AUSTRALIAN
NATUROPATHIC NETWORK
Serving
the community since 1998
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Departments » Herbal Medicine » Materia Medica » Aesculus hippocastanum |
Note - the monographs are provided for informational purposes only, and are not to be used for self-medication.
Aesculus hippocastanum (Horse Chestnut)
|
Botanic Name |
Aesculus hippocastanum |
|
Common Name |
Horse Chestnut |
|
Family |
Hippocastanaceae |
|
Parts Used |
Seed |
|
Habitat |
Indigenous to Western Asia, spreading to Europe and now widely cultivated around the world as an ornamental 1 |
|
Constituents |
Saponins 2 (over 30 individual pentacyclic triterpene diester glycosides - escin) 2 Flavonoids 2 Lipids 2 |
|
Actions |
Venotonic 2 Antiedematous 2 Astringent 1 Antihaemorrhagic 1 Circulatory Tonic 3 Expectorant 4 |
|
Applications |
Chronic venous insufficiency, varicose veins, oedema of the lower limbs, haemorrhoids [Mediherb, Mills, Hoffmann] Prophylactic for Deep Venous Thrombosis following surgery 2 Where local tissue oedema is contributing to a pathological process or symptom complex (eg Bell’s palsy, dysmenorrhoea) 2 Asthma, bronchitis 2 Topically for haematoma, contusions, non-pemetrating wounds and sports injuries involving oedema 2 Phlebitis 1,3 Managing enteric infections, diarrhoea and fevers arising therefrom 1 Prostatic enlargement 1 Recurrent neuralagia 4 Sunburn 4 Diarrhoea 4 |
|
Dosage |
MEDIUM DOSE HERB 0.2 – 1gm dried fruits equivalent tds 1 |
|
Combinations |
Ruscus aculeatus, Ginkgo biloba, Centella asiatica, Vaccinium myrtillus – for peripheral circulation and to help strengthen and heal connective tissue 2 The leaves seeds and green capsule shells sometimes cause poisoning if taken in sufficient amounts 4 |
|
C/I Cautions |
Because of the irritant effect of the saponins, horse chestnut should not be applied to broken or ulcerated skin 2 |
|
BHP S/I |
N/A |
References
1. Mills, S., The Complete Guide to Modern Herbalism, Thorsons, Great Britain, 1994.
2. Mediherb Professional Review, Number 65, October 1998.
3 Hoffmann, D., The New Holistic Herbal, Element, Dorset, 1990.
4. Lust, J., The Herb Book, Bantam Books, USA, 1974.