HORSE CHESTNUT

Horse chestnut contains significant amounts of a poison called esculin & can cause death if eaten raw.

Horse chestnut seed, bark, flower & leaves can be used to make medicine.
Horse-chestnut is rich in vitamin K .
Horse chestnut seed & leaf are used for treating varicose veins, hemorrhoids & swollen veins.
The herb is anti-inflammatory which decreases swelling & astringent which reduces bleeding & adds tone to connective tissue.
Much of the medicinal value of horse chestnut is attributed to the phytochemical aescin, which has a stabilizing action on veins & capillaries. This strengthening of veins improves circulation to areas of cellulite & heals bruising.

Horse chestnut seed is used for diarrhea, fever & enlarged prostate.
Horse chestnut seeds can be processed so that the active chemicals are separated out & concentrated. The resulting “extract” is used for treating a blood circulation problem called chronic venous insufficiency.
A tea made from horse chestnut is a staple of Turkish folk medicine & used to relieve an upset stomach & pass kidney stones, they also use the seeds to alleviate hemorrhoid symptoms.
A fluid extract from the fruit protects against sunburn.
Peeled roasted nuts can be brewed for diarrhea & prostate ailments.
Special preparations of the seeds are also believed to prevent thrombosis & rheumatism, not to mention bronchitis, gastritis & gastroenteritis.

Horse chestnut leaf is used for eczema, menstrual pain, soft tissue swelling from bone fracture & sprains, cough, arthritis & joint pain.
In ancient China, horse chestnut leaves have marked narcotic tendencies: a cupful of standard infusion reputed to ensure a deep, calm sleep.
Leaf tea is a tonic; used for fevers, colds, malaria, dysentery & externally for lupus & skin ulcers.
The leaves were also believed to reduce pain & inflammation of arthritis & rheumatism.
Poultices of the seeds have been used topically to treat skin ulcers & skin cancer.

Horse chestnut branch bark is used for malaria & dysentery.
Some people apply horse chestnut branch bark to the skin for lupus & skin ulcers.

PRECAUTIONS:

Pollen from the horse chestnut flower can cause allergic reactions.

Raw horse chestnut seed, bark, flower & leaf are unsafe & can even cause death when taken by mouth. Signs of poisoning include stomach upset, kidney problems, muscle twitching, weakness, loss of coordination, enlarged eye pupils, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, paralysis & stupor.
Avoid using horse chestnut if you are pregnant or nursing.
Horse chestnut might lower blood sugar. If you have diabetes, watch for signs of too low blood sugar & check your blood sugar carefully.
Horse chestnut seeds & bark can irritate the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Don’t use it if you have bowel or stomach disorders.
Topically, Horse Chestnut has been associated with rare cases of allergic skin reactions.
Horse chestnut should be avoided by anyone with liver or kidney disease unless under the supervision of a qualified health care practitioner.

RECIPES:

Sticky buds can be used to make a simple tincture which is helpful in dealing with mental chatter, easing repetitive thoughts or worrisome behaviors:

Pick 6- 8 sticky buds.
Place them in a stainless steel or
glass saucepan & cover with water.
Cover & bring to the boil slowly.
Simmer for about 20 minutes.
Remove the saucepan from the heat &
cool.
Lift 50 ml into a 100 ml sterilized glass bottle.
Add 50 ml brandy to the infusion to
help preservation.

Take 4 drops under the tongue or in water or fruit juice 3- 4 times a day or every half hour in a crisis.

Horse Chestnut Infused Oil:   

Make it from conkers, bark or fresh new leaves gathered before the tree begins to flower.
Place the horse chestnut into the top half of a double boiler saucepan & cover with olive oil. Cover & place inside the other saucepan which is about half filled with water.
Heat the external saucepan so that the water gently boils. Do not let the pan boil dry! Boil for about 2- 3 hours, then remove the inner pan & strain off the oil, squeezing the horse chestnut if you can to remove as much oil as possible.
Strain the oil into a heated, sterile glass bottle or jar & cap with a screw top lid.

Horse Chestnut Bath:

Cover 1 kg of chopped husks & nuts with water & bring briefly to the boil, cover & turn off heat.
Leave for 30 minutes then add strained liquid to bath water.
A decoction of the spiky husk as well as the nuts added to a foot bath or full bath increases blood circulation to the area immersed & also helps with frostbite & haemorrhoids.

MAGIC:

When the spines of the chestnut burr are long & the burr itself is unusually thick,it is a sign of a cold & long winter.
Good luck goes with a horse chestnut. They are good things to carry around.
Dried chestnuts are the emblems of success, victory & conquest in Japanese superstition.