Horse chestnut trees are grown worldwide. Historically, horse chestnut seed extract was used for joint pain, bladder and gastrointestinal problems, fever, and leg cramps.
Today, people use horse chestnut extract as a dietary supplement for chronic venous insufficiency (when the veins of the lower leg are unable to send blood back toward the heart), haemorrhoids, and swelling after surgery. Preparations made from the tree’s bark are applied to skin sores.
Usable parts of the plant include the seed, bark, and leaf, but seed extracts are most common.
Preliminary evidence from one Chinese study suggested that escin, the main ingredient
In horse chestnut may help restore fertility in some men.
Properly processing horse chestnut seed extract removes esculin. The processed extract is considered generally safe when used for short periods of time. However, the extract can cause some side effects, including itching, nausea, gastrointestinal upset, muscle spasm, or headache.
Be warned if not used properly it is a poison.
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