The fruits of nature are impressive, we can find quite a few health benefits by using plants or other factors that are mostly found in trees.
In this article, a tree with fruits known as horse chestnut will be known, as well as its properties and benefits for humans.
What is horse chestnut?
The horse chestnut or by its scientific name Aesculus hippocastanum L , is part of the Hippocastanaceae family , is confused with a plant and has fruits with important chemical compositions , such as flavonoids, coumarin heterosides and escin.
This tree is widely distributed throughout the world, in addition to having had various medicinal uses over the centuries. It has been used to prevent and treat conditions such as venous insufficiency, hemorrhoids, edema, and reduces varicose veins.
Despite being a great traditional medicine, it should be taken with caution because it can have adverse effects, since many studies defend poisoning from the seed, if taken in excess.
Note: As analyzed in a medical study “The circulatory properties of horse chestnut were confirmed at the beginning of the last century in varicose and hemorrhoidal patients” . (1)
What properties does the horse chestnut have?
The horse chestnut has various nutritional properties , including certain essential vitamins for human health. We present the most relevant properties:
1. Anti-inflammatory and vasoconstrictor
Escin manages to act with a main anti-inflammatory effect, through the release of inflammatory mediators, adding a vasoconstrictor base activity , where the permeability of blood vessels in inflamed areas is increased.
With this , it reduces a large number of conditions and seeks to maintain the stability of the tissues.
Note: According to a medical study “Aescin, as an active ingredient in the extract of Aesculus hippocastanum (horse chestnut), has an action at the capillary level, reducing brittleness and permeability” . (two)
2. Venotonic and astringent
These properties are ideal for vascular diseases , venotonic has an element known as hidrosmina (a flavonoid), which helps increase venous tone and resistance, improving blood flow with the help of venotonic-style drugs, where chronic venous insufficiency occurs.
The same with the astringent, which is a substance applied externally, in order to retract the tissues and help in healing. Both properties are related to reducing inflammation, however they have other effects, reducing pain, as the case may be.
Important: It is known thanks to medical studies that approximately “It is estimated that between 10 and 15% of the entire adult population reports some type of symptomatic vascular problem or venous insufficiency” . (3)
What are the health benefits of horse chestnut?
The benefits can be quite surprising , since the properties of the horse chestnut can be effective for the body, in addition to various conditions. We present the main benefits:
1. Promotes good blood circulation
Blood circulation manages to be more fluid, providing a greater amount of blood and therefore, greater oxygenation to the organs and the rest of the body.
To highlight: This happens thanks to escin, a large extract from the bark, for its anti- inflammatory action and the regeneration of body or poisonous tissue. Escin is crucial, promoting proper blood flow and aiding in oxygenation.
2. Stimulates kidney function
The medicinal plants of the horse chestnut, are very capable of stimulating kidney function, in the face of conditions such as kidney failure that can become dangerous, although the treatment varies if the case is an advanced terminal state.
Kidney function is benefited, because the kidney manages to eliminate excess fluids in the body, stimulated thanks to aesculin, a substance extracted from horse chestnuts to improve kidney function.
3. Stabilizes blood sugar levels
The use of horse chestnut has been expanded in patients with diabetes or varicose veins , the latter caused by chronic venous insufficiency. The extractions of the chestnut seeds help to stabilize the sugar levels present in the blood, as would placebos.
Important: This treatment is done only with medical permission or by professionals , because it can carry risks or side effects, if the patient’s condition is not adequately known. For this reason the extract of the seed or the bark is studied too much.
4. Fights and prevents hemorrhoids
The leaves, plants and seeds of this fruit are used as an anti-inflammatory for external areas of the skin or mucous membranes, this can include hemorrhoids, which are swollen veins that cause pain and inflammation in the anus.
Note: The cream made with the horse chestnut is used to be applied in this area, in order to help reduce pain, improve blood circulation in the veins and prevent future appearances of hemorrhoids.
