Much of the research is small studies and based on animals.
Raw horse chestnut seeds should never be consumed, as they are known to contain a toxic component calledaesculin.
Standardized horse chestnut seed extracts and supplements have had this toxic component removed for safety.
Getty Images / Jon Anderson
This may be due to one bioactive component of horse chestnut called aescin (escin).
Horse chestnut was also safe for most participants, with no side effects reported across studies within the review.
Few other studies have been performed on horse chestnut for CVI since this review was published in 2015.
Updated research should be conducted to continue to further explain horse chestnut’s role in CVI.
Male Infertility
A small amount of research has shown that horse chestnut may improve symptoms ofmale infertility.
Participants in the escin group took escin orally at 60 milligrams (mg) daily for two months.
More research is necessary to determine whether horse chestnut and its bioactive compounds can improve male infertility.
Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoidsare characterized by swollen veins inside or outside the anus and rectum.
Symptoms include itching, swelling, pain, and rectal bleeding.
Escin has proven effective in curbing swelling and inflammation, as well as improving vein tone and circulation.
Additionally, treatment using isolated escin has been well tolerated with few side effects.
More study is needed.
Using topical escin has been associated with better mobility, reducedswelling, and reduced pain in small-scale human trials.
However, it remains unclear whether the amount of escin found in horse chestnut extracts could produce similar effects.
Human studies are needed.
More studies are needed before agents like escin can be recommended for medicinal purposes.
These side effects can be mild or severe.
Typically, your risk of side effects increases with improper supplement use.
Taking high doses or using horse chestnut for too long may increase this risk.
These severe side effects can include:
Instances of severe reactions to horse chestnut are very rare.
Yet, it’s important to be aware that such side effects are possible.
Precautions
Horse chestnut may not be right for everyone.
Some people should avoid using horse chestnut for various reasons.
Consuming raw horse chestnut may lead to toxicity.
Horse chestnut may not be safe for people who arepregnantorbreastfeeding.
There isn’t enough evidence to know if horse chestnut is safe for children.
It’s best to play it safe and avoid giving children horse chestnut.
People with medical conditions or who take prescription medications should talk with a healthcare provider before using horse chestnut.
It may make certain conditions worse or negatively interact with some medications.
However, there is no strong evidence regarding people with medical conditions using horse chestnut.
However, a few possible interactions are known to exist.
Dosage
Oral horse chestnut supplements are mostly sold as tablets or capsules.
There are also topical horse chestnut options, including creams, oils, and gels.
There isn’t muchdosageinformation for horse chestnut supplements.
More research is necessary before a dosage can be standardized.
A wide range of dosages has been used in research on horse chestnut.
Be sure to follow all product use instructions.
Similar Supplements
Certain supplements may have similar uses as horse chestnut.
Talk with a healthcare provider about which supplement may be right for you.
That means some supplement products may not contain what the label says.
While limited evidence is promising, more research is needed to better determine horse chestnut safety and efficacy.
Consult your healthcare provider if you have questions about using horse chestnut.
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