Where does horse chestnut extract come from?

What is horse chestnut extract made of?

The chestnuts themselves have separated with their burs from the small branches shown. Two preparations are considered: whole horse chestnut extract (whole HCE) and purified β-aescin.

What is a horse chestnut tree?

The horse chestnut is a shade and ornamental tree with an upright elliptical shape. It is native to southeast Europe (particularly the Pindus mountains mixed forests and the Balkan mixed forests of the Balkan peninsula), but it was introduced into other parts of Europe as well as North America.

Where do horse chestnuts grow in Greece?

The horse chestnut is native to the mixed forests of the Pindus mountains of Greece and Balkan Peninsula (including Albania, Macedonia and part of Eastern Bulgaria) but has been introduced in many urban and suburban settings, particularly in parks, large gardens, and along streets (“Horse chestnut (aesculus hippocastanum)”).

Where do horse chestnut trees grow?

The horse chestnut can grow in a variety of soils, although it prefers rich moist soils (“Horse chestnut”, Little 1980). The horse chestnut is native to the Balkan peninsula in southeast Europe, and in particular the Pindus mountains mixed forests and the Balkan mixed forests (Little 1980; “Herbs at a Glance”, 2008).

Why don’t chestnut trees grow in Greece?

In the Mediterranean climate zone, chestnut trees are rarer in Greece because the chalky soil is not conducive to the tree’s growth. Kastania is located on one of the relatively few sedimentary or siliceous outcrops. They grow so abundantly there that their presence would have determined the place’s name.

What is a horse chestnut ointment?

Horse chestnut cream is an herbal ointment made from horse chestnut extract. It is used to relieve pain and swelling in the leg muscles, joints, and tendons.

What is the difference between a chestnut and a sorrel?

Sorrel is a term used by American stock horse registries to describe red horses with manes and tails the same shade or lighter than the body coat color. In these registries, chestnut describes the darker shades of red-based coats. Colloquially, in the American west, almost all copper-red chestnuts are called “sorrel.”

Where do chestnuts grow in the Mediterranean?

Chestnut trees particularly flourish in the Mediterranean basin. In 1584, the governor of Genoa, which dominated Corsica, ordered all the farmers and landowners to plant four trees yearly, among which was a chestnut tree – plus olive, fig and mulberry trees. Many communities owe their origin and former richness to the ensuing chestnut woods.

Are horse chestnut trees invasive?

The horse chestnut has been widely planted in North America as an ornamental tree, especially in cities and other residential areas. This species sometimes escapes from cultivation and becomes locally invasive, displacing native species from woodlands.

What time of year do horse chestnuts grow?

The conkers reach maturity in late summer/early autumn and fall to the ground in autumn (“The Woodland Trust”, “Horse chestnut (aesculus hippocastanum)”, Little 1980). When the leaves of the horse chestnut first appear in spring, they are light green.

What does the bark of a horse chestnut look like?

When the horse chestnut is young, its bark is a smooth pinky grey (“The Woodland Trust”). As the tree matures, the bark darkens and develops a scalier, more fissured texture (“The Woodland Trust”).

Are horse chestnuts easy to grow from seed?

The horse chestnut is easily grown from seed and tolerates city life well, which is why it is often planted along streets (Little 1980; “Herbs at a Glance”, 2008). This particular horse chestnut is the gateway to the Marsh Botanical Gardens, which is just down the hill from this tree.

Where do horse chestnuts come from?

Description. It is a member of the Hippocastanaceae family. Horse chestnuts are in an entirely different botanical family from the well-known sweet chestnut tree, Castanea vesca. Horse chestnuts exist in nature as both a tree and a shrub, and are found in all temperate regions of Europe, Asia, and North America.

Where do Corsica’s chestnuts come from?

In 1584, the governor of Genoa, which dominated Corsica, ordered all the farmers and landowners to plant four trees yearly, among which was a chestnut tree – plus olive, fig and mulberry trees. Many communities owe their origin and former richness to the ensuing chestnut woods.

What is eating my chestnut trees in NZ?

In New Zealand, the grass grub beetle eats the soft, new-season foliage. They can entirely strip a young tree in the late spring, when they fly at dusk, often in huge numbers. Chestnut blight fungus ( Cryphonectria parasitica) (formerly Endothia parasitica) affects chestnut trees.

What is a Japanese horse chestnut tree?

The Champs-Élysées in Paris is lined with rows of horse-chestnut trees. Japanese horse chestnut ( A. turbinata) is as tall as the European species but is distinctive for its remarkably large leaves, up to 60 cm (2 feet) across.

Are there horse chestnut trees in Paris?

The Champs-Élysées in Paris is lined with rows of horse-chestnut trees. Japanese horse chestnut (A. turbinata) is as tall as the European species but is distinctive for its remarkably large leaves, up to 60 cm (2 feet) across.

How to grow horse chestnut trees?

Growing Horse Chestnut Seeds or Conkers Do not allow them to dry out. They also germinate rather quickly and are best sown outdoors in a cold frame. They can also be placed in a plastic bag outside for a couple of weeks. Once roots begin sprouting, plant them in pots of composted soil.

Why is my horse chestnut tree turning brown?

The horse chestnut is a much loved tree in the United Kingdom. Unfortunately, in some parts of the country it’s being attacked by the leaf miner moth, or Cameraria ohridella. The moth causes the leaves of horse chestnut to turn brown and fall off the tree in late summer instead of in the fall.

When was the horse chestnut tree invented?

The horse chestnut tree wasn’t imported into the United Kingdom until the 1600s. The first recorded game of conkers played with horse chestnut seeds took place in 1848 on the Isle of Wight. To prepare for a game of conkers, a player has to drill a hole through one of the seeds.