Name: Common Name: Horse Chestnut or Conker tree seed Botanical Name: Aesulus hippocastanum, L.
Family:
Hippocastanaceae
Parts Used: Seeds,
leaves, bark
Sources
Horse chestnut probably original from
India, but it is now grown in most temperate climates. Large amounts
are produced in Easter Europe. Remedies are made from the horse
chestnut seed, supplied whole or in powdered form.
Horse chestnut is used for swelling
of legs from venous insufficiency, hemorrhoid, leg cramping, prostate
disease, and skin itching.
Effects
The beneficial effects of Horse Chestnut
are thought to derive from a group of chemical compounds named saponins.
The structure of Saponins is similar to steroids, except that they
have a sugar molecule attached. The saponins contained in horse
chestnut included escins Ia, Ib, IIa, and IIb. Multiple European
clinical trials has been proven that Horse chestnut extract has
an action of reducing the swelling of the legs of patients with
chronic venous insufficiency, although it is not clear whether all
the aescins, or just one of the subtypes, is medically effective.
Concerns
Saponins can be irritating to the stomach
and skin. Gastrointestinal upset and itching of skin could be result
from taken a large dose. Taking too much extract also could cause
lower the concentration of blood sugar.
Precautions
Since claim effects of the Horse chestnut
is not well documented, it is advised not to use alone for disease
treatment. Large amount can cause adverse effects.
Dosage
250-313 mg. of dried escin powdered
extract (content 16-20%) per day.
Summary
In the Middle Ages, healers knew that
horse chestnut extract reduced the swelling of hemorrhoids, and
modern medical research has shown that this extract will also reduce
the swelling of legs associated with venous insufficiency. With
large dose of taking could cause adverse effects.
Interesting Facts
The name horse chestnut probably derives
from the fact that during the Middle Ages, fruits of this tree were
used to feed cattle and horses. In India, fishermen used to put
horse chestnut extracts into the water in order to paralyze the
fish and make them easier to catch, because the plant contain cyclamin
which is particularly toxic to fish.
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