Horse Chestnut

    Researchedby:
    Kamal Patel
    Last Updated: October 13, 2024

    Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) is a plant extract with a group of molecules known as aescins, which are beneficial to circulatory health. Supplementation of horse chestnut appears to be beneficial for varicose veins and veinous insufficiency.

    Horse Chestnut is most often used for Cardiovascular Health. The Examine Database covers Chronic Venous Insufficiency and Hemorrhoids.

    369 participants in 3 trials and 1 meta-analysis

    What are other names for Horse Chestnut

    Note that Horse Chestnut is also known as:
    • Aesculus hippocastanum
    • Conker tree
    • Rosskastanie
    • venostasin

    Dosage information

    Horse chestnut tends to be taken in the 400-600mg range, although it seems that the overall dose is less important than the standardization for aescin which should ultimately reach 100-150mg daily.

    Supplementation tends to be divided into two daily doses divided by 12 hours (so, a morning and evening dose at 8am and 8pm as an example), which is due to the active components (aescins) requiring about 12 hours to reach baseline concentrations.

    Examine Database: Horse Chestnut

    Research Breakdown

    Examine Database References

    1. Leg Edema - Diehm C, Trampisch HJ, Lange S, Schmidt CComparison of leg compression stocking and oral horse-chestnut seed extract therapy in patients with chronic venous insufficiencyLancet.(1996 Feb 3)
    2. Leg Edema - Rainer KochComparative study of Venostasin and Pycnogenol in chronic venous insufficiencyPhytother Res.(2002 Mar)
    3. Leg Edema - Pittler MH, Ernst EHorse chestnut seed extract for chronic venous insufficiencyCochrane Database Syst Rev.(2006 Jan 25)
    4. Hemorrhoids Symptoms - Pirard J, Gillet P, Guffens JM, Defrance PDouble blind study of reparil in proctologyRev Med Liege.(1976 May 15)