Want to learn how to make horse chestnut flour and how to use for medicinal purposes? Continue reading and find out.
Horse chestnut originates from the mountainous regions of the Balkan Peninsula. It is said that the Turks, who fed their horses chestnuts, brought it with them to Central Europe during the siege of Vienna, which may explain its name. In any case, it spread quickly, and by the Middle Ages, it was already planted for ornamental purposes near noble residences. But before we jump to the recipe, here is how to harvest horse chestnut first.
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How to Harvest Horse Chestnuts
Autumn is the season for harvesting horse chestnuts (Aesculus hippocastanum). Simply pick them up from the ground, but be sure to select only healthy ones, avoiding any that are bruised or soft. After removing their green husks, spread the chestnuts in a thick 10-15 cm layer in a well-ventilated space to dry for three weeks. During this time, turn them occasionally to prevent mold. You can also dry them artificially in the oven. Keep them at 40°C for one hour, then increase the temperature to 60°C to finish the drying process. Once they’re dry and crumbly, store them in cloth or paper bags, or prepare them for immediate use.
Horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum), should not be confused with the red buckeye (Aesculus pavia), whose seeds are toxic due to their hydrocyanic acid content. The difference between the two species is easy to recognize: as the name suggests, the flowers of the red buckeye chestnut are red, and its green fruits lack the spiky husks tipical to the horse chestnut.
How to Make Horse Chestnut Flour
Crush the dried chestnuts, including their shells, in a mortar until they are small enough to grind in an electric coffee grinder. Sift the resulting powder as finely as possible and store it in glass containers, kept away from light. The pale yellowish-white powder, or chestnut flour, can then be used both internally and externally for the following conditions.
4. Medicinal Uses of Horse Chestnut Flour
- Hemorrhoids, bleeding hemorrhoids – take 3-4 teaspoons of horse chestnut flour daily on an empty stomach. Hold the powder under the tongue for 5-10 minutes, then swallow it with water. A treatment course lasts 2-6 weeks, depending on the severity of the condition, and has an extraordinary effect on veins, helping to heal a range of vascular issues for which modern medicine has yet to find cures.
- Varicose veins, phlebitis, and blood vessel conditions – follow the internal remedy for hemorrhoids above, and additionally, apply a horse chestnut flour poultice prepared as follows. Mix four tablespoons of chestnut flour with fresh yogurt, stirring continuously to form a thick paste. Spread this paste on a piece of gauze, place it on the affected area, then cover it with plastic wrap and secure loosely without any pressure. Leave the poultice on for 1-2 hours. Repeat this treatment daily or every other day for one month.
- Headaches, dizziness, and heavy, swollen legs – the daily dose is one tablespoon of horse chestnut flour, in the morning on an empty stomach. Hold the powder under the tongue for at least three minutes, then swallow with water.
- Prostatitis, and prostate adenoma – the recommended daily dose is one tablespoon of horse chestnut flour, in the morning on an empty stomach. Hold the powder under the tongue for at least three minutes, then swallow with water. A month-long treatment helps reduce fluid retention in the body and alleviates related symptoms: prostate adenoma (urinary retention and prostate enlargement) and ascites (fluid buildup in the abdominal cavity).
- Mask for oily skin – this mask leverages the toning and astringent properties of active compounds in chestnuts to regulate sebaceous gland activity. Grate four peeled chestnuts and mix them with two teaspoons of honey. Apply the paste to clean skin, leave it on for 10 minutes, then rinse with chamomile tea.
In the past, people made “poor man’s coffee” from horse chestnuts. They peeled them and soaked overnight in milk to extract the bitter and toxic substances. After drying, they ground the chestnuts, and used the resulting flour as a substitute for coffee and even wheat flour.
Horse Chestnut Safety and Contraindications
Internal use of horse chestnut preparations is not recommended during pregnancy or while breastfeeding and for people suffering from liver or kidney problems.
More Horse Chestnut Recipes:
Decoction
Salve
Syrup
Tincture
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