Hemorrhoids -- inflamed, enlarged veins in your anus and lower rectum -- are a common complaint. MayoClinic.com notes that roughly half of all adults experience this uncomfortable disorder by age 50. Sometimes called piles, hemorrhoids can cause itching, pain and swelling; occasionally, minor bleeding may occur. If your hemorrhoids are very painful, bleed excessively or don't improve in spite of self care, consult your doctor. Natural healers sometimes advise herbal remedies -- such as Aesculus hippocastanum, or horse chestnut -- to alleviate symptoms of hemorrhoids.
Features
Aesculus hippocastanum -- a deciduous hardwood tree indigenous to Asia and northern Greece but presently cultivated worldwide -- features serrated leaves and clusters of pink and white flowers that bloom in spring. The fruit is a tough, spiny rind surrounding one to six dark and shiny seeds; these are potentially toxic unless properly prepared. Extracts of A. hippocastanum seeds have been used in traditional folk medicine to treat arthritis, inflammation, rheumatism, cough, skin cancer and gynecological bleeding. To remove toxic constituents, early practitioners roasted the seeds or buried them in the mud. Present-day herbalists advise horse chestnut extracts to manage venous insufficiency, to lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels, to treat heart conditions and to ease hemorrhoids. Topical horse chestnut preparations are routinely used in Europe to treat acute sprains.
Constituents and Effects
The oil from A. hippocastanum, or horse chestnut seeds, contains 65 to 70 percent oleic acid, a beneficial fat also found in olives. A triterpene glycoside called aescin is the pharmacologically active constituent. Horse chestnut seeds also contain proanthocyanidins, tannins, coumarin -- a natural blood thinner -- and the antioxidants quercetin and kaepferol, as well as a toxin called esculin.
Drugs.com, which provides peer-reviewed medical information to consumers, reports that A. hippocastanum's anti-inflammatory and antiedematous qualities allow it to reduce the bleeding, pain and swelling of hemorrhoids. Aescin in horse chestnut works against hemorrhoids by strengthening capillaries. Aescin also increases blood flow, strengthens connective tissue, tones veins, and reduces redness and inflammation.
Research
Scientific research supports the anti-inflammatory properties of constituents in horse chestnut. In a laboratory study published in 2007 in the "Journal of Veterinary Medical Science," researchers found that the linoleic and linolenic fatty acids in Japanese horse chestnut seeds -- also found in A. hippocastanum -- inhibited the activity of cyclooxygenase, or COX, a proinflammatory agent.
Usage and Considerations
To treat hemorrhoids, you can use a topical gel containing 2 percent aescin, or take a standardized extract containing 90 to 150 mg of aescin a day. Rare allergic reactions have been reported with horse chestnut. Adverse reactions include mild nausea and stomach discomfort; using film-coated tablets may help you avoid digestive disturbances. Headache, dizziness and itching have also been reported. Consult your doctor before using horse chestnut. If you have kidney problems or are pregnant or breastfeeding, avoid horse chestnut.
References
- Drugs.com: Complete Horse Chestnut Information
- Blue Shield Complementary and Alternative Health: Horse Chestnut
- MayoClinic.com; Hemorrhoids; December 2010
- "Journal of Veterinary Medical Science"; Identification of COX Inhibitors in the Hexane Extract of Japanese Horse Chestnut (Aesculus Turbinata) Seeds; I. Sato et al.; July 2007
- Health 911; Hemorrhoids; 2010
