A gentle and complementary traditional use

Horse chestnut leaf is sometimes combined with other draining or relaxing plants. It helps soothe the heaviness associated with standing, or minor peripheral circulation discomfort when used externally, particularly in the form of a bath or local infusion.

Description

Brown-green to light brown leaves, coarsely cut, dry texture, herbaceous vegetal odor, neutral to slightly bitter taste.

Nomenclature

• Common name: Horse chestnut
• Latin name: Aesculus hippocastanum
• Family: Sapindaceae
• Part used: Leaf
• Shape: Cut
• Origin: Europe
• English name: Horse chestnut leaf
• German name: Rosskastanienblatt
• Name in Spanish: Hoja de castaño de Indias
• Name in Italian: Foglia di ippocastano
• Name in Arabic: ورق كستناء الحصان

Main virtues

Gentle draining, soothing, circulatory supplement, moderate plant tonic.

Main constituents

Flavonoids, tannins, traces of saponins, phenolic compounds, light mucilages.

Traditional use and dosage

• Infusion: 1 to 2 teaspoons of leaves for 250 ml of simmering water. Infuse for 8 to 10 minutes. 1 to 3 times a day.
• Foot bath: A large handful of leaves in decoction (10 min), to be added to lukewarm bath water.
• Poultice: Leaves infused in a warm, damp cloth to be applied to the affected areas.

Precautions, side effects and contraindications

• Plant well tolerated in everyday use. Moderate use recommended.
• Not to be confused with seeds or bark, the use of which is more regulated.

History and use

Horse chestnut has been featured in European pharmacopoeias for centuries. While its seeds and bark are better known, the leaf has always been used in external treatments, baths, and soothing herbal teas in rural traditions.

Miscellaneous information

• Packaging: lined kraft bag or airtight opaque jar.
• Storage: cool, dry, away from light.
• Shelf life: 12 to 18 months.

Sources and references

• Pl@ntUse – https://uses.plantnet-project.org
• Traditional European herbalism
• Texts on the external uses of horse chestnut

Note to project creators and formulators:

Please note that we do not provide any technical documentation (datasheet, certificate, analysis, etc.) for quantities less than 1 kg. Documentation is reserved exclusively for registered professionals (SIRET number or equivalent required) and for clearly identified projects. Thank you for your understanding.

🔎 Information

The products on aromacentre.fr are not medicines. They are natural, plant-based treatments. All usage advice on our site is for informational purposes only. Any additional requests should be made to a qualified healthcare professional. In accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 on nutrition and health claims made on foods, we are unable to publish this information on the site. Taking this product does not exempt you from consulting a doctor or prescribing it. Ask your doctor or healthcare practitioner for advice. Be sure to read the precautions for use before using any medicinal plants. The use of herbal preparations is not recommended without consulting your doctor or pharmacist. The substances they contain may interact with medications prescribed by the patient, reducing their therapeutic effectiveness or causing toxicity. They can also worsen the weakening of the body's vital functions, thus exposing the patient to increased morbidity and life-threatening risks.

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