Horse chestnut contains a compound called aescin that acts as an anti-inflammatory and reduces edema (swelling with fluid) following trauma, particularly sports injuries, surgery, and head injury.⁶ A topical gel containing 2% of the compound aescin found in horse chestnut is widely used in Germany to treat minor sports injuries, including sprains and strains.⁷ The gel is typically applied to affected area every two hours until swelling begins to subside.

Horse chestnut extracts have been reported from a double-blind trial to reduce symptoms of hemorrhoids.⁸ Some doctors recommend taking horse chestnut seed extracts standardized for aescin (also known as escin) content (16–21%), or an isolated aescin preparation, providing 90 to 150 mg of aescin per day.

Horse chestnut contains a compound called aescin that acts as an anti-inflammatory and reduces edema (swelling with fluid) following trauma, particularly sports injuries, surgery, and head injury.⁹ A topical aescin preparation is popular in Europe for the treatment of acute sprains during sporting events.

Horse chestnut contains a compound called aescin that acts as an anti-inflammatory and reduces edema (swelling with fluid) following trauma, particularly sports injuries, surgery, and head injury.¹⁰ A topical aescin preparation is popular in Europe for the treatment of acute sprains during sporting events.

According to an extensive overview of clinical trials, standardized horse chestnut seed extract, which contains the active compound aescin, has been shown to be effective in double-blind and other controlled research, supporting the traditional use of horse chestnut for venous problems.¹¹ In these trials, capsules of horse chestnut extract containing 50 mg of aescin were given two to three times daily for CVI. The positive effect results in part from horse chestnut’s ability to strengthen capillaries, which leads to a reduction in swelling.¹²

Horse chestnut seed extract can be taken orally or used as an external application for disorders of venous circulation, including varicose veins.¹³ Preliminary studies in humans have shown that 300 mg three times per day of a standardized extract of horse chestnut seed reduced the formation of enzymes thought to cause varicose veins.¹⁴ Topical gel or creams containing 2% aescin can be applied topically three or four time per day to the affected limb(s).

Aescin, isolated from horse chestnut seed, has been shown to effectively reduce post-surgical edema in preliminary trials.^15,16 A form of aescin that is injected into the bloodstream is often used but only under the supervision of a qualified healthcare professional.