Family Name: Sapindaceae
Botanical Name(s): Aesculus hippocastanum
Popular Name(s): Hippocastanum vulgare, Common Horse-chestnut
Parts Used: Bark and fruit
Habitat: Horse Chestnut is found in Europe and Asia.
Description: Horse Chestnut is a large deciduous tree with a grayish-green bark and grows to a height of 36 m. Its leaves are opposite; palmately compound, with 5-7 leaflets, each having a length of 10-25 cm. Its flowers are mostly white, with a reddish tinge and the fruits are in the form of green, softly spiky capsule which, generally, contain one nut-like seeds called horse chestnuts.
Uses: Horse Chestnut bark has narcotic and febrifuge properties. It is used in intermittent fevers and externