Common name: wild chestnut.
ORDINARY HORSE CHESTNUT (Aesculus hippocastanum L.)Deciduous tree of the horse-chestnut family (Hippocastanaceae), up to 30 m or more in height, with a dense spreading crown. Young shoots are reddish- or grayish-brown with well-defined lenticels. The leaves are opposite, with long petioles, palmately compound, up to 25 cm in diameter, with 5-7 sessile leaflets. The leaves are short-pointed, slightly serrated. The flowers are white or pale pink, with petals fringed along the edge, collected in cone-shaped large erect inflorescences (up to 30 cm long). Most of the flowers in the inflorescence are staminate, and a few are bisexual or pistillate. The fruit is a rounded prickly green box up to 5-6 cm in diameter, opening in three wings when ripe; contains 1, rarely 2-3 seeds. The seeds are large, slightly flattened, with a shiny dark brown skin and a large gray round spot. Blooms in May fruits ripen in September – October. Propagated by seeds. In culture, it is distributed in the south, in the middle zone of the European part of the CIS, in the Caucasus and in Central Asia. It grows wild in broad-leaved forests, mainly on the northern slopes, at an altitude of 800-1800 m above sea level. The common horse chestnut is native to the south of the Balkan Peninsula. In Europe in culture since the 16th century.
СБОР И СУШКА СЫРЬЯ
For medicinal purposes, mature seeds (fruits), bark, flowers and leaves of chestnut are used. Horse chestnut seeds, peeled from within the fruit, are dried, scattered in a layer up to 5 cm thick, on racks. Drying usually lasts 3-4 weeks. In dryers at a temperature of 40-60°C, their drying is completed in 2-3 days. The shelf life of raw materials is 2 years. The taste of raw materials is astringent. The bark is harvested in the spring, removing it from 3-5-year-old branches after pruning trees. Dry in attics or in ventilated rooms. Chestnut leaves can be harvested from May to September (before they begin to turn yellow). If harvesting is carried out from the same trees, the leaves should be collected at the end of summer, before leaf fall. Young chestnut trees 2-3 m high are the most convenient for harvesting. Collecting within 1/3 of the leaves present on the tree does not harm it. They dry them under awnings, in dryers or in rooms with good ventilation, laying out a layer no more than 10 cm thick. In the first 2-3 days, to speed up drying, the drying leaves are turned over 1-2 times a day. The raw material is considered dried if the petioles of the leaves break when bent; it has a green color, a slight pleasant smell and a slightly astringent taste.
ФАРМАКОЛОГИЧЕСКИЕ СВОЙСТВА
When studying the pharmacological activity of galenic forms of the plant (an alcoholic extract, alcoholic tinctures, decoctions and infusions from leaves, flowers, fruits, and within the chestnut fruit), it was found that the alcoholic extract of the fruit is the most effective, which at the same time has low acute toxicity. The pharmacological action of horse chestnut extract is associated with the presence of glycosides in it – esculin and escin. Horse chestnut extract and products prepared from it increase the tone of venous vessels, accelerate blood flow in the veins, which prevents the formation and growth of thrombosis. In addition, these products reduce capillary permeability, improve microcirculation, prevent the formation of stasis in capillaries, and have pronounced anti-inflammatory properties. Esculin stimulates the antithrombotic activity of blood serum, increases the production of antithrombin in the reticuloendothelial vascular system. Escin lowers blood viscosity. Horse chestnut fruit extract slows down blood clotting. Use in medicine. Bark. Used in homeopathy. In folk medicine, a decoction is used for malaria, diarrhea, increased acidity of gastric juice, diseases of the spleen, bronchitis, uterine bleeding, vasospasm, bleeding, impaired bile secretion; externally – with neuralgia, hemorrhoids with bleeding. Leaves. In folk medicine – as an analgesic and for uterine bleeding. Flowers. In folk medicine, tincture of fresh flowers (on alcohol) – for rheumatism in the form of rubbing. Decoction, tincture (on vodka) – for diseases of the heart, liver, anemia, pain, shortness of breath, pulmonary tuberculosis, gastritis; externally – for rheumatic, gouty, arthritic pains and sciatica. Juice – as a venotonic and antithrombotic agent for venous congestion and varicose veins of the lower extremities, for trophic ulcers of the lower leg and hemorrhoids. Fruits, leaves. In folk medicine, a decoction is used for inflammation of the veins of the extremities, hemorrhoids. Fruits. It is used for varicose veins, acute and chronic thrombophlebitis, trophic ulcers of the legs, for violations of arterial peripheral circulation (atherosclerosis of the vessels of the extremities, arteritis, thromboembolism of small vessels), for inflammation of hemorrhoids without bleeding. In folk medicine (fresh) – for chronic diarrhea and malaria; fried – for uterine and hemorrhoidal bleeding. In Germany, powder from crushed