Horse Chestnut

Horse Chestnut

Other Names

Horse chestnut is Aesculus hippocastanum.

Chestnut, robkastanie, marronier d’Inde.

What Is It?

Native to the central Balkan peninsula 1 horse chestnut is a large deciduous tree up to 100 feet tall, with smooth gray bark which becomes scaly with age. The seeds and bark of the tree contain numerous natural compounds of interest to researchers, notably a group known as triterpenoid saponins, and referred to collectively as escin. 2 Escin is widely presumed to be the primary beneficial agent in horse chestnut.

In Germany, Horse chestnut has been the subject of focused interest since the 1960’s. There research has led to the development horse chestnut seed-derived herbal therapeutics for vein diseases of the legs, including swelling, cramping, inflammation and varicose veins. 3 Today horse chestnut is the third most popular herb in the German market after Ginkgo and St. John’s Wort.

Medicinal History

In traditional herbal practice, the seeds of horse chestnut, which are known as horse chestnuts or buckeyes, have been used as folk remedies for varicose veins and hemorrhoids. In North America, the Iriquois used powdered horse chestnut roots for chest pains. 4 There is remarkably little known history about the traditional use of horse chestnut for therapeutic purposes. Such use presumably began in Europe, where the tree originated.

Habitat & Cultivation

Horse chestnut is planted widely throughout the northern hemisphere as an ornamental. It is propagated by seed sown in autumn in sun or partial shade. The prickly green seed pods are harvested in autumn and are split open to reveal large, shiny seeds. 5 Bark, which was formerly harvested more than at present day, is cut from 3 – 5 year old branches and chopped into chips. 6

How It Works

Horse chestnut reduces inflammation and edema, and enhances the tone and fluid balance of veins. 1 Escin accounts for 3-6% of the seed 7 and is believed to be the primary agent responsible for these activities. Escin appears to slow down the rate at which fluid leaks from irritated capillaries, improve the elastic strength of veins, and block the release of enzymes which form holes in capillary walls. 2

Contemporary Uses Approved by Authoritative Bodies

Germany’s Commission E

Treatment of chronic veinous insufficiency in the legs, which may include sensations of heaviness, nocturnal cramping, itching and swelling.
Treatment of varicose veins, edema of the lower limbs and hemorrhoids. 3,7

Potential Risks

The following information is derived from Germany’s Commission E.

Safety issues and concerns

Itching, nausea and gastric complaints may occur in isolated cases after oral ingestion of horse chestnut.

Contraindications – based on conditions and medication intake, etc.

There are no known contraindications for horse chestnut.

Potentially harmful drug interactions

There are no known interactions between horse chestnut and any drugs.

Allergy precautions

There are no known allergies associated with horse chestnut.

Usage Tips

The therapeutic dose of horse chestnut is 100 mg of escin per day, equivalent to 250 – 312.5 mg of extract 2 times per day. 3 Germany’s Commission E recommends taking horse chestnut extract in a time release form. Take one dose with morning meal, and one at dinner, with ample fluids. 7

Product Choosing/Buying Tips

Look for standardized extracts of horse chestnut in time release form. The most common dose is 300 mg per tablet or capsule, standardized to 50 mg. escin.

Science Update

No new science found
However, More than 800 individuals have been involved in double-blind placebo-controlled studies of horse chestnut for treating venous insufficiency. 8-16

Trivia

· In North America, the Mohegan and Shinnecock indians carried horse chestnut in the pocket for rheumatism. 4 This practice is consistent with a wholly baseless folk belief that simply carrying a horse chestnut seed in your pocket will ward off arthritis and rheumatism.

References:

1. Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics, 2nd ed., (New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 1996): 304-306.

2. Bruneton J. Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plants. 2nd ed., (Paris: Lavoisier Publishing 1993): 554-556.

3. Blumenthal M, Goldberg A, Brinckmann J (eds). Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E Monographs. 1^st ed., (Newton, MA: Integrative Medicine Communications. 2000): 148-149.

4. Moerman, D., Native American Ethnobotany. 1^st ed., (Portland, Oregon Timber Press 1998): 51.

5. Bown, Deni. The Herb Society Of America Encyclopedia of Herbs & Their Uses. (1^st ed., (New York: Dorling Kindersley,1995): 230.

6. Wichtl M, Bisset NG (eds.). Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals. Trans from

2^nd German ed., (Stuttgart: Medpharm GmbH Scientific Publishers. 1994): 268-270.

7. Blumenthal M, Goldberg A, Brinckmann J (eds). Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E Monographs. 1^st ed., (Newton, MA: Integrative Medicine Communications. 2000): 201-204.

8. Friederich HC, Vogelsberg H, Neiss A. “Evaluation of internally effective venous drugs” [translated from German]. Z Hautkr.1978;53:369–374.

9. Neiss A, Bohm C. “Demonstration of the effectiveness of the horse-chestnut-seed extract in the varicose syndrome complex” [translated from German]. MMW Munch Med Wochenschr. 1976;118:213–216.

10. Bisler H, Pfeifer R, Kluken N, et al. “Effects of horse-chestnut seed extract on transcapillary filtration in chronic venous insufficiency” [translated from German]. Dtsch Med Wochenschr. 1986;111:1321–1329.

11. Lohr E, Garanin G, Jesau P, et al. “Anti-edemic therapy in chronic venous insufficiency with tendency to formation of edema” [translated from German]. Munch Med Wochenschr. 1986;128:579–581.

12. Rudofsky G, Neiss A, Otto K, et al. “Antiedematous effects and clinical effectiveness of horse chestnut seed extract in double blind studies” [translated from German]. Phlebologie und Proktologie. 1986;15:47–54.

13. Steiner M, Hillemanns HG. “Investigation of the anti-edemic efficacy of Venostatin®” [translated from German]. Munch Med Wochenschr. 1986;128:551–552.

14. Alter H. “Medication therapy for varicosis” [translated from German]. Z Allgemeinmed. 1973;49:1301–1304.

15. Diehm C, Trampisch HJ, Lange S, et al. “Comparison of leg compression stocking and oral horse-chestnut seed extract therapy in patients with chronic venous insufficiency.” Lancet. 1996;347:292–294.

16. Pittler MH, Ernst E. “Horse-chestnut seed extract for chronic venous insufficiency. A criteria-based systematic review.” Arch Dermatol. 1998;134:1356–1360.