Medicinal properties of chestnut flowers. Medicinal properties of horse chestnut

Tincture based on horse chestnut flowers is very popular, because it has found application in the treatment of various diseases, the most common is the treatment of varicose veins.

In spring, among the variety of flowering trees, horse chestnut stands out especially due to its beautiful inflorescences. But this tree is famous not only for its special appearance, but also for the excellent healing qualities that its leaves, fruits and bark possess. But in terms of properties, they are not inferior to flowers, which are an excellent basis for medicines. Chestnut flower tincture can be used for a variety of diseases, so it is quite famous in folk medicine. Consider several prescriptions for drugs based on this raw material for the treatment of varicose veins, hemorrhoids and other diseases.

Recipe 1

Properly prepared according to this simple recipe, the drug from this plant will help in the treatment of hemorrhoids, varicose veins, vein thrombosis and thrombophlebitis.

Ingredients:

100 g of dried flowers;
1 liter of good quality vodka;
clean jar or bottle.

Cooking:

Gently chop the flowers, then pour them with vodka or alcohol.
Put a jar or bottle with components to infuse in any dark, dry place in the house for 14 days.

For 4 weeks, take 25 drops of the medicine 20 minutes before meals. You have to do this three times a day. The course of treatment with this drug can be repeated, but only after a pause of one month. And, as the reviews say, varicose veins will have no chance.

Recipe 2

The remedy from this recipe, prepared with vodka, has found application in the treatment of diseased joints.

Ingredients:

20 g of dried chestnut flowers;
500 ml of vodka;
any suitable clean container.

Cooking:

Fill flowers with vodka.
Then put the container with the ingredients in a dark place for 14 days.

Lubricate the diseased joints with the resulting tincture twice a day.

Recipe 3

This drink on chestnut flowers is excellent for the treatment of varicose veins.

Ingredients:

50 g dried flowers;
500 ml of vodka;
clean bank.

Cooking:

Place the flowers in a jar and pour 40% vodka.
Leave in a dark place to infuse for 12 days, and then strain.

Three times a day before meals, you need to drink 30 drops of the resulting tincture. The course of treatment is 20 days, after which the varicose veins will begin to recede.

Properties

The healing effect of chestnut flowers is due to the presence of flavonoids in it, which:

reduce capillary permeability;
increase blood clotting;
lower the pressure.

They also contain escin and esculin, which are complex glycosides. Esculin is able to reduce capillary permeability, inhibit the formation of blood clots and increase venous blood flow. Escin, in turn:

thins the blood;
has a venotonic effect;
relieves puffiness;
stimulates the release of adrenal hormones.

It is also worth noting that drugs based on flowers, fruits and leaves of horse chestnut have bactericidal and anti-inflammatory effects.

Application

Tincture of horse chestnut flowers is used for diseases such as:

varicose veins;
various diseases of the gallbladder;
haemorrhoids;
rheumatism of the joints.

The use of this remedy will help with sciatica and rheumatism. With these diseases, it is necessary to do compresses for 1.5 hours on painful places. Preparing the components for the medicine is quite simple. The inflorescences must be cut and the column removed, after which they must be dried (be sure to do this outdoors or in a cool room). If you are going to make the tincture more than once, dry the ingredients for future use.

If after preparing the drink you have some raw materials left, make a soothing tea. Take a few dried flowers and pour boiling water over them. Infuse for 15 minutes, dilute with a small amount of clean water and drink. You can add some honey if you like.

Contraindications

Horse chestnut tincture has some contraindications for use. Its use inside is contraindicated in people with:

hypotension;
problems with the gastrointestinal tract;
problems with blood clotting;
kidney failure.

Also, this remedy should not be used by women during lactation and breastfeeding.

Video

Many people are familiar with a beautifully flowering tree with a regular crown and large dissected leaves - horse chestnut. The use of its seeds, bark and flowers in folk medicine began several centuries ago. Healers and healers empirically came to the conclusion about the astringent and anti-inflammatory properties of the plant, prescribed its decoctions and infusions for varicose veins, hemorrhoids. The study of the chemical composition and effects of drugs on the human body allowed specialists to systematize information about the medical use of this tree species.

Horse chestnut (Aesculus)

The genus Esculus, according to modern classification, belongs to the Sapindaceae family. Decorative qualities are high in almost all trees belonging to this systematic group. For example, horse chestnut is a tall deciduous tree that blooms in April - June. The flowers are irregularly shaped, white, with reddish-pink stripes and spots. Pyramidal panicles of another popular type - meat-red horse chestnut - a beautiful pink or dark red color. Ripe fruits are round boxes the size of a large walnut. They are covered with pointed soft spikes. Inside are large brown seeds (1-2 in a box). Fruit ripening time - September-October.

The triumph of the woody plant in medicine

Of all the representatives of the genus Aesculus, Aesculus hippocastanum has the greatest medicinal value. So called in scientific publications ordinary horse chestnut. The use of this plant in veterinary practice has been mentioned since 1556, when the doctor P. Andreas Mattioli advised horse owners to feed the fruits of the tree to animals suffering from shortness of breath.

Later it turned out that chestnut is good for human health - it treats diseases caused by various disorders of blood circulation in the body. Around 1866, horse chestnut tincture appeared in European pharmacies. The use of this remedy was recommended by doctors for the following diseases: varicose veins, hemorrhoids, chronic intestinal inflammation, gout. Flowers and leaves (horse chestnut grass) help with skin diseases and rheumatism. The use of the decoction is external and internal.

The main indications for the use of the plant

Scientific and practical medicine finally recognized horse chestnut tincture as an effective medicine only at the very end of the 19th century, after publications in one of the scientific journals of France. The main indications for the use of decoctions, infusions and tinctures of horse chestnut have not changed much over 120 years:

leg ulcers;
varicose disease;
chronic digestive disorders;
muscle inflammation;
neuralgia;
haemorrhoids.

Procurement of medicinal raw materials

In folk and official medicine, the bark, leaves, flowers and fruits of the horse chestnut plant are used. The use for medicinal purposes implies the correct preparation of raw materials. The bark is removed from branches that have reached the age of 3-5 years, during sap flow. Panicle inflorescences are cut in May (during the flowering period). The raw materials are dried a little in the sun, the main drying is carried out in the shade.

The leaves are harvested in May - September. Early collection is preferable, because in summer the chestnut moth infects the tree, the leaves turn yellow, turn brown and become unsuitable for treatment. The fruits are harvested already in their mature form, when the peel begins to turn yellow and crack, and the seeds fall to the ground. The bark, flowers and leaves are laid out for drying in the shade to ensure uniform drying and preservation of nutrients. Fruits are stored at temperatures up to 25 ° C.

Chemical composition

In all parts of the plant, a high content of biologically active substances is observed, which has a diverse effect on the human body. Pharmacological activity contributed to the growth in popularity of the horse chestnut plant. The use in medicine is based on the rich chemical composition of flowers, leaves, bark and fruits. The plant contains: catechin tannins, triterpenoids, flavonoids, carotenoids, ascorbic acid and vitamins B 1 , B 2 , K, phenols and phenolcarboxylic acids, coumarins, saponins, tannins, aldehydes.
Horse chestnut glycosides:

esculin, fraxin (coumarin);
aescins, hypocaesculin (triterpene);
quercitrin, quercetin and kaempferol (flavonoids).

The flowers are rich in glycosides, sugars, mucous and pectin compounds. The seeds also contain phytosterols, sugars, saponins, bitter and protein compounds, and a lot of fatty oil. In the leaves, in addition to the compounds listed above, there are rutin, lutein, violaxanthin. Content of some compounds (%):

pectin, starch - about 50;
proteins - 11;
sugars - 9;
fatty oil - up to 7;
tannins - about 0.9.

Horse chestnut flowers: medicinal uses

Biologically active components are found in flowers and other organs of horse chestnut. They contribute to an increase in blood filling of the veins, increase their tone. All these properties are very important for the treatment of venous obstruction. From the flowers, a horse chestnut tincture rich in flavonoids and saponins is prepared. Application:

with varicose veins;
for the treatment and prevention of thrombophlebitis;
increased resistance of the vascular wall, vein tone.

Horse chestnut: bark application

The glycosides esculin and fraxin present in the raw material are good anticoagulants. Therefore, the bark is used as a hemostatic agent, its decoction helps with hemorrhoidal and uterine bleeding. The drugs have anti-inflammatory, astringent and analgesic properties, are used to treat varicose veins, leg ulcers resulting from spasm. Baths with a decoction or infusion of the bark are useful for neuralgia, these procedures reduce inflammation in muscle tissue. Take drugs inside for chronic colitis, gastritis, diarrhea, chronic bronchitis.

Medicinal properties of horse chestnut fruit

The analgesic, anti-inflammatory, wound-healing properties of chestnut seeds are valued in official and alternative medicine. Decoctions of fruits and leaves are prescribed for boils, abscesses and burns. Powder is used for ulcers, for which it is necessary to dry and then grind the fruits of horse chestnut. Decoction application:

prepare 10 g of seed powder;
pour raw materials with 1 glass of hot water;
boil for 30 minutes in a water bath, covered with a lid;
strain hot and bring boiled water to the original volume.

Two or three days should be taken 1 tbsp. l. this decoction 1 time per day, then increase the multiplicity to 2-3 times a day. The duration of taking this medication for venous insufficiency is 0.5-2 months. With hemorrhoids - no more than 1 month.

Types and forms of medicinal preparations from horse chestnut grass

Back in the middle of the twentieth century, the German pharmaceutical industry began to produce horse chestnut venotonic preparations. Then the production of oral solutions, ointments and creams with an extract of the fruits, flowers and bark of this healer tree was established around the world. The active substance of the preparations is the glycoside escin. In the names of medicines, the Latin term Aesculus (Aesculus) is more often “played out”.

The pharmaceutical industry produces fruit extract. Release form - oral solution and tablets. The name of the medicine is Aescusan. Produced on the basis of dry extract of horse chestnut plant. Instructions for use contains a clarification that this is a phytopreparation. In fact, oral drops are a pharmacy tincture of horse chestnut. Indications:

The main contraindication may be hypersensitivity to the main and auxiliary components: escin, thiamine chloride, ethyl alcohol (as part of drops).

Take the drug inside before meals, 10-15 drops diluted in liquid, or 2-3 tablets. Multiplicity and duration of admission - 3 times a day for 3 months.

Occasionally on the shelves of pharmacies you can see horse chestnut oil. Application - external - based on venotonic and lymphatic drainage effects. Assign for varicose veins, edema, spider veins. Oil is prepared from fruits and flowers by extraction with other oils. As a result, the final product is enriched with escin, terpenoids, resins, flavonoids, and vitamins. The oil can be used to make home cosmetics, fight cellulite, wrinkles, improve the condition of the skin and blood vessels.

Not everyone knows that a beautiful tree with a delicate candle-shaped flower and wedge-shaped leaves is a valuable raw material with healing properties. Tinctures are prepared from horse chestnut, which have vasoconstrictive, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant properties and help to overcome many. But whether a medicinal plant is shown to everyone, what are the benefits and harms of horse chestnut tincture, it is important to understand individually.

The chemical composition of horse chestnut tincture

Quantitative and chemical beneficial components vary depending on which part of the plant is used. There are similar substances - bioflavonoids that exhibit P-vitamin activity. The main effect of biologically active substances (BAS) is to reduce the level of fragility and permeability of blood vessels and capillaries. Bioflavonoids reduce the risk of atherosclerotic plaques and reduce harmful cholesterol.

Biologically active substances express antioxidant properties, help protect cells from free radicals, and prolong youth.

The composition also contains other useful elements. The bark, inflorescences and leaves contain the glycoside esculin and saponin, which thin the blood and prevent thrombosis.

Chestnut nuts contain:

fixed oils;
up to 50% starch;
proteins - 10%;
tannins - 13%;
vitamin C, K;
catechin tannins;
minerals - iodine, iron, zinc, selenium, calcium, nickel.

Provitamin A is in the form of a carotenoid, lutein. Coumarin substances are concentrated in the bark of chestnut branches. They show the beneficial properties of vitamin P, are actively involved in improving vascular permeability.

Benefits of horse chestnut tincture

A healthy drink benefits the walls of blood vessels, strengthening them. Alcohol tincture is used in the treatment of damage to varicose veins, various injuries, blood clots. It is also used as a prophylaxis of the disease, since it thickens the vascular walls.

The tincture helps to dissolve blood clots that form in the blood vessels. This reduces high blood pressure. Useful properties of horse chestnut tincture save with hemorrhoids, prostatitis, brain tumors.

The drug is beneficial in the removal of toxins and radionuclides. This is achieved due to the presence in the composition of useful elements - copper, cobalt, calcium, potassium.

Fruit tincture on vodka reduces the risk of hypothyroidism - a malfunction of the thyroid gland. Due to the active components of saponosides, the tincture has anti-inflammatory, vasoconstrictive properties. The tool strengthens the walls of blood vessels, reduces blood viscosity, reduces blood pressure, prevents the formation of blood clots.

Important! Chestnut tincture helps to relieve puffiness and resorption of blood clots that have already appeared.

Horse chestnut tincture for weight loss

The drink is used to reduce weight. In modern medicine, it is known as liquid chestnut and is an energy supplement that normalizes metabolic processes, thins the blood and dulls the feeling of hunger. With a tincture prepared according to a folk recipe, this supplement has nothing to do. In addition, the pharmaceutical version contains caffeine.

Important! Chestnut for weight loss is prepared without alcohol.

To prepare the tincture, you will need:

25 g fruit cut into 2 halves;
transfer them to a gauze bag and place in a three-liter jar;
pour 2.5 liters of warm water into a container, pour 1 glass of sugar, mix;
take it to a dark cool room for 2.5 weeks.

The tincture must be filtered. Drink twice a day, 1 cup 30 minutes before meals. The course of treatment is one month. When treating with chestnut infusion, it is important to adhere to a special diet - it is forbidden to eat fatty, floury, fried, salty foods, drink alcoholic beverages. It is supposed to drink 2 liters of water per day.

How to take the tincture

Use the infusion both externally in the form of compresses and rubbing, and inside. The body is rubbed pointwise twice a day. With more frequent use, it is necessary to monitor the reaction of the body so as not to cause harm. To prepare a useful compress, the tincture is combined with water in equal proportions. Then a piece of cloth is moistened in it and applied to the affected area. Keep 1 hour.

Important! The longer you insist the remedy, the more effective it will be.

Horse chestnut tincture is taken orally 3 times a day for half an hour before meals. Benefit will bring a course of 14 days to 1 month. Then take a break of 10 days and repeat to consolidate the result.

The use of horse chestnut tincture for medicinal purposes

Horse chestnut is widely used in the treatment of diseases. A decoction and tincture of the bark has astringent, hemostatic, analgesic properties. A useful infusion of flowers helps fight inflammation.

For vessels and heart

The tool is beneficial for the cardiovascular system. The advantage of the tincture is that the components are quickly absorbed into the blood and help:

strengthen vascular and venous walls;
increase the strength of capillaries;
ensure good blood flow through the vessels;
reduce the chance of blood clots.

For joints

Horse chestnut tincture is good for joints. It is rubbed into sore joints at night for a month. Additionally, take preparations containing chestnut fruits.

From varicose veins

Horse chestnut tincture is beneficial for varicose veins. It is prepared from fruits or flowers. The active ingredients of the tincture help to get rid of varicose veins in a short time and eliminate the feeling of heaviness in the legs.

From warts

To quickly get rid of papillomas, you need to pour a bucket of chestnut leaves with hot water. Insist 12 hours. Then strain and pour into the bath every other day for 14 days.

With prostatitis

Tincture benefits by promoting the outflow of blood from the prostate and strengthening the walls of blood vessels. The globulins in the composition help regulate testosterone levels. The drink is drunk three times a day, 20 drops.

From sciatica

In order for the tincture to benefit from sciatica, it is necessary to grind the nuts into powder. 3 art. l. pour 70 ml of camphor oil. The mixture is applied to gauze and applied to the affected areas.

Treatment of rheumatism

Take a healthy drink prepared according to the recipe:

Chop nuts into crumbs. You will need 1 glass.
Pour in 1 tbsp. burdock juice and 200 ml of vodka.
Submit for 10 days.
Use the tincture as a rub.

For respiratory diseases

Preparations that are made on the basis of horse chestnut are not addictive. With a runny nose, cough, you need to take a tincture in the amount of half a glass during the day.

from uterine fibroids

The chestnut is roasted, ground through a coffee grinder, dissolving 1 tsp. mixture in a glass of boiling water. Drink in 3 doses.

How to make chestnut tincture at home

There is a universal recipe according to which the drink can be used externally and internally.

On vodka

Sequencing:

Dried fruits with brown peel are crushed.
50 grams of powder are combined with 500 ml of good vodka and poured into a glass bottle.
Leave in a dark room for at least 14 days. Shake periodically.
With varicose veins, the course of therapy is 3 weeks. Horse chestnut tincture is taken 30 drops three times a day.

You can learn more about cooking in the video:

From the peel of the fruit

Nuts are harvested in September. When dropped, the green shell cracks and separates, so it does not have to be removed. To cut the skin, the horse chestnut is soaked in water for 12 hours. 50 g of the cut shell is added to 0.5 liters of vodka. Stir and infuse for 3 weeks.

on alcohol

It is better to purchase a medical product. For cooking, you will need crushed dry leaves of the tree when they are ripe.

Components:

natural raw materials - 100 grams;
alcohol - 1 liter.

Recipe:

Combine the components, place in a glass container and close it.
Insist in a dark cool place for a month.
Filter and apply for external and internal use.

Important! Such alcohol infusions are recommended only in a diluted form in equal proportions of water and tincture.

On the water

The use of horse chestnut tincture is indicated for the treatment of people who, for health reasons, are contraindicated in alcohol-containing formulations. The recipe will benefit in pathologies of the cardiovascular system. To prepare the tincture, take 2 unripe chestnut fruits, crush into crumbs and pour a glass of boiling water. Insist in a thermos for 2 hours. Then the liquid is filtered and drunk 2 tbsp. l. 6 times a day until complete recovery or within a month.

Harm of horse chestnut tincture and contraindications

When using the drug, there may be harmful side effects:

allergic reactions - if you take a large dose or with individual intolerance to the components;
rarely, muscle cramps, headache, dizziness may occur.

There are contraindications in which taking the tincture can cause harm:

the agent should not be administered intramuscularly and intravenously, as it can provoke anaphylactic shock;
animal experiments have proven that the extract lowers blood sugar levels;
the joint use of horse chestnut tincture with anticoagulants that reduce blood clotting;
it is forbidden to take during pregnancy and while breastfeeding the baby - this is fraught with harm to the child.

Important! In the case of surgical intervention, the drug can be taken only after consulting a doctor.

Conclusion

The benefits and harms of horse chestnut tincture are now well understood. It has beneficial properties to reduce swelling, relieve pain. The course of taking the drug is beneficial when changing lifestyle - eliminating bad habits in food, alcohol, as well as sufficient physical activity.

Everyone knows that horse chestnut effectively helps against varicose veins. But the color of this plant is able to eliminate not only vascular diseases. Traditional healers always harvest chestnut flowers for the future - the healing properties of the phyto-raw materials in question can solve other problems of the body, as well as prevent premature skin aging.

The main healing properties of chestnut color

Fragrant cones appear on the tree in early to mid-May, flowering peaks at the end of this month. This period is considered the most favorable for the collection, fermentation and drying of the described raw materials, the manufacture of medicines from fresh petals.

Chestnut flowers have the following beneficial properties:

strengthening immunity;
increased elasticity of blood vessels and venous walls;
stimulation of the production of hormones produced by the adrenal glands;
improved stress resistance;
antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic action;
normalization of metabolic processes and blood circulation;
relief of clinical symptoms of mastopathy, mastitis;
excretion of radionuclides, salt deposits, heavy metals from the body;
support for the functioning of the digestive tract, intestinal motility;
detoxification.

Useful medicinal properties and use of chestnut flowers

For general strengthening of the body and the protective forces of immunity, cardiac activity, prevention of colds and viral diseases, it is recommended to drink a course of medicine made from fresh inflorescences. For this you need:

Rinse the flowers thoroughly under running water, grind into a pulp using a blender or meat grinder.
Squeeze the resulting mass and drain the juice.
Filter the liquid through gauze or cotton cloth.

This product should be stored in a glass container, preferably opaque and refrigerated. It is recommended to take the medicine 35 drops three times a day, regardless of when you eat.

This traditional medicine effectively calms the nervous system, normalizes blood pressure and heart rate, strengthens capillaries and blood vessels, and rejuvenates the body. Moreover, the beneficial medicinal properties of chestnut flowers stimulate the production of immune cells that protect against the penetration of viruses and bacteria into the mucous membranes. The course of therapy completed at the end of May is excellent, since the effect of the active biological substances of the plant persists until the end of winter.

Useful healing properties of dried chestnut flowers

If desired, you can prepare medicinal raw materials for long-term storage:

Spread freshly picked inflorescences on parchment or clean paper under the sun's rays in one layer.
Leave to dry for 3-4 days until the flowers become brittle and crumbly.
Put the raw materials in a paper bag, store in a dark place at medium room temperature.

In the future, it is useful to prepare vitamin tea or a decoction from dried flowers, which is recommended to be drunk during the day, especially when inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract.

You can also make an alcohol tincture that has a long shelf life:

Wash the fresh flowers and knead them with your hands so that they release the juice.
Fold the mass into a glass jar and pour vodka in a ratio of 1:10.
Insist 20 days in the refrigerator, under a closed lid.
Shake and filter the solution, pour into another container.

The resulting tincture can be used both externally and internally.

In the first case, the area is rubbed with medicine, applied in the form of compresses to sore joints or skin lesions.

Orally, alcohol tincture is applied 30 drops 3 times a day, a course of 2 weeks.

The medicinal properties and contraindications of horse chestnut were first tested by a French doctor in 1896. He successfully applied this medicine for the treatment of hemorrhoids. And he revealed the main value of chestnut - its venotonic, vasoconstrictive properties. The plant prevents the formation of blood clots in the blood vessels. The need for this plant in modern medical practice is increasing every year. Many medicines can be prepared at home, but not a single pharmacy can do without ointments, suppositories, capsules, injections, tablets, tinctures based on horse chestnut. Unfortunately, the number of vascular diseases has increased significantly and "rejuvenated".

Horse chestnut features

What are the health benefits of horse chestnut? What parts of the plant can be used for medicinal purposes? How to prepare raw materials? What diseases can be taken? What can be contraindications?

area

There is no need to give a botanical description of the horse chestnut. Many beloved, beautiful and very ancient tree. On the territory of Europe in the pre-glacial period, there were whole groves of chestnut trees. This species is native to Northern Greece. The tree is found in South, Eastern, Central Europe, grows in India, North America, East Asia, China, Japan. Chestnut is often grown as an ornamental plant. With its crown, beautiful candles in spring, the tree adorns city parks, alleys, and gardens.

Water chestnut does not belong to the Sapindaceae family. So the people call the grass swamp sweet, or Chinese water chestnut. Widely used in cooking, especially in China. Rich in carbohydrates, potassium, manganese, vitamin B6.

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Healing properties are found in all parts of the plant - fruits, fruit peel, leaves, branches, bark, flowers.

When to start harvesting. Horse chestnut flowers are harvested in May-June. Leaves are also recommended to be removed during the flowering period. The fruits are harvested in autumn, and the bark and twigs are harvested in early spring.
Drying Features. Leaves and flowers are dried in natural conditions, avoiding direct sunlight. The fruits are harvested under the trees, shaken, plucked. It can be dried in natural conditions, but in cold and damp conditions, electric dryers are used (however, the temperature should not exceed 25 ° C).
Storage . All parts of the plant can be stored for no more than 1 year, must be protected from moisture.

The use of horse chestnut fruits as feed raw materials has been known for a long time. It is also known that the fruits were endowed with a special magical power - it was supposed to carry 3 fruits in a pocket or in a bag in order to ward off all diseases. And only at the end of the 19th century, the medicinal properties of this plant were discovered, it was officially used in pharmaceuticals and harvested as medicinal raw materials.

healing action

What are the medicinal properties of chestnut flowers? They contain flavonoids, tannins, mucus, pectins, glycosides. The most valuable of the flavonoids is quercetin, which stimulates the processes of tissue metabolism, tones the cardiovascular system, normalizes blood pressure, lowers cholesterol, swelling, and acts as a wound healing agent. It also belongs to strong antioxidants.
What is the value of fruits (seeds)? They contain a lot of glycosides, saponins, thiamine, tannins, fatty oils and vitamin C. The most valuable substance in fruits is escin saponin, which lowers blood viscosity. The glycosidic substance esculin is also valued. It stimulates the production of antithrombin, strengthens capillaries, reduces their permeability, improves blood supply to the veins.

The same beneficial substances are found in the bark, branches and leaves of the tree.

Pharmachologic effect:

hemostatic;
absorbable;
wound healing;
vascular strengthening;
bactericidal;
anti-inflammatory;
astringent;
painkiller;
decongestant;
anticonvulsant;
venotonic.

Indications for use

What symptoms and diseases are treated with horse chestnut with a positive result?

Phlebeurysm. A common disease in which the venous walls become thinner, the lumen of the vessels increases, and nodes form. Varicose veins are most often diagnosed on the lower extremities, although the pathology can be in the esophagus, rectum, and spermatic cord. Horse chestnut with varicose veins strengthens the walls of capillaries and veins, resolves nodes, prevents the formation of blood clots.
ENT organs. Decoctions and infusions wash the nose with sinusitis, disinfect the nasal passages with a runny nose. Also, these funds are good antiseptics for the mouth and throat.
Respiratory system . For colds, SARS, influenza, bronchitis, tracheitis, the remedy can be taken orally for coughing. Chestnut well relieves inflammation of the respiratory system.
Digestive system. The remedy is effective in diseases of the spleen, liver, pancreas, gastritis with high acidity. It has a beneficial effect on the work of digestion, relieves inflammation of the mucous membrane of the digestive tract.
The cardiovascular system. It is useful to drink with atherosclerosis, high cholesterol in the blood. Relieves spasms in blood vessels, is indicated for heart disease, high blood pressure. With thrombophlebitis relieves pain, swelling, dissolves blood clots.
Joints and muscles. Applied externally for the treatment of rheumatism, neuralgia, arthritis.
For women . Since the plant has a hemostatic property, promotes blood clotting, it is prescribed to stop uterine bleeding. With inflammation of the female genital organs, douching and baths from fruit crusts can be prescribed in the complex therapy.
For men . The remedy is useful to drink with inflammation of the prostate gland. Another indication for use is varicocele - an expansion of the veins in the spermatic cord of the inguinal canal. The disease leads to stagnation of blood, a decrease in the number and motility of spermatozoa, which can lead to male infertility. Treatment depends on the severity and stage of the disease. Surgery is usually prescribed.

As a hemostatic agent, horse chestnut is used not only for uterine bleeding, but also for nasal, pulmonary, and intestinal bleeding.

What are the contraindications of horse chestnut? Acute renal, heart failure; increased blood clotting; individual intolerance and allergy to chestnut saponin (escin); gastritis with reduced secretion; chronic constipation. There have been cases of poisoning of children with horse chestnut, so its use inside in childhood is prohibited. Also, this herbal medicine should not be taken during pregnancy, especially in the first trimester.

Preparation and use at home

What is the use of horse chestnut in traditional medicine, pharmaceutical industry, scientific medicine?

Pharmacy preparations

Preparations from horse chestnut are freely sold in pharmacies. However, before using them, a mandatory consultation with a doctor is required.

Liquid extract of horse chestnut "Aescusan". As part of the drug - horse chestnut extract and thiamine. The agent has a pronounced venotonic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and capillary-protective action. It is prescribed for chronic venous insufficiency, they drink a long course (up to 3 months) under the strict supervision of a doctor. Also, the remedy helps with hemorrhoids, cramps, muscle pain, swelling; eliminates the vascular network, hematomas, heals ulcers with thrombophlebitis. It is drunk for the prevention of atherosclerosis, stroke, thrombophlebitis. In addition to the liquid extract, tablets or ointment, gel "Aescusan" are offered.
Candles with dry extract of horse chestnut bark. Assign for hemorrhoids, rectal fissures. Often used in combination with other herbs - belladonna, chamomile, yarrow, gorse, galangal.
Ointment with horse chestnut. An ointment option can be a cream, gel, foot balm. The main indications for use are thrombophlebitis, varicose veins, prevention of thrombosis, edema, vein damage, post-traumatic care. Do not use on open wounds, rashes, skin ulcers. Ointments can only be of plant origin with the addition of other herbs. For example, chestnut and mint go well together. This ointment is used for fatigue, heaviness, swelling in the legs. Often the plant is combined with the leaves of the grape and the ginkgo tree, as well as the synthetic substance troxerutin.

Decoction

Most often, a decoction is prepared from the bark of a tree. It is taken for diarrhea, cough, bronchitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis, inflammation of the liver and spleen, shortness of breath, anemia. Helps with digestive disorders, gastritis with high acidity, hemorrhoids.

Preparation of a decoction of the bark

Take 1 tbsp. l. chestnut bark.
Pour in a glass of boiling water.
Boil 1 minute.
Leave for 1 hour.

Strain the decoction before use. Take 1 tbsp. spoon 3 times a day after meals. Externally used to treat the throat, sinuses.

Preparation of fruit decoction

Take 20 g of crushed fruit (together with the peel of the fruit).
Pour in 2 cups of water.
Boil 10 minutes.
Insist 4 hours.

Must be strained before use. This decoction is often used externally in the form of compresses and lotions for the treatment of purulent wounds, ulcers with thrombophlebitis. It is also prescribed for douching with uterine bleeding, sitz baths and enemas for hemorrhoids.

Infusion

The infusion can be prepared from the bark, fruits, flowers, leaves in the collection or separately.

Fruit peel infusion recipe

Take 1 tbsp. l. crushed raw materials.
Pour in a glass of boiling water.
Leave for 1 hour.
Strain.

This infusion is taken in 1 tsp. 3 times a day after meals.

bark infusion recipe

Take 1 tbsp. l. shredded bark.
Pour in 2 cups of boiling water.
Insist 8 hours.
Strain.

This infusion is taken before meals - ½ cup 4 times a day. Helps with internal bleeding, diarrhea, gastrointestinal diseases.

Fresh Juice

When chestnuts are in bloom, you can make fresh juice. To do this, the flowers need to be crushed with a meat grinder, squeeze the juice through gauze. Juice can be drunk twice a day, 20-30 drops, diluting them in ¼ cup of water. This remedy is most effective for varicose veins in the legs and hemorrhoids.

Tincture

What is the use of horse chestnut tincture? It is an effective medicine for diseases of the joints and muscles. It is used in the form of rubbing for arthrosis, neuralgia, rheumatism, gout.

Chestnut blossom tincture

Take 5 tbsp. l. flowers.
Pour ½ liter of vodka (alcohol 40%).
Insist 14 days.
Strain.

It is an effective pain reliever for joint and muscle pain.

Tincture of chestnut fruit on vodka

Grind 10 ripe fruits.
Pour in ½ liter of vodka.
Strain.

It is used for rubbing, after the procedure it is recommended to insulate painful places.

Oil

An oil extract from chestnut can be purchased at a phytopharmacy, but you can also prepare it yourself from flowers and fruits of a tree. To enhance the therapeutic effect, it is recommended to make an extract in grape seed oil. But you can use any other vegetable oil.

How to make horse chestnut oil

Take 2 tbsp. l. crushed raw materials.
Pour 10 tbsp. l. grape seed oils.
Insist 14 days in a warm place.
Strain.

It has a venotropic effect, it is used externally (rubbed into the skin) in courses of 10 days. It helps not only with varicose veins, but also strengthens the walls of capillaries, eliminates the vascular network on the face, relieves leg fatigue, muscle and joint pain. It acts as a lymphatic drainage agent, enhances the outflow of lymph, so it is used for cellulite, swelling.

Honey

It is known that the chestnut is an excellent honey plant. Moreover, horse chestnut and sowing give different varieties of honey, but both are valued as a medicine. What are the characteristics of chestnut honey?

From horse chestnut. Transparent, liquid, quickly crystallizes, it is usually not left to the bees for the winter. Therefore, all honey is considered marketable.
From seed chestnut. Tart, bitter taste. Dark in color, sparse, slowly crystallizes. The aroma is reminiscent of the smell of chestnut flowers. Leave for the winter for bees.
medicinal use. Like any honey, it has biocidal properties, helps with inflammation of the respiratory system, digestion, urinary system. Supports the cardiovascular system, normalizes blood pressure. It is taken orally for varicose veins, thrombophlebitis, atherosclerosis. A powerful natural antioxidant, promotes the removal of toxins and toxins.

Application in cooking

Horse chestnuts are used only for medicinal purposes, they are not suitable for human consumption - bitter, astringent in taste. Sometimes in the form of flour they are mixed into animal feed. Edible chestnuts include fruits from other families of the tree. The most famous of them is the sowing chestnut, or real, edible, noble (belongs to the beech family). This tree loves a humid, warm subtropical climate - the Mediterranean, Asia Minor, the Caucasus. In Russia, this tree can be found on the Black Sea coast, more often in the Tuapse region. For example, in France, where they love the fried fruits of this tree, they brought out a separate variety of chestnut - kugurdon. Every year in France in October, the chestnut festival is celebrated. In France, these fruits are eaten raw, fried, boiled, baked, added to meat and vegetable dishes. Delicacies are prepared from them - ice cream, cake, cakes, sweets.

Common horse chestnut is the first remedy for diseases of the cardiovascular system. It is mainly used for varicose veins, including hemorrhoids, for rheumatic, arthritic pains. This is a valuable raw material not only in traditional medicine, but also in pharmaceuticals. Medicines are prepared from it in the form of a liquid extract, ointments, balms, gels, tablets, rectal suppositories.