Horse Chestnut – 100 g ($11.99), 50 g ($8.99), 25 g ($6.99)
Benefits:
Horse chestnut leaves have been used as a cough remedy and fever-reducer. They were also used to reduce the pain and inflammation of arthritis and rheumatism. However, horse chestnut is mainly used to tone the walls of veins, helping to prevent these blood vessels from becoming slack or swollen and turning into varicose veins or hemorrhoids. Horse chestnut also reduces fluid retention by normalizing the permeability of blood vessel walls. It can also help ease nighttime leg cramps. It also has been used for eczema, hemorrhoids, and pain before menstruation. Horse chestnut was approved by the German Commission E for pathological conditions of the veins of the legs (chronic venous insufficiency), for example, pains and heaviness in the legs, cramps in the calves during the night, and leg swelling. However, if a physician has already prescribed noninvasive therapies such as leg compresses or supportive stockings, you must be under close supervision if you wish to take horse chestnut.
Bruises. Aescin (a compound in horse chestnut) stabilizes fragile capillaries damaged by blunt trauma. Stabilizing the capillaries reduces bleeding and fluid accumulation into bruised soft tissues.
Chronic venous insufficiency and ulceration. From a meta-analysis of the use of horse chestnut for chronic venous insufficiency, the herb improved signs and symptoms such as leg pain and swelling. In a study of patients with leg ulcers from venous ulceration, horse chestnut improved the ulcers compared to a placebo. In another study, pregnant women with leg swelling experienced relief and less swelling from Venostasin, a supplement containing 50 milligrams of aescin, taken twice daily.
Hemorrhoids, lymphedema, swollen ankles, and varicose veins. Studies show that aescin reduces the number and diameter of tiny pores in the capillaries. This inhibits fluid from passing through the capillary membranes, which reduces swelling in the surrounding tissues. This normalizes vessel walls that are abnormally permeable and susceptible to edema. Aescin also “firms up” varicose veins (including hemorrhoids) by increasing the tone of the muscle layers underlying them. In one study, patients using 40 milligrams of aescin extract three times a day for two months had less pain and the size of hemorrhoids was reduced. Improvements were identified after only two weeks using horse chestnut.
Recommendations for Use
For internal use, choose horse chestnut tablets standardized to deliver at least 10 milligrams of aescin. Doses start at 10 milligrams of aescin and gradually increase to around 100 milligrams. One hundred milligrams of aescin corresponds to 250 to 312.5 milligrams of extract, which can be administered twice a day in a delayed release form (encapsulated) for postoperative traumatic edema, hemorrhoids, or varicose veins. Most horse chestnut tablets combine aescin extract with citrus bioflavonoids, which also increase venous strength. For external use, use aescin cream, most easily obtained from a compounding pharmacist.
The seeds of the horse chestnut tree are poisonous. If the compound aesculin (not to be confused with aescin, which is beneficial) is not properly removed, the herb can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and paralysis that can become life-threatening, particularly for children. Purified horse chestnut extracts standardized for aescin at the doses listed above are generally safe, although there have been isolated reports of kidney damage in people who consumed very large amounts of aescin. Children are particularly susceptible to high doses of horse chestnut.
Horse chestnut products should not be taken internally by women who are pregnant, who are trying to become pregnant, or who are nursing. This herb should be avoided by anyone with liver or kidney disease. If you are taking blood-thinning medication, you should not use horse chestnut unless you do so under the supervision of a physician.
Botanical Name: Aesculus hippocastanum
English: Common horse chestnut
Also, known as: Aescule, Abu farwat el hhussan, Baloot, Castagna amare, Castagna cavallina, Marronier d’Inde, Naru, Paardekastanje,Pu, Pferdekastanie, Qastanah baria, Castagna di cavalle, Castagno d’India, Castan, Castano de Indias, Castandas da India, Castanheiro da India, Castano de Indias, Chata, Eschilo, Gemeine Rosskastanie, Hippocastani semen, Horse chestnut, Karu, Rosskastanie, Seiyo-tochinoki, Eiyoutochinoki, Semen castaneae Equinae, shahbalout-e hendi, Vadgesztenyemag, Weisse Rosskastanie, Wilde kastanje, Wilde kest, Chataignier de cheval, Chataignier de mer, Conqueror tree, Custul, and Gemeine Kastanie.
Habitat: Western Asia. Now widely cultivated in Europe, and the USA.
Origin: Poland
Harvested: Wild or cultivated
Parts Used: Seed
General Information:
Aesculus hippocastanum, is a deciduous tree, a mature tree can reach 50-70 feet tall and 5-7 feet in circumference with large sticky buds and dense, broad, usually orbicular, or occasionally pyramidal, crown. The large leaves are palmately compound with five to seven leaflets, spreading like fingers from the palm of the hand and have their margins finely toothed, up to 20cm long and 10 cm wide, with 15-20 cm long petioles, median leaflet largest, outer leaflets much smaller. All over the small branches may be found the curious marks in the shape of minute horseshoes, from which, perhaps, the tree gets its name. White flowers grow in erect panicles have 5 petals with an orbicular limb, imbricate at the margins, white, with a yellow spot at the base which later turns pink; arranged in erect dense panicles up to 20-30cm long. Several fruits develop on each panicle, and the seeds, or conkers, are brown nut, with a very shining, polished skin, showing a dull, rough, pale-brown scar where it has been attached to the inside of the seed vessel, sheathed in a spiky green capsule, protected with short spines, which splits into three valves when it falls to the ground and frees the nut.
Trees are widely cultivated in streets and parks throughout temperate regions. The tree is chiefly grown for ornamental purposes, in towns and private gardens and in parks, and forms fine avenues in the spring, when the trees are in full bloom, present a beautiful sight. Harvest the seed and husks in the fall. The Horse Chestnut is generally raised from the nuts, which are collected in the autumn and sown in the early spring. The nuts should be preserved in the sand during the winter, as they may become moldy and rot. It steeped in water, they will germinate more quickly. In Britain and Ireland, the seeds are used for the popular children’s game conkers. The game grew in popularity in the 20th century and spread beyond England.
How to use:
Decoctions are suitable for roots, barks, large seeds & berries, and other dense material. The simple way to make. decoction is, in a saucepan, add 1 tablespoon of dried herbs to 1 cup of water. Bring the water to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30-60 minutes. Strain and squeeze out as much as liquid as possible and enjoy!
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