Herbs Guide

Horse Chestnut

Family Name: Sapindaceae

Botanical Name(s): Aesculus hippocastanum

Popular Name(s): Hippocastanum vulgare, Common Horse-chestnut

Parts Used: Bark and fruit

Habitat: Horse Chestnut is found in Europe and Asia.

Description: Horse Chestnut is a large deciduous tree with a grayish-green bark and grows to a height of 36 m. Its leaves are opposite; palmately compound, with 5-7 leaflets, each having a length of 10-25 cm. Its flowers are mostly white, with a reddish tinge and the fruits are in the form of green, softly spiky capsule which, generally, contain one nut-like seeds called horse chestnuts.

Uses: Horse Chestnut bark has narcotic and febrifuge properties. It is used in intermittent fevers and externally applied to ulcers. The fruits are used in rheumatism, neuralgia and haemorrhoids.