What is horse chestnut seed used for?
Horse chestnut is a tree native to parts of southeastern Europe. Its fruits contain seeds that resemble sweet chestnuts but have a bitter taste. Traditionally, horse chestnut seed extract was used for arthritis, pain and swelling, menstrual cramps, hemorrhoids, and other conditions. Other common names are European horsechestnut, buckeye, and conker tree. Horse chestnuts are best recognized by their distinct leaves.
Can you eat horse chestnut seeds?
Sweet chestnuts are edible, but horse chestnuts are poisonous. If eaten, they can cause digestive problems such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and throat irritation. Horse chestnuts contain a toxin called saponin aesculin that makes all parts of these trees poisonous. This toxin isn’t absorbed very well, so it tends to produce mild to moderate symptoms when people eat horse chestnuts. The most common symptom is stomach irritation.Since horse chestnut contains active principles that may interfere with normal blood clotting, patients with bleeding disorders or those taking aspirin or warfarin should consult a health care professional before taking this herb.Chestnuts contain fat-soluble vitamins (Ascorbic acid, B1, B2, B3, B6, and E) which promote healthy skin and improve brain function [15,33]. They play a key role in the aging process, help prevent blood clotting, are gluten-free, and are of great benefit to patients with celiac disease [4,34,35].Based on reports of worsening kidney function in people with kidney disease who received intravenous aescin, horse chestnut should be avoided by anyone with kidney disease. People with liver disease should also avoid the use of horse chestnut. There are no known reasons to avoid horse chestnut during pregnancy.
What to do with horse chestnut seeds?
Uses: A decoction or infusion of the herb powder can be added to lotions and salves for tired and aching legs. Horse Chestnut Seed Powder can assist in providing comfort when dealing with swelling or inflammation of joints and muscles. How long does it take to work? Horse chestnut works cumulatively, meaning it works better over time. In most cases you would expect to see an improvement between 2 and 4 weeks. If your varicose veins are severe and the issue longstanding, it may take a little longer.Horse-chestnut seed medicines should only be used in adults. They may also be applied to the skin in adolescents for the treatment of bruises. If symptoms get worse during treatment, a doctor should be consulted. For chronic venous insufficiency, treatment may be needed for at least 4 weeks before symptoms improve.
Is horse chestnut safe for the liver?
Horse chestnut is a herb used in dietary supplements primarily for complications of venous insufficiency. Clinically significant acute liver injury has been very rarely associated with its use. Taking 300 mg of standardized horse chestnut seed extract by mouth can reduce some symptoms of poor blood circulation, such as varicose veins, pain, tiredness, swelling in the legs, itching, and water retention. But it might be less effective than maritime pine bark for reducing leg swelling and cramps.Horse chestnut seed is used for diarrhea, fever, and enlarged prostate. Horse chestnut seeds can be processed so that the active chemicals are separated out and concentrated. The resulting “extract” is used for treating a blood circulation problem called chronic venous insufficiency.Aescin has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties. Finally, horse chestnut is most commonly used because of this last benefit: venotonic properties. Essentially, aescin acts as a blood thinner, and increases the circulation.horse chestnut extract is usually taken orally (by mouth). Studies have commonly used doses of 300 mg of horse chestnut extract once or twice daily. This dose is usually equivalent to 50 mg of aescin. It has also been used topically (applied to the affected areas on the skin), normally in concentrations of 1-2%.The raw seeds, bark, flowers, and leaves of horse chestnut are unsafe when used orally because they contain a toxic component. Standardized horse chestnut seed extracts, from which this component has been removed, are likely safe for short-term use and have been used safely in research studies for up to 12 weeks.
Can I take horse chestnut everyday?
Dosing. Horse chestnut extract has most often been used by adults in doses of 300-600 mg by mouth daily for 8-12 weeks. Most horse chestnut extract products contain 16% to 20% triterpene glycosides (saponins), which is referred to as aescin on product labels. The seed of the horse chestnut tree is used to produce 20% aescin which is used primarily for its venotonic effect for vascular protection and anti-inflammation. It is not known for use with any male erectile dysfunction or human circulatory disorders.The active ingredients in horse chestnuts, a leg vein supplement, appears to be a group of chemicals called saponins, of which aescin is considered the most important. Based on research, aescin appears to reduce swelling and inflammation within the veins and tissues of the legs.Horse chestnuts contain a toxin called saponin aesculin. This is in all parts of the tree but especially in the seeds. It generally produces mild to moderate symptoms but there are reports of more severe reactions. The most common symptom is stomach irritation.
What are the side effects of taking horse chestnut?
This toxin may increase the risk of bleeding due to its ability to prevent blood clots from forming. The unprocessed seeds are poisonous, and symptoms associated with horse chestnut seed poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, headache, confusion, weakness, muscle twitching, poor coordination, coma, and paralysis. Sweet chestnuts are edible, but horse chestnuts are poisonous. If eaten, they can cause digestive problems such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and throat irritation.Horse chestnut is a herb used in dietary supplements primarily for complications of venous insufficiency. Clinically significant acute liver injury has been very rarely associated with its use.Horse chestnut products can sometimes cause side effects such as dizziness, headache, stomach upset, and itching. Raw horse chestnut seed, bark, flower, and leaf contain esculin and are unsafe to use.