Horse chestnut is a deciduous tree with a dense broad crown and massive trunk, which enjoys the fame of one of the most beautiful park trees. The unique appearance of the tree gives the flowers appearing at the end of spring against the background of dense green foliage, collected in large pyramidal inflorescences - "candles".
Not everyone knows that chestnut flowers are a valuable raw material for pharmaceuticals. On their basis, drugs for internal and external use are prepared. In this article I will describe in more detail the use of one of the most common medicinal forms - alcohol tincture from flowers of chestnut.
Chestnut flowers - composition and useful properties
The chemical composition of the flowers of chestnut is rich and diverse, it includes the following substances:
- kempferoglycoside;
- flavone glycosides (rutin, quercitrin);
- escin (triterpene saponin);
- choline;
- purine derivatives (adenine, guanine, uric acid, adenosine);
- mucus;
- tannins;
- sugar.
A special role in the beneficial effect of chestnut flowers is assigned to the escin, which has the following effects:
- decrease in blood viscosity;
- removal of inflammatory processes;
- reduction of swelling;
- an increase in the tone of peripheral veins and lymphatic vessels;
- decreased lymph flow;
- an increase in the dry lymph content;
- strengthening of capillaries;
- elimination of venous stasis.
Recipe for tincture of chestnut flowers on vodka
Tincture on chestnut flowers can be purchased at the pharmacy, but it can also be easily prepared at home. Before describing the recipe for the tincture, we will tell you how to properly prepare raw materials.
The preparation of the flowers of the chestnut is carried out in the midst of flowering. For this, the inflorescences are cut off entirely, after which the flowers with pedicels break off from them. Initially, the flowers become sun-dried for one day, then dried in the open air under a canopy, spread out in a thin layer.
Tincture of the flowers of chestnut is prepared as follows:
- Grind 50 g of dried chestnut flowers.
- Place the flowers in a glass container and pour half a liter of vodka.
- Put in a dark warm place for two weeks, shaking daily.
- Filter, store at room temperature in a bowl of dark glass.
How to apply a tincture of chestnut flowers?
As a rule, tincture from chestnut flowers is taken inside by 30-40 drops 3-4 times a day for a month for 20-30 minutes before a meal, squeezed with water. From varicose veins, myositis, arthritis, etc. tincture of chestnut flowers can also be used as an external means for rubbing the affected areas.
Indications for use of tincture of chestnut flowers:
- varicose veins ;
- thrombophlebitis;
- postthrombotic conditions;
- fibrocystic mastopathy;
- hemorrhoids;
- radiation sickness;
- spasms of blood vessels;
- traumatic vascular lesions;
- different types of leukemia;
- brain tumors;
- leg ulcers;
- arthritis;
- myositis ;
- gout;
- rheumatism;
- edema of various etiologies;
- uterine bleeding, etc.
Tincture of horse chestnut - contraindications and precautions
Treatment with tincture of horse chestnut should be started only after consultation with the doctor, and during treatment, it is necessary to periodically check the coagulability of the blood. An overdose of horse chestnut preparations can cause seizures.
Treatment of tincture of horse chestnut can not be carried out in such cases:
- decreased blood viscosity;
- hypotension;
- hypocidal gastritis;
- atonic constipation;
- thrombocytopenia;
- delay and irregularity of the menstrual cycle.