Horse Chestnut

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Horse Chestnut

Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum), pronounced as /ˈhɔːrs ˈtʃɛst.nʌt/, is a species of flowering plant in the soapberry and lychee family Sapindaceae. It is native to a small area in the mountains of the Balkans in southeast Europe, in particular in northern Greece, Albania, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Bulgaria.

Etymology

The term "Horse Chestnut" is believed to have originated from the erroneous belief that the tree was a kind of chestnut (it is not closely related to the true chestnuts in the genus Castanea), together with the observation that the Turks used to feed the seeds to their ailing horses.

Description

The Horse Chestnut is a large deciduous tree, growing to about 36 metres (118 ft) tall with a domed crown of stout branches. The leaves are opposite and palmately compound, with 5–7 leaflets. The flowers are usually white with a small red spot; they are produced in spring in erect panicles 10–30 cm tall with about 20–50 flowers on each panicle.

Medical Uses

Horse Chestnut seeds, bark, flowers, and leaves are used to make medicine. Horse Chestnut contains significant amounts of a poison called esculin and can cause death if eaten raw. Be aware that the raw seed, leaf, bark, and flower of the horse chestnut tree are also toxic due to the presence of esculin, which can cause vomiting, nausea, headache, and paralysis.

Horse Chestnut is used for varicose veins, hemorrhoids, and swollen veins (phlebitis). It is also used for diarrhea, fever, and enlarged prostate. Some people apply horse chestnut branches over the skin for joint pain, swelling, and bruises.

Related Terms

  • Aescin: A mixture of saponins found in the Horse Chestnut, possessing anti-inflammatory properties.
  • Sapindaceae: The soapberry family to which the Horse Chestnut belongs.
  • Castanea: The genus of the true chestnuts, to which the Horse Chestnut is not closely related.

External links

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