What Are Horse Chestnuts Used For?

Historically, horse chestnut seed extract was used for joint pain, bladder and gastrointestinal problems, fever, leg cramps, and other conditions.

What can we do with horse chestnuts?

Horse chestnut leaves have been used by herbalists as a cough remedy and to reduce fevers. The leaves were also believed to reduce pain and inflammation of arthritis and rheumatism. In traditional herbal medicine, poultices of the seeds have been used topically to treat skin ulcers and skin cancer.

Why are horse chestnuts not edible?

While cultivated or wild sweet chestnuts are edible, horse chestnuts are toxic, and can cause digestive disorders such as abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, or throat irritation.

Who should not take horse chestnut?

Don’t use it if you have a bowel or stomach disorder. Liver disease: There is one report of liver injury associated with using horse chestnut. If you have a liver condition, it is best to avoid horse chestnut. Latex allergy: People who are allergic to latex might also be allergic to horse chestnut.

How much horse chestnut is poisonous?

All parts of the horse chestnut tree are toxic, but the greatest concern is for horse chestnut seeds. These can be easily mistaken for edible chestnuts. Horse chestnut seed pods usually contain only one seed, while edible chestnut pods contain multiple seeds. Eating horse chestnuts can result in serious stomach upset.

Do horse chestnuts taste good?

Chestnuts have long, narrow leaves; horse chestnuts have big, compound ones composed of five to nine leaflets sharing a common stem. Another difference: Chestnuts are starchy (and edible). Horse chestnuts taste horribly bitter. In a word: inedible.

Why do people collect horse chestnuts?

Uses of horse chestnut
Various extracts from horse chestnut leaves and fruits contain the active ingredients aescin and aesculin, and are marketed as herbal remedies because of their anti-inflammatory properties.

What happens if you eat cooked horse chestnuts?

Sweet chestnuts are edible, but horse chestnuts are poisonous. If eaten, they can cause digestive problems such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and throat irritation.

Does it hurt to peel horse chestnut?

You don’t really have to trim them. But if you’re so inclined, you can trim them without causing the horse any pain. Don’t try to remove them entirely, and don’t trim any deeper than skin level or above. Just peel them off layer by layer with your hands or fingernails.

What happens if you eat chestnuts raw?

Raw chestnuts are safe to eat for most people. However, they do contain tannic acid, which means they could cause stomach irritation, nausea, or liver damage if you have liver disease or experience a lot of kidney problems.

Can humans eat horse chestnuts?

Horse chestnuts, also called conkers, are very different nuts. Are horse chestnuts edible? They are not. In general, toxic horse chestnuts should not be consumed by people, horses, or other livestock.

Is horse chestnut good for blood pressure?

Its actions are unique and fascinating. On the one hand, horse chestnut seed extract relaxes the endothelial lining of capillaries³, enhancing friendly nitric oxide production, and reducing inflammation⁴. This generally supports appropriate pressure or push coming from the arteries (healthy blood pressure).

Does horse chestnut improve circulation?

Using Horse Chestnut to Treat Venous Insufficiency
Aescin, a compound found in Horse Chestnut seed extract, has anti-inflammatory and other properties that can improve blood circulation. This extract can prove beneficial for patients suffering from venous insufficiency.

How do you prepare horse chestnuts to eat?

You can also try roasting them over an open fire or grill—though technically nestling them in the embers is best to prevent scorching. Depending on the temperature of the embers, this process can take anywhere from 15-30 minutes. Cooked nuts should be tender, sweet and peel easily.

What’s the difference between chestnuts and horse chestnuts?

Sweet chestnuts and conkers – what’s the difference? Sweet chestnut and horse chestnut trees are not actually related, but their seeds are similar. Both come in green shells, but horse chestnut cases have short, stumpy spikes all over. Inside, the conkers are round and glossy.

Can pigs eat Buckeyes?

Buckeye contains a glycoside that when combined with moisture — as in your stomach — produces a poisonous derivative. Pigs, horses, sheep and children have been poisoned by them, with symptoms including inflammation of the mucous membranes, vomiting, twitching and paralysis.

What are horse chestnuts called in America?

The horse chestnut’s fruit is colloquially called a “conker” and refers to the shiny brown, poisonous seed that is protected by a green spiny capsule (“Kew royal botanical”).

Are chestnuts healthier than almonds?

Chestnuts are mostly carbohydrates. Because carbohydrates have fewer calories per gram than fat—4 calories vs. 9 calories—chestnuts are far lower in calories than other nuts. A half cup of chestnuts has 175 calories compared with 414 calories for a half cup of almonds.

Can dogs eat horse chestnuts?

All parts of the horse chestnut tree are poisonous and could make your dog ill. The toxin is found in the seeds (conkers), leaves, bark and flowers.

Why do horse chestnuts keep spiders away?

The horse chestnut seeds contain a chemical called triterpenoid saponin that wards off pesky pests.

Are chestnut trees worth money?

In particular, folks often want to know if the wood could be American chestnut, because chestnut was a common species in the past but is now rare and the wood can be valuable.