Horse Chestnut Benefits

Horse chestnuts? Sounds new? Well, it is not a unicorn-like amalgamation of an animal breed and a plant species! Horse chestnuts -- also referred to as Aesculus hippocastanum -- is a tree that has its aboriginal roots in Asia. It is widely grown throughout Europe and the United States.
Horse chestnuts -- apart from possessing ornamental properties -- is employed to cure many different health ailments. It has a range of medicinal capacities that has the power to treat certain conditions. The buck eye tree -- first grown in Australia -- has medicinal properties similar to that of horse chestnut. The ingredient that plays a major role in making horse chestnut beneficial is called triterpine glycoside also known as aescin. Aescin has the innate property to improve the blood circulation. Apart from aescin, the nuts of the horse chestnut consists of carbohydrates. This nut also contains saponins, tannin, flavones, glycosides, fraxin, some protein, water and ash. The beneficial horse chestnut extracts are concocted using the bark and the nut of the tree.

Properties of Horse Chestnut
  • The horse chestnut tree is used in treating conditions such as stomach cramps, various forms of arthritis, hemorrhoids and ringing sounds in the ear. Ringing sounds in the ear is a major symptom that indicates the onset of vertigo. Thus, when the symptom is eradicated with the help of extracts, the question of vertigo being an extension of the ringing symptom does not arise.
  • Horse chestnut benefits those who are suffering from a type of ear infection. Be it swimmer's ear or excruciating ear pain, the horse chestnut can cure the ailment.
  • Preparations of horse chestnuts are available in herb stores. They are cream or gel based or oral tablets. The most essential horse chestnut benefit in the form of this cream or gel is its ability to treat varicose veins. Varicose veins are an extremely painful condition to endure. This may cause the veins in the legs to swell, carrying the discomfort forward by creating pain in the legs. The swelling of varicose veins also indicates plummeting energy levels. It also has the potential to put individuals suffering from varicose veins develop blood clots in the legs.
  • If an individual suffers from a condition called edema, horse chestnuts benefits have the power to cure the pain and the fatigue. The oral pills or tablets are perfect for the treatment. They need to be ingested with a glass of water. Thus, administering horse chestnut in tablet form helps put the individual at rest.
  • The swelling in the joints, muscles and tendons lessens and is finally curbed when the horse chestnut cream or gel is applied to the affected area. Ingesting it orally will also serve its inflammatory purposes.
  • Another horse chestnut benefit is its beauty enhancement property. Since horse chestnut is known to promote healthy blood vessels. To lighten the dark circles under eyes, you could resort to consuming horse chestnut supplements. Horse chestnut in gel or cream could be an alternative, if you are not too keen on 'oral swallows'.
Horse Chestnut is Not Meant For ...

There are certain side effects that the horse chestnuts could pose to have.
  • As the horse chestnut has the property of making the blood thin, horse-chestnut should not be administered on people who are prescribed anticoagulants or aspirin therapy.
  • Nursing mothers or mothers-to-be should not consume or use the horse chestnut in any form.
  • People with low blood sugar levels should not take the horse chestnut preparation in any form.
  • A medical practitioner should be taken into consideration when deciding to ingest or use the horse chestnut supplement.
Horse chestnuts should never be consumed before taking an expert consult as this herbal remedy may prove to be a poisonous substance. Its outer bark or the husk of the fruit is poisonous and eating it without it being treated may cause harm and pose to be dangerous. So be careful and take care. If, however you suffer from no health ailments and you don't need to consume horse chestnut, you might as well let horse chestnuts benefit your landscape!
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Published: 3/3/2011
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