Varicose veins, cramps, thrombosis, diarrhoea, rheumatism, oedema, flu symptoms.
Composition :
100% Aesculus hippocastanum - 220 mg
Part used :
Bark, seeds
The Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum), aka Conker Tree, is a large, deciduous tree in the Soapberry family (Sapindaceae), native to the south-eastern Mediterranean (Balcan). It is widely cultivated in streets and parks throughout the temperate world.
The Horse Chestnut tree grows to 36 meters (118ft) tall, with a trunk of 4.5 meters (14ft) in diameter, and a domed crown of stout branches. Some trees age to 2000 years old.
The leaves are opposite and palmately compound, with 5 – 7 leaflets; each leaflet is 13 – 30 cm (5-12in) long, making the whole leaf up to 60 cm (24in) across, with a 7 – 20 cm (3-8in) petiole. The leaf scars left on twigs after the leaves have fallen have a distinctive horseshoe shape, complete with seven "nails". The flowers are usually white with a small red spot; they are produced in spring in erect panicles 10 – 30 cm (4-12in) tall with about 20 – 50 flowers on each panicle. Usually only 1 – 5 fruit develop on each panicle; the shell is a green, spiky capsule containing one nut-like seed called conker or horse-chestnuts. Each conker is 2 – 4 cm (0.7-1.5in) in diameter, glossy nut-brown with a whitish scar at the base.
The Horse Chestnuts, especially those that are young and fresh, are slightly poisonous, containing alkaloid saponins andglucosides. Although not dangerous to touch, they cause sickness when eaten; consumed by horses, they can cause tremors and lack of coordination.
For medicinal purposes, the conkers - and sometimes the flowers - are collected and processed in peculiar ways to extract the substances which aid with blood circulation: aesculin, rutin, quercetin, flavon, triterpen, saponin, adenosin and bitterns. These bio-active substances increase blood flow, restore and strengthen veins, reduce edema, blood clots and swelling of the tissue and even remove water from the tissue. Horse Chestnut has hemostatic and anti-inflammatory properties. It increases the tonus of the venous wall ; a peri-vascular edema is litterally sucked into the capillaries by the increased oncotonic pressure.
A combination of Horse Chestnut with With Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) and Brewer’s Yeast is considered the best approach to treat serious conditions.
Counter Indications: Horse Chestnut is not recommended for patients who have undergone cardiac surgery (risk of renal failure).
Note: Any initial worsening of a condition (pain) is to be expected in some cases. If the pain is too strong, however, reduce the dosage. Horse Chestnut is not suited to making tea.
Take 3-6 capsules 3 times daily, with plenty of water.