The horse chestnut is a large deciduous tree native to the Balkan peninsula. The seeds – glossy reddish-brown conkers inside a spiky green husk – drop in autumn and are favoured by schoolchildren, who use them in the popular game of the same name. Horse chestnut has long been used by Chinese herbalists to treat a range of ailments. It is reputed to reduce the accumulation of fluid, making it an effective diuretic and useful in the reduction of oedema. It is also believed to reduce inflammation, aid circulation, and to both tone and strengthen the venous system, making it an effective treatment for varicose veins. It is useful as an astringent, and as an expectorant in the event of respiratory problems. Like the Chinese in the east, the Native American Iroquois people in the west, too, used powdered horse chestnut roots to alleviate chest pains. Modern clinical studies bear out the belief that it is effective in the treatment of mild to moderate varicose veins, and herbal medicines are available for this purpose.
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