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Horse Chestnut

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Horse Chestnut. Aesculus seed extract for chronic venous insufficiency.

How it works. Aescin reduces capillary permeability and edema.

What the research supports. 1 graded claims. Strongest: Reduces leg swelling (moderate).

How much to take. Typical dose: 300 mg standardized (50 mg aescin) BID.

Side effects and interactions. 1 medication interaction listed. No serious side effects listed at normal doses.

Stacking. Pairs well with Omega-3, CoQ10.

Common forms. Available as Standardized extract capsule, Liquid tincture (alcohol or glycerin), Powdered whole herb, Traditional decoction or tea.

Key studies. 8 studies cited. The strongest are listed with links to PubMed.

Community. Experiences from people who have tried Horse Chestnut. Anecdotes are not medical advice.

Horse Chestnut. Aesculus seed extract for chronic venous insufficiency.

Key compound: aescinC55H86O24 · 1131.3 g/mol

What it is

Aesculus seed extract for chronic venous insufficiency.

Food sources

Whole dried plant material (root, leaf, flower, or aerial parts depending on the species)Standardized hydroethanolic or aqueous extract (capsule, tincture, or tea)Powdered traditional preparation used in Ayurvedic, TCM, or Western herbal practice

Goals

Cardiovascular Health

How it works

Aescin reduces capillary permeability and edema.

Pathways

  • Aescin reduces capillary permeability

Effects

  • ↓leg swelling decreases

What the research supports

Reduces leg swellingmoderate

Strong: consistent results across large trials or meta-analyses. Moderate: several trials, mostly positive. Limited: small or mixed studies. Preclinical: animal or cell research only.

Typical dose
300 mg standardized (50 mg aescin) BID
TimingConsistent daily timing recommended; split larger doses if GI tolerance is a concern.
With foodEither with or without food.
Best formMost evidence is based on the standardized extract capsule form.
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Side effects & interactions

Common side effects

  • GI upset
  • Itching

Medication interactions

Prescription medications (general)minor

Always disclose Horse Chestnut use to your prescriber — additive, antagonistic, or pharmacokinetic interactions are possible.

Check any supplement–medication combination with your pharmacist before starting.

Combines with

Pairs well

  • Omega-3Anti-inflammatory cardiovascular synergy.
  • CoQ10Supports mitochondrial energetics in cardiac tissue.

Common forms

  • Standardized extract capsule
  • Liquid tincture (alcohol or glycerin)
  • Powdered whole herb
  • Traditional decoction or tea

Key studies

8 studies cited in total.

Horse chestnut for CVI ↗
Meta-analysis · Cochrane · 2012

Reduced leg pain and edema vs placebo.

PubMed: Horse Chestnut — Reduces leg swelling ↗
Systematic review · PubMed (NLM) · 2026

Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Horse Chestnut and "Reduces leg swelling". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

PubMed: Horse Chestnut — randomized controlled trial ↗
Systematic review · PubMed (NLM) · 2026

Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Horse Chestnut and "randomized controlled trial". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

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