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 is employed to cure many different health ailments. It has a range of medicinal capacities that have the power to treat certain conditions. The buckeye tree -- first grown in Australia -- has medicinal properties similar to that of horse chestnut.
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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 blood circulation. Besides aescin, the nuts of the horse chestnut consist 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 tinnitus -- i.e., ringing sounds in the ear. Ringing sounds in the ear is also a major symptom indicating the onset of vertigo.
✔ Horse chestnut benefits those who are suffering from an 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 concoctions, or oral tablets. The most essential benefit of the creams or gels is their ability to treat varicose veins. Varicose veins is an extremely painful condition to endure. This may cause the veins in the legs to swell.
✔ If an individual suffers from a condition called edema, horse chestnuts 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. ✔ The seeds of horse chestnuts have essential properties that help cease diarrhea.
✔ Horse chestnuts are also known to be effective in ceasing the growth and the inadvertent metastasizing of cancerous cells. However, detailed research is prerogative to deem horse chestnut as a potent measure.
✔ Another benefit is its beauty enhancement property, since horse chestnut is known to promote healthy blood vessels. To lighten the dark circles under your eyes, you could resort to consuming horse chestnut supplements. Horse chestnut in gel or cream form could be an alternative, if you are not too keen on 'oral swallows'.
Not Meant For ...
✘ As it 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.
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 the same without it being treated may cause harm and pose to be dangerous. So, be careful, and take care.