What is the horse chestnut like?

The horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) It is not related to the common chestnutbut it produces seeds similar to this one. Are chestnutssomething more flattened that the common ones constitute their medicinal parttogether with leaves and bark.

It is a majestic tree, up to 25 meters high, with a rounded crown and large, divided leaves in oval and toothed segments.

It blooms in spring, and flowers grouped in characteristic pyramidal inflorescences.

Show off your fruits in summer: horse chestnuts. Although they are also called long chestnutsare not edible; The so-called «pilonga chestnuts» that we can taste are the dried fruit of the common chestnut,

Medicinal properties of horse chestnut

The main virtue of the horse chestnut is its venotonic, vasoconstrictive and anti-inflammatory action.

Their seeds contain flavonoids (esculina), saponosides (escin), tannins and minerals. The leaves contain coumarin heterosides, flavonoids and phytosterols, also present in the barkwhich is especially rich in allantoin and tannins.

The escin and the esculina are the substances that give it the ability to promote peripheral blood flow and prevent its stagnation. Along with ginkgo, red vine and butcher’s broom, it is considered one of the best herbal resources to treat the different symptoms associated with problems of weakness or venous insufficiency.

It is indicated in the following cases:

• varicose veins and capillary fragility due to chronic venous insufficiency.
• Tingling and cramps, sensation of numbness in the feet, legs (especially calves) and hands.
• swollen veins in the legs or phlebitis, which cause heaviness and burning. Horse chestnut reduces inflammation and helps the burning disappear.
• Hemorrhoids. It prevents their appearance and helps combat them, although it should be associated with an adequate diet.
• Edema or swelling due to fluid retention. Promotes diuresis and the elimination of toxins.
• Chilblains and bruises or bleeding under the skin, applied in plasters and washes.
• Metrorrhagia or periods with heavy bleeding and menstruation disorders in general.
• Microcirculation problems in the skin, especially of the face, or couperose, with facial redness and burning, caused by nervous states, digestive disorders or alcohol abuse.
• leaves and barkto which a moderate astringent action is attributed, have been indicated for stop diarrhea.
• Topicallythe leaves and bark are also used to treat conjunctivitis, gingivitis, minor wounds and burns.
• Traditionally they had also been used to relieve rheumatic pain.
• Associated with suitable plants, such as juniper, corn or epilobiumor in the form of a liquid extract, it has been indicated as support in the treatment of benign prostate adenoma.
• Due to its allantoin content, it is considered a excellent skin ally.

How to use it and in what dosage

Horse chestnut is used internally and externally. Internally it is taken in decoction of the seeds or the bark, in infusion of the leaves, in liquid extract of it alone or with other plants and in capsules. The most common doses are:

• Decoction: 50 g per liter of water.
• Infusion: two or three cups daily.
• Liquid extract: 30 drops in three daily doses.
• Capsules: up to 3 a day, depending on the problem.

Externally The decoction is applied in seat washes or scrubs, the plasters of fresh leaves or herbal and pharmacy preparations such as suppositories, ointments, gels or creamswith escin extract.

Natural remedies with horse chestnut

Bath for sore and varicose legs

It is a sitz bath especially indicated against varicose veins which reduces venous inflammation, relieves heavy legs and prevents tingling and numbness.

We tell you how to prepare it:

• Mix horse chestnut (seeds and leaves) with cypress (galbules), cat’s tail, fenugreek, butcher’s broom and witch hazel in equal parts and boil 6 tablespoons of the mixture in 3 liters of water for 4-5 minutes.
• After let it restcovered, and filter.
• Fill the bathtub so that the warm water reaches you up to the hips. Pour the infusion into the water and remains in the sitz bath about 20 minutes.

Precautions and contraindications

For basic prudence, it is not recommended to take horse chestnut orally. during pregnancy and breastfeeding, nor administer it to children under 12 years old.

It is contraindicated for anyone who follows treatments with anticoagulants and antidiabetics. It is also not recommended in case of kidney disease. And problems with irritation of the gastric mucosa have been detected in sensitive or allergic people.

Advisor: Josep Maria Teixé, herbalist at El Manantial de Salud.