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Horse Chestnut Herb - Uses And Side Effects

The horse chestnut tree is native to Asia and northern Greece, but it is now cultivated in many areas of Europe and North America. The tree produces fruits that are made up of a spiny capsule containing one to three large seeds, known as horse chestnuts. Traditionally, many of the aerial parts of the horse chestnut tree, including the seeds, leaves, and bark, were used in medicinal preparations. Modern extracts of horse chestnut are usually made from the seeds, which are high in the active constituent aescin (also known as escin).

Common doses of horse chestnut

Horse chestnut comes as extract using aescin (a mixture of certain compounds) to standardize the concentration. Some experts recommend the following dose:

• 100 to 150 milligrams of the aescin component taken orally in either one or two equal daily doses.

Uses of horse chestnut herb

The bark has tonic, narcotic and febrifuge properties and is used in intermittent fevers, given in an infusion of 1 OZ. to the pint, in tablespoonful doses, three or four times daily. As an external application to ulcers, this infusion has also been used with success. Specifically, horse chestnut may help to :-

• Diarrhea
• Enlarged prostate
• Fever
• Hemorrhoids
• Phlebitis (vein inflammation)
• Varicose veins

Side effects of horse chestnut

aCall your health care practitioner if you experience any of these possible side effects of horse chestnut:

• allergic reaction
• muscle spasms
• hives
• nausea
• itching
• vomiting

Interactions

Combining herbs with certain drugs may alter their action or produce unwanted side effects. Tell your health care practitioner about any prescription or nonprescription drugs you're taking, especially blood thinners such as Coumadin and aspirin.

Important paints to remember

• If you're allergic to other members of the horse chestnut family or have a bleeding disorder, check with your health care practitioner before using this herb.
• Know that this herb may turn your urine red.
• Report unusual bleeding or bruising, yellow-tinged skin or eyes, fatigue, or fever.
• Be aware that the fruit, leaves, and older bark of the horse chestnut plant are poisonous. Use only products that come from the seeds or bark of young branches.
• Tell your health care practitioner if other drugs you're taking seem less effective after you start using horse chestnut.
• Check for aspirin in nonprescription or prescription drugs, because it interacts with horse chestnut.
• Don't confuse this herb with the buckeye tree, also called horse chestnut.

What the research shows

Researchers may test horse chestnut for treating varicose veins because most people with the condition don't like to wear the therapeutic compression stockings often prescribed. Horse chestnut may be a more acceptable alternative.

Other names for horse chestnut: -

Other names for horse chestnut Other names for horse chestnut include aescin, chestnut, and escine.

Products containing horse chestnut are sold under such names as Horse Chestnut Extract, Venostasin Retard, and Venostat.