What is horse chestnut and why might it be effective for varicose veins?
Horse chestnuts come from the horse chestnut tree, a large, deciduous tree native to parts of Europe. Although the nuts produced by this tree are inedible, they can be used to make an extract. Horseshoe extract, derived from horse chestnuts, contains a compound known as aescin which helps to seal off the small blood vessels that leak and cause the appearance of varicose veins. Does horse chestnut for varicose veins really work? A variety of studies that have looked at the use of horse chestnut for varicose veins show that people who received this supplement reported less pain, swelling, and leg fatigue after taking horse chestnut. One study which compared horse chestnut with compression stockings showed that horse chestnut reduced swelling as much as the compression stockings did. Although compression stockings are standard therapy for varicose veins, many people find them to be uncomfortable and would welcome an alternative therapy. What’s the dosage and the potential risks?
