Horse Chestnut: Benefits, Uses & Historical Medicinal Properties

Horse chestnut, also called "buckeye", has reportedly been used medicinally for 6,000 years. These trees once comprised 25 percent of northeast American forests until an Asian fungal disease killed most of them.

Identification

• Horse chestnut is a large tree yielding a bitter nut. The outer casing is poisonous and should not be used internally.

Features

• According to Joseph Marion, author of "Anti-aging Manual: The Encyclopedia of Natural Health", horse chestnut contains 10 percent protein, 70 percent carbohydrates, 3 percent fiber, 8 percent fats, 6 percent water and 2.4 percent minerals, including potassium, iron, magnesium, iron and sodium.

Effects

• According to Dr. Linda B. White, coauthor of "The Herbal Drugstore", horse chestnut may be helpful for weak or varicose veins, edema, bruises and sprains. Other conditions that may benefit from horse chestnut include fever, neuralgia and diarrhea.

Medical Uses

• In Germany, horse chestnut injections are used to treat severe head injuries and to reduce post-surgical swelling.

Warning

• In crude form, horse chestnut may be toxic; therefore, only standardized preparations are recommended. In addition, some people have reported stomach upset, nausea and itching after taking horse chestnut.