5. Stops bleeding and contributes to healing
Horse chestnut has ascorbic acid (vitamin c), which is a property used to promote healing, as well as being an antioxidant and also has quercetin, which is a flavonoid just as famous for acting as an antioxidant.
For the most part, they manage to stop the most abnormal large bleeding , as well as contribute to a faster and more accurate healing process, in case the body does not have enough vitamin C.
6. Decreases inflammation of the prostate
Due to its numerous anti-inflammatory actions , it is possible to reduce inflammation of the prostate with great efficiency in a great majority of men, because the prostate grows over time and can be harmful if there is no treatment.
To highlight: The inflammatory reduction of the prostate can protect or decrease, in a long period of time, the appearance of the dreaded prostate cancer, which affects men.
7. Contributes to weight loss
The aesculus horse chestnut and its seed contribute to reducing and burning body fat, because it manages to combat fluid retention and eliminate toxins found in the body.
Important: Weight loss is not immediate, since the horse chestnut must be consumed properly without excesses, but the results are effective.
8. Reduces the risk of atherosclerosis
The accumulation of fats can greatly affect people, since it restricts blood flow. Thanks to the extract and anti-inflammatory agents or chemical active ingredients of the horse chestnut, the accumulation of fat in narrow veins can be reduced and blood circulation can be greatly improved.
Note: The horse chestnut also contains a high content of monounsaturated fats, which are necessary for the body and can raise good cholesterol to a great extent.
9. Relieves rheumatic pain
Not very mild diseases such as arthritis , affecting hands and legs or chronic venous insufficiency, cause rheumatic pain with very annoying symptoms, this happens and is common due to swelling of the joints. But the horse chestnut seeks to relieve this type of swelling.
Since in the form of a cream, when applied it reduces inflammation in the large areas of the joints (mainly hands and legs), where pain and the most uncomfortable sensation occur, in addition to promoting blood circulation in said areas.
10. Improves skin health
The horse chestnut eliminates toxins from the organism , which not only favors the health of the organs thanks to the seed, but also for the internal and external tissue, giving a rejuvenating action , which gives greater life to the skin, helping in the healing and sometimes, depending on the route of consumption, hydrates the skin in addition to preventing the appearance of venous insufficiency.
How to consume and use the horse chestnut?
The chestnut or horse chestnut is consumed and used in two ways, although both must be in specific doses and without unnecessary excess. These are:
1. Horse chestnut infusion
The horse chestnut can be made in the form of tea through the extract of the leaves and seeds , these help naturally, since they have most of the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant action doses necessary for the body. Consumption is orally.
In this case, the horse chestnut tea is prepared with hot water and sweetened to taste . It should be taken before eating and after reviewing the leaves, before defining the way to consume. It should be noted that this infusion is widely used therapeutically by escin.
2. Horse chestnut ointment
There are ointments made with the seeds, leaves and bark of the horse chestnut. Based on studies , these ointments are used for joint and muscle pain and it is common to use them for hemorrhoids, as well as a treatment for legs with pain symptoms, thanks to the action of anti-inflammatory properties . The seed and escin are the main element of the ointment.
Horse chestnut ointments are easily acquired and people should place them on the affected areas, including legs or the rectum, which must be previously cleaned and disinfected.
Note: It can also help in cases of chronic venous insufficiency and the sensation is refreshing.
Key Findings
- The aesculus chestnut or horse chestnut is a natural tree named Aesculus hippocastanum L.
- It has chemical doses necessary for the human organism and anti- inflammatory properties.
- Fights hemorrhoids , promotes blood flow, stops bleeding and prevents prostate diseases.
- It has healing compounds such as escin and hidrosine.
- It is consumed and used through infusions or ointments.
University Professional in the area of Human Resources, Postgraduate in Occupational Health and Hygiene of the Work Environment, 14 years of experience in the area of health. Interested in topics of Psychology, Occupational Health, and General Medicine.