Do you suffer from blood circulation or other vascular problems? Do you favour natural remedies? You might be interested to learn about horse chestnut then! Read on the post to know more about this Spanish species that offers relief from many vascular ailments.
Horse chestnut is a tree native to Eastern Europe, but it is seen throughout the temperate zones in the Northern hemisphere today. Popular for its use in the treatment of vascular problems, horse chestnut offers an array of health benefits (1).
Some of the Horse chestnut benefits include:
The species is a fine source of antioxidants. In Turkish folk medicine, horse chestnut tea finds it use in treating various ailments. The rich antioxidant content makes the nut ideal for treating cough, cold and assisting the body in sweeping out the free radicals (2).
This Spanish chestnut contains high percentage of dietary fibre, which makes it an excellent tool for combating constipation, gas problems; thereby enabling healthy digestion. Dietary fibre benefits the body in other ways too (3).
Horse chestnut acts as a traditional remedy for arthritis and rheumatism. This property makes it an essential part of the diet for those with low bone density or weak joints. The nut extract is used for treating such conditions (4).
Horse chestnut contains a compound called aescin, known to have prospective benefits. The compound is effective in relieving post-operative trauma and reducing inflammation. Horse chestnut owes its anti-inflammatory characteristic to this special compound.
The presence of aescin also helps in faster healing of the wound and reducing the incidence of adhesions (5).
Horse chestnut exhibits many tonic properties and is excellent for promoting vein health (6). Studies prove its efficacy in treating chronic venous inefficiency (CVI), a condition where the veins are unable to return blood effectively from the legs to the heart.
The native of Balkan Peninsula is rich source of minerals like magnesium, manganese, phosphorous, zinc, iron, and calcium. Iron promotes better oxygenation of the blood and organs and also prevents anaemia. Other minerals like calcium promote bone health. Magnesium helps you overcome nervous disorders and conditions like insomnia (7).
You need to use the chestnut products with caution. If you aren’t careful about its intake, the horse chestnut can sometimes cause side effects such as dizziness, headaches and itching. Other demerits of these nuts include:
Horse chestnut can drastically lower blood sugar levels. If you are a diabetic, you need to keep a check on your sugar level count.
Horse Chestnut might slower the rate of normal blood clotting. If you suffer from bleeding disorders or other bleeding-related conditions, higher consumption of the nut can increase the risk of bruising and bleeding.
Sometimes, horse chestnut can also lead to liver injuries. If you suffer from liver conditions, it is not advisable to take this nut.
Its seeds and bark can cause obstruction in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Those suffering from stomach or bowel disorders are advised not to take the horse chestnuts.
If you are allergic to latex, you might be allergic to horse chestnut as well. It’s better to avoid the nut.
Horse chestnut can also make kidney disease worse. If you suffer from kidney conditions, avoid using horse chestnut.
It is not recommended to ingest the raw seed, bark, flower or leaf of the horse chestnut directly under any circumstances. It is potentially fatal! There is little information on the safety of using horse chestnut seed extract while nursing, even if the poisonous esculin has been removed from the seed. Stay away from horse chestnut when you are nursing (8).
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