeds, bark or flowers).
Do not apply to broken or ulcerated skin.
Do not use long-term.
Discontinue 7 days prior to general anaesthesia.

ACTIONS

  • Anticoagulant
  • Analgesic
  • Astringent
  • Venous tonic
  • Vaso-protective
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Antioxidant
  • Anti-rheumatic
  • Anti-ecchymotic (against bruises)
  • Decongestant
  • Expectorant
  • Febrifuge
  • Reduces fluid retention

Main Constituents

Triterpenoid saponins, including 5% aescin (mixture of glycosides)
Polysaccharides (approx 50%)
Coumarins, including aesculin, fraxin & scopolin
Flavonoids, including quercetin and rutin (prevents blood clots) aesculetin,  argyrin, esculetol.
Allantoin
Tannins: anthocyanidins
Plant sterols, including sitosterol, stigmasterol and campesterol.
Fixed oil (2-3%)
Starch 35%
Amino acids: adenine, adenosine, guanine.

Main Uses of Horse Chestnut

Venous tonic for varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency.
Circulatory: As a venous tonic for e.g. varicose veins, chronic venous insufficiency, venous ulcers, haemorrhoids and frostbite. Tired or heavy legs, cramping in legs.
Helps improve the tone of the vein walls, reduces oedema caused by fluid leaking from distended veins and increases permeability of the capillaries, allowing excess fluid to drain back into the circulatory system.
May be used for swelling or itchiness in legs, phlebitis.
Leg ulcers.
Lung conditions: embolisms, infarction, thrombosis
Lymphatic system: lymphoedema.
Musculo-skeletal: Rheumatism, neuralgia, sprains and other injuries, swollen ankles.
Topically - for bruising and as a chest remedy for eg. whooping cough or chest pain.

More About Horse Chestnut

Horse Chestnut stands out as a historically sentimental, yet therapeutically potent, botanical. With its origins tracing back to the late 16th century, this species is a testament to mankind's long association with nature's laboratory.
The Horse Chestnut, or Aesculus hippocastanum, is native to the Balkan Peninsula and an indelible part of Europe's natural and cultural history. Its grandeur and beauty can be seen in the many parks and urban spaces of Europe, where its soaring height and magnificent springtime bloom command attention.
Beyond its aesthetic allure, the Horse Chestnut carries a treasury of wellness properties.
The tree's most therapeutically valuable component lies beneath the surface. The seed, bark, and leaves of the Horse Chestnut have been hallowed in traditional medicine for centuries. A spotlight on this tree's medicinal journey reveals a vast array of uses informed by cultural nuances and shifts in understanding about health.
Historically, the Horse Chestnut was known for its effectiveness in treating a variety of conditions, primarily those related to circulatory disorders. Traditional healers turned to this botanical marvel as a remedy for varicose veins, haemorrhoids, and leg cramps.
The Horse Chestnut's seeds, particularly rich in a compound known as aescin, possess anti-inflammatory and anti-oedematous properties. They have been used to promote circulation, reduce swelling and inflammation, and alleviate pain.
A historic salve for respiratory illnesses, the Horse Chestnut also established its place as a key ingredient in treating ailments like bronchitis, whooping cough, and asthma. Leaves and bark, steeped into a hearty brew, were used for their expectorant properties to help clear up respiratory tracts and ease breathing.
It saw service as a tonic to relieve fever and malaria, and its analgesic properties offered relief from the pain of arthritis and rheumatism.
With the progression of science, these traditional uses of Horse Chestnut are becoming increasingly substantiated. Today, it's commonly found in the form of capsules, tablets, creams, and lotions. The Horse Chestnut's therapeutic potential for circulatory problems, particularly chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), is backed by a growing number of scientific studies.
The raw seeds are toxic if ingested without proper processing, and the tree's therapeutic use is not without potential side effects.

    References

    Chevallier, A (2016): Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine (3rd Edition)
    Bone, K (2016): Liquid Prescriber’s Guide National Centre for Complementary and Integrated Health
    https://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-horse-chestnut.html

    Chronic Venous Insufficiency

    Horse chestnut seed extract for chronic venous insufficiency.
    Overall, an improvement in CVI related signs and symptoms with HCSE compared with placebo with a significant reduction of leg pain in the HCSE groups compared with the placebo groups..
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15035888/

    A Source or Polyphenols

    Red Horse Chestnut and Horse Chestnut Flowers and Leaves: A Potential and Powerful Source of Polyphenols with High Antioxidant Capacity.
    Aesculus flowers and leaves are an excellent source of bioactive compounds, including flavanols, phenolic acids, and anthocyanins, and the leaves also contain antioxidant carotenoids and chlorophylls.
    https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ptr.6101

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