Horsechestnut
A brief history and overview of how it acts

     One of Europe’s most ubiquitous phyto-medicines, Horsechestnut
iscurrently used by physicians and laymen alike for all manner of
venous insufficiency, varicose veins, bruising, sprains, contusions,
itching, swelling, post-phlebitic disease, as well as other vascular ailments.
     And it has been for a very long time. An official remedy since the
Edinburg Dispensatory in the 1780’s, its powdered fruits was snorted
up the nostrils with a glass tube (to cause violent sneezing) as a
treatment for headaches and eye ailments; in the treatments of; malaria,
gangrene, typhoid; a poultice of fresh seeds as a remedy for breast
cancers, and (due to the highly astringent effects of its tannin) a treatment
of diarrhea and hemorrhoids. Sweetened with honey, its tea was used as a
cough remedy. Perhaps most interesting of all, a North American Indian tribe
used to grind up its seeds and sprinkle them on the water. Fish would then
eat it and, “float stupified,” to the surface for easy capture.
     Today however, Horsechestnut’s seed extract is primarily
used to improve vascular damage.
      Why?
     Because of a compound called escin. (Or aescin). Escin acts
by diminishing the number and size of the tiny pores in our veins,
arteries, and capillary walls. Small and delicate, our capillaries
rupture especially easily, leaking blood particles into surrounding
tissues. Escin helps to seal off such outflow. In fact, its sealing
action has proven to be so valuable an aid in surgical recovery
that German physicians use an injectable form in emergency
rooms for the treatment of severe head trauma and to reduce
post operative swelling.
      Though still almost unheard of in the American market,
horsechestnut is the third most requested phyto-medicine in
Europe where oral dosage (600 mg per day) forms have been the
subject of numerous controlled-clinical studies. (Published
between 1973 and 1996) An 18-20% escin extract was
administered. All had positive results.
      In the treatment of cellulite, it can either be given orally,
or an escin/cholesterol complex can be applied topically.
     While generally considered safe, in rare instances, internal
uses may cause stomach upset and occasionally nausea. No
contraindications or interaction with other drugs are known. Do
not take if you have kidney or liver problems or if you’ve had
stroke or heart disease without the advice of a physician. Also if
you are pregnant or lactating, consult your physician first.