chestnut seeds and lily of the valley flowers is used for a runny nose and headache. In folk medicine, a decoction is used for inflammation of the veins of the extremities, hemorrhoids. Fruits. It is used for varicose veins, acute and chronic thrombophlebitis, trophic ulcers of the legs, for violations of arterial peripheral circulation (atherosclerosis of the vessels of the extremities, arteritis, thromboembolism of small vessels), for inflammation of hemorrhoids without bleeding. In folk medicine (fresh) – for chronic diarrhea and malaria; fried – for uterine and hemorrhoidal bleeding. In Germany, powder from crushed chestnut seeds and lily of the valley flowers is used for a runny nose and headache. In folk medicine, a decoction is used for inflammation of the veins of the extremities, hemorrhoids. Fruits. It is used for varicose veins, acute and chronic thrombophlebitis, trophic ulcers of the legs, for violations of arterial peripheral circulation (atherosclerosis of the vessels of the extremities, arteritis, thromboembolism of small vessels), for inflammation of hemorrhoids without bleeding. In folk medicine (fresh) – for chronic diarrhea and malaria; fried – for uterine and hemorrhoidal bleeding. In Germany, powder from crushed chestnut seeds and lily of the valley flowers is used for a runny nose and headache. thromboembolism of small vessels), with inflammation of hemorrhoids without bleeding. In folk medicine (fresh) – for chronic diarrhea and malaria; fried – for uterine and hemorrhoidal bleeding. In Germany, powder from crushed chestnut seeds and lily of the valley flowers is used for a runny nose and headache. thromboembolism of small vessels), with inflammation of hemorrhoids without bleeding. In folk medicine (fresh) – for chronic diarrhea and malaria; fried – for uterine and hemorrhoidal bleeding. In Germany, powder from crushed chestnut seeds and lily of the valley flowers is used for a runny nose and headache.
DOSAGE FORMS, METHOD OF APPLICATION AND DOSES
Aescusan (Aescusanum) – water-alcohol extract from the fruits of horse chestnut, containing saponin – escin and flavonoids with the addition of vitamin B 1. It is taken as a venotonic and antithrombotic agent for stagnation and expansion of the veins of the lower extremities, for hemorrhoids and leg ulcers, 10-15 drops 3 times every day. Produced in Germany. Esflazid (Aesflazidum) – a product containing escin from horse chestnut fruits and the amount of flavonoids from the leaves. Available in greenish-yellow tablets containing 0.005 g of escin and 0.025 of flavazid. Assign inside 1 tablet 1-2 times every day for the first 2 days of treatment, then 3-4 tablets every day. The course of treatment for phlebitis, thrombophlebitis is from 2 weeks to 2-3 months, for hemorrhoids – from 1 to 4 weeks. In case of relapse, the course of treatment is repeated. Esflazid is combined with anticoagulants. Side effects (nausea, heartburn, pain in the heart area) disappear with a decrease in dose. Anavenol (Anavenol) is a combined product in the form of dragees containing 1, 5 mg esculin, 0.5 mg dihydroergocristine and 30 mg rutin. Take 2 tablets 3 times every day after meals. It is also produced in the form of drops containing 1.5 mg eculin, 0.5 mg dihydroergocristine and 40 mg sodium sulfone rutin in 1 ml (20 drops). Assign inside 20 drops 2-3 times every day. The course of treatment is 2-3 months.♦ Chestnut flower juice is taken 20-25 drops of juice with a tablespoon of honey 3 times every day before meals. in a closed enamel bowl in a water bath for 30 minutes, filter hot through 2-3 layers of gauze and bring the volume of boiled water to the original. Take in the first 2 days, 1 tablespoon 1 time every day, in the subsequent (with good tolerance) – 1 tablespoon 2-3 times every day after eating.
APPLICATIONS IN OTHER FIELDS
Chestnut wood is soft, easily stained with transparent paints and is valued in carving. The fruits are readily eaten by pigs and sheep. Highly ornamental shade-tolerant plant for parks and alleys, widely used in landscape gardening. Researchers from the Stockholm Biochemical Institute claim that one tree of this species is able to clear 20 thousand cubic meters of car exhaust gases. m of air. Honey plant, during flowering, gives an abundant bribe of nectar and pollen, and glue before flowering. Chestnut nectar contains 65-75% sugar, honey is liquid, transparent, traditionally colorless, easily crystallizes.
TASTY TIPS
Soup chestnut.
Finely chop the onion (60 g) and celery (20 g) and simmer in oil for 3 minutes. Add peeled chestnuts (120 g), vegetable broth (250 ml), cream (100 ml), boil for 20 minutes. Bring the soup to a puree consistency with a mixer. Serve with toasted bread, crushed toasted anise seeds and celery greens.
Soufflé chestnut.
Peel chestnuts (250 g), put in boiling milk (180 ml) and cook for 20 minutes. Beat eggs (2 pcs.) with sugar, cinnamon and vanilla until creamy, add liqueur and chestnut puree. Grease the form with oil, sprinkle with breadcrumbs. Put the mass into a mold and bake in the oven at a temperature of 200 ° C for 25 minutes.