Horse chestnut as a medicinal herb

Stately trees like the #horsechestnut are not only beautiful in parks and driveways of castles but also useful as medicine. The wild chestnut is therefore used in professional phytotherapy for varicose veins and other venous problems.

The Balkan countries and Asia Minor are the regions of origin of horse chestnut. This stately tree was introduced in Western Europe around 1600. Now we see him everywhere along avenues and in parks. Some of these very strong trees have been over 250 years old. Its name owes the tree to the Turks who gave the starchy seeds, the chestnut, to their pregnant mares. Also at Dodonaeus in his Herbboek of 1644 we find a reference to the use in horses. ' Wild castanians are very good to help and heal the cushioned and coughing peers' 'he writes. Another possible explanation for the name is found in the tip of the petiole that shows a striking resemblance to a horse's hoof.

Chestnut in pocket?

Traditionally in Flanders and the Netherlands the shiny chestnut was worn in a trouser pocket against rheumatism. However, the tree now has many more professional applications. The pulp of the chestnut is a raw material for soap. Of course, it had already been established empirically that there were many saponins, soap substances in it (foaming). The bark of the tree provides a red dye. Also, the bark ensures good bowel functioning. Around 1900, French doctors reported the successful use of chestnut extract in hemorrhoids.

Modern medical use

“" In the pharmacopoeia, the pharmacy book, the dried seeds are described as Hippocastani. These are the dried seeds of the horse chestnut or #aesculus hippocastanum L. (Hippocastanaceae). The product contains not less than 3% triterpene glycosides, calculated as anhydrous aescin.

Preparations based on horse chestnut extract available in pharmacies, drugstore and herboristry are used both externally and internally as venotropic and capillarotropic drugs. This implies that they will improve the tone of the veins and reduce the permeability of the vessels. Due to its anti-inflammatory, anti-edematic and capillary-protective properties, Aescin is widely used in the treatment of malfunctions in small, peripheral vessels. This substance has also received attention in the cosmetic sector, especially for the prevention and treatment of cellulite.