Horse Chestnut Extract

The horse chestnut extract or the horse chestnut herb comes from the beautiful horse chestnut tree.

This tree produces fruits that have one to three large nuts. (The horse chestnut is also known as the Spanish chestnut.)

It's been used for literally hundreds of years for various ailments, which we'll discuss momentarily.

Horse chestnut extract is enormously popular for treating various conditions in Europe, especially Germany, where it is very commonly used along with other herbal interventions.

Its popularity in the US is growing and will continue to gain awareness as a healthy substitute to side-effect laden drugs.

Benefits of Horse Chestnut Extract

So, what are the benefits of the horse chestnut extract? Its been used for a couple of hundred of years for ailments caused by weakening and fragile veins and lacking blood circulation including hemorrhoids and varicose veins.

The benefits of horse chestnut herb trace back to the main therapeutic ingredient known as aescin. What does aescin do?

It reduces inflammation and strengthens the vein walls, thus allowing blood to flow back to the heart better. Aescin actually helps to "plug up" very small hones and even microscopic leaks in the venules and in the capillaries. Horse chestnut herb is also believed to not only tone the vein walls but to improve their strength and elasticity. Specifically, horse chestnut extract can help to:

• Relieve symptoms of varicose veins including cramps, swollen legs (edema), etc.
• Minimizes hemorrhoid problems by reducing hemorrhoids. Horse chestnut extract is able to reduce the swelling in the vein by strengthening all veins within the body, including those relating to hemorrhoids.
• An ancillary benefit is it strengthens the heart as blood flow is better and the heart doesn't have to pump as hard.
• Another benefit is better circulation.

Horse Chestnut Herb Precautions & Guidelines

We believe it is always safe to err on the side of caution. With that in mind, before using any supplement or potent herbal compound, we strongly recommend you talk to your doctor or medical professional first.

 Medicinal herbs are very powerful compounds and have high concentrations of active compounds that could adversely affect any over-the-counter medication you are currently using.

As such, they can either amplify or lessen the desired effects of the drug.

Therefore, we advise you talk to your doctor first. Pregnant or nursing mothers should not take horse chestnut extract without first consulting with a physician either.

IMPORTANT WARNING:
Be careful that you don't confuse the nuts from the horse chestnut tree with the sweet chestnut tree. The sweet chestnut tree bears very tasty chestnuts that are roasted (we used to eat them almost daily while temporarily living in Korea).

Most importantly, don't ever take the seeds right off the tree for a home remedy intervention as the seeds as well as other parts of the tree area actually poisonous. For the horse chestnut herb to be safe, it needs to be treated so as to extract the key active compounds, which are then used for various ailments.

Buy only pharmaceutical grade quality products in general, and horse chestnut extract should be no exception.

Look for 15 to 25% range aescin products. Horse chestnut herb can be found as a powder, cream, capsule, gel, liquid, as a lotion, as a tea, and as an ointment. Doctors recommend you should only use horse chestnut products that are standardized to 50mg aescin per dose.

For those suffering with hemorrhoids and/or varicose veins, take 250 mg extract capsules twice a day or one teaspoon liquid extract twice a day. Be advised that horse chestnut may interfere with blood thinners you may be taking like aspirin, gingko biloba, and warfarin.

Side effects? Stomach upset is not uncommon, especially if taken on an empty stomach. Complications, though, appear to be quite uncommon as long as its properly prepared. Nausea and headaches have also been reported. If this happens, lessen the dosage or stop taking it entirely.

Lastly, if you have a liver or kidney issue or health-related problem, talk to a doctor before taking horse chestnut extract.

I hope this Horse Chestnut Extract web page has been useful to you.

Yours in health,
Nutritional-Supplement-Bible.com