Is Horse Chestnut Edible or Poisonous?

by Abbas Jahangir · November 19, 2024

Horse Chestnut: Not Consumed Raw, Should Be Used Externally

Horse chestnut is a type of tree that has been used for centuries in both modern medicine and alternative treatment methods thanks to its healing effects. Every part of this miraculous tree, from its seeds to its leaves, from its flowers to its bark, is beneficial for human health.

So is it safe to consume horse chestnut just for its benefits? What are the benefits of horse chestnut, what are its features and areas of use? All these questions, as well as all the information you are curious about horse chestnut, are waiting for you in the rest of our article.

What is Horse Chestnut?

Horse chestnut, Latin name Aesculus Hippocastanum, is a tree species belonging to the Sapindaceae family.
The homeland of this tree species, which has been used in modern and folk medicine from past to present, is the Balkan Peninsula.
The horse chestnut tree grows in the Pindus Mountains forests and the Balkan mixed forests of South-Eastern Europe. It can also be found in many parks and gardens in Sweden, the United States and Canada.
The horse chestnut tree can grow up to 39 meters. Its leaves are broad and usually 13-20 cm long.
The branches of old horse chestnut trees are often twisted, leaving their ends drooping.
Its flowers are usually found at the base of the leaves. Its yellow, pink spotted and white flowers are striking. Each inflorescence contains around 20 to 50 flowers. The blooming season is spring.
Each flower cluster grows 1-5 fruits. These fruits are called horse chestnuts. The green seeds are surrounded by thorns.
The seeds obtained from this tree are used in traditional medicine to reduce high fever, combat bowel and bladder problems, and relieve joint pain and soft tissue swelling.
Today, horse chestnut is used especially in the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency and hemorrhoids.

Can You Eat Horse Chestnuts?

Horse chestnut has many health benefits. Many people who want to benefit from these benefits ask the question, “Can horse chestnut be eaten?” The answer to this question is really important.
Yes, as we mentioned above, the fruit, flower, bark, seed, in short almost every part of the horse chestnut tree is used in medicine and cream production.
However, horse chestnuts contain a poison called esculin, so consuming them raw can lead to death. Therefore, horse chestnuts should never be consumed raw.
The substance esculin is dangerous because it causes DNA damage. It can cause headaches, nausea, paralysis, coma and death. For this reason, horse chestnut is not a plant that is widely used and preferred by the public.
It is known that in some geographies, fresh leaves are used to make sarma. Again, in some regions, the leaves are chopped into small pieces and brewed as tea.
However, it is not right to say that these uses are safe. Horse chestnut should be processed by experts who know and understand this plant.

Raw horse chestnut consumption is not recommended, but it can be consumed after going through some processes. So what are these processes?

Horse chestnut is first dried. Then it is ground into powder. This mixture is used in the treatment of diseases such as hemorrhoids, varicose veins and diarrhea under the supervision of a specialist.
Usually, a tablespoon of horse chestnut powder is added to a glass of drinking water. This prepared drink is consumed one glass a day. However, you should still be cautious.
If horse chestnut is accidentally consumed, the nearest health institution should be consulted.

What is Horse Chestnut Used For?

Parts of horse chestnut such as seeds, flowers, leaves and bark are used in the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries. Horse chestnut has an important place especially in the cosmetics sector.

Today, horse chestnuts are used to produce various products such as horse chestnut cream, horse chestnut balsam, horse chestnut oil, horse chestnut gel , etc. You can easily obtain these products from dermo cosmetics stores and herbalists. The most popular of these products are horse chestnut balsam and horse chestnut oil.

So what is the use of horse chestnut balm?

Horse chestnut balm, when applied to the body through massage, relieves muscle and joint pain. Thanks to this feature, it is an ideal product especially for rheumatism patients.
It has positive effects on the skin. It tightens the skin and delays the signs of aging. It reduces the appearance of skin spots caused by sun exposure.

Now it’s time for horse chestnut oil. Let’s look at the answers to the question “what is horse chestnut cream used for?” together!

Horse chestnut can be applied to both skin and hair.
When applied to the skin through massage, it helps the skin look younger and healthier.
It shrinks skin pores and delays signs of aging.
If you want to use horse chestnut oil for hair care, you can use it by dropping a few drops into your shampoo. In this way, you will give your hair horse chestnut care with every wash.
Horse chestnut oil prevents hair loss.
It makes the hair look brighter and more vibrant and also helps it grow faster.