Horse Chestnut

Horse Chestnut Ointment

Very good for varicose veins and bruising

Herbs:

2 parts (by volume) dried horse chestnut leaf (easiest to pick), bark,

or sliced-up dried fruit (need to be sliced before you dry them)

1 part (by volume) dried young oak leaf (picked when still soft green;

handle carefully, they get brown where you press them.)

1 part (by volume) dried calendula flowers.

1 litre olive or sunflower oil

100-150 g dried herb

Horse Chestnut

Aesculus hippocastanum

The parts used are the fruits (conkers) and the young leaves. The conkers contain saponins and coumarins. Preparations of horse chestnut can be made for both internal and external applications. It is perfectly safe to use externally on unbroken skin, but needs to be used under professional supervision if taken internally as there can be quite serious side effects from taking too high a dose.

Primary use is as a venous tonic. Used both internally and topically for varicose insufficiency, varicose, eczema, varicose veins, piles. It should be used cautiously with blood thinning agents. Probably OK with aspirin, but don't use if taking warfarin. Also, do not use if there is any renal or hepatic impairment.

Actions:

Astringent - especially to vein walls
Anti-inflammatory
Anti-oedema
Reduces capilliary permeability
Anti-pyretic

Uses:

Varicose veins
Phlebitis
Piles
Externally for acne rosea and broken blood vessels in the face

Components:

Coumarin (aesculetin), Saponins (aescin), tannins, flavonoids.