| Common Names | Conker Tree, Horse-Chestnut |
|---|---|
| Description | |
| Locations | Mountainous Epirus (gorges rocky gullies of Pindos) |
| Clinical Summary | |
| Contraindications | The consumption of the fresh fruit shells, may cause poisoning with symptoms as gastroenteritis, mydriasis, facial redness and drowsiness. Allergic reactions, headache, stomach upset, dizziness and itching may be occured. |
| Active Substance | essential oil aesculoside (glycoside) proanthocyanidin kaempherol fraxine aesculin flavonoids (quercetin) triterpenoid saponins as aescigenine (aescine) |
| Active Substance Plant Part | Fruits |
| Adverse Reaction | |
| Educational Research | |
| Interaction | |
| Features Description | Aesculus hippocastanum is a perennial tree growing up to 35m, with large, palmate, dark green leaves and white flowers with yellow or red spots. The flowering lasts from May to June and the harvesting takes place from September to October |
| Method Administration | The plant is administered as diuretic in the form of tincture (2,5 ml three times a day). Also, it is commercially available in the form of tablets and herbal tea (2-3 spoons of dried herb in a cup of boiled water, 2 -3 times a day). The extract of the fruits is used for the preparation of creams and ointments, which are administered against cosmetic and medical skin problems such as cellulite, skin aging and photoprotection.Warning: The use of herb preparations is not recommended without seeking advice from your physician or pharmacist. The substances they contain may interact with the subscribed drugs that the patient already takes, thus eliminating their therapeutic efficacy or inducing toxicity. They may also burden further weakened vital functions of the body thus exposing the patient to increased morbidity and life threatened conditions. |
| Pharmacological Info | The whole plant has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antirheumatic and diuretic properties. It is recommended to patients who suffer from congestive heart failure, chronic venous insufficiency and various venous circulation disorders (such as varicose veins, haemorrhoids, edema in legs and arms, lymphedema). Also it is used for the treatment of gastritis, enteritis, rheumatism and prostate. Finally, the extract of the fruits is used as sun filter in sunscreens. |
| Pharmacological Use | |
| Mechanism Action | |
| References | Bιβλίο: Τα φαρμακευτικά βότανα και οι θεραπευτικές τους ιδιότητες, Λάμπρου Π. Σπύρου, Αγροτικός εκδοτικός οίκος, Αθήνα 1981, A' τόμος, σελίδες: 49-50 Βιβλίο: Οδηγός των φαρμακευτικών φυτών, Paul Schauenberg, Ferdinand Paris, Εκδότης Μ. Γκιούρδας, Αθήνα 1981, σελίδες 248-249, http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-1055-horse%20chestnut.aspx?activeingredientid=1055&activeingredientname=horse%20chestnut http://abchomeopathy.com/r.php/Aesc http://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-horse-chestnut.html http://www.medicinenet.com/horse_chestnut_aesculus_hippocastanum-oral/article.htm |
| Research |
