Evidence supporting the use of: Chestnut
For the health condition: Hemorrhoids
Synopsis
Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3
Chestnut, specifically horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum), is commonly used in herbal medicine to support the treatment of hemorrhoids. There is scientific evidence supporting its efficacy, primarily due to its active compound, aescin (or escin), which has anti-inflammatory and venotonic (vein-strengthening) properties. Several clinical trials and systematic reviews have evaluated horse chestnut seed extract for chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), a condition with pathophysiology similar to hemorrhoids, and some studies have directly assessed its effect on hemorrhoidal symptoms. Research suggests that horse chestnut extract can reduce pain, swelling, and bleeding associated with hemorrhoids, likely by strengthening blood vessel walls and reducing capillary permeability.
The German Commission E, a respected herbal monograph authority, approves horse chestnut seed extract for vascular conditions, including hemorrhoids. However, the evidence is not as extensive or robust as for its use in CVI, and most studies are small or of moderate quality. The use of other species of chestnut (such as sweet chestnut, Castanea sativa) is not supported for this indication. It is important to note that raw horse chestnut seeds are toxic and should not be consumed without proper processing. In summary, there is moderate scientific support for the use of standardized horse chestnut seed extract in the management of hemorrhoids, but further high-quality studies would strengthen the evidence base.
Other ingredients used for Hemorrhoids
Aloe veragreen chiretta
apple
apricot
berry flavor
betel
bilberry
blackberry
butcher's broom
chamomile
citrus bioflavonoids
turmeric
dandelion
fiber blend (proprietary)
gotu kola
cellulose
horse chestnut
lemon
licorice root
Nettle
oregon grape
parsley
phellodendron amurense
plum fruit
prune
psyllium
rutin
slippery elm bark
Triphala
vitamin C
seaweed
Zinc
tangerine
capsicum
punarnava
commiphora
blackboard tree
Caesalpinia crista
Rubia cordifolia
peony
Szechuan lovage
Morus
Myrrh
Morinda
birch
aster root
shepherd's purse
paw paw
geranium
sea salt
avens
apple cider vinegar
antler
anthraquinone
Ardisia
Angelica
Acacia
Agrimony
Allicin
Antirrhinum majus
Achyranthes
Abrus
Alchemilla
Aconite
Ajuga
Aerva lanata
American Liverleaf
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anthocyanidins
Agrimonia pilosa
Allium tuberosum
Amor seco
Baliospermum
Blepharis
Brassica
bayleaf
bran
Barleria
bael
banyan
bioflavonoids
black nightshade
borassus palm
Borassus aethiopum
black root
Bassia scoparia
Black Hellebore
Bergenia
Chinese silkvine
Cucurbita
coconut oil
cactus
cinquefoil
Cyathula
chard
cabbage
chestnut
Cynodon dactylon
castor oil
Carthamus
colocynth
Celosia
Clerodendrum indicum
Chondrus
Dianthus
Diosmin
elephant\'s head
escin
Embelia
fiber
Ficus simplicissima
hazelnut
Indian coraltree
Kokilaksha
lichen
Lycopodium
labrador tea
little ironweed
Methylcellulose
Mezoneuron benthamianum
Mountain Pepper
Mucilage
Morning glory
Nymphaea nouchali
Nimbidin
Oak
Oroxylum indicum
Oligomeric proanthocyanidins
Onosma bracteatum
pagoda tree
Pluchea
potato
Prunus
Pentacyclic triterpenoids
proanthocyanidins
Portulaca
Persimmon
Papayotin
Polygonum
Rosabin
Ruscus
Ruscogenins
Rosa laevigata
Rutosides
rhubarb
Shark Liver Oil
Sanguisorba
Sarivan
Squash
Sumac
Sword Bean
Terminalia
Tannins
Taraxacin
Troxerutin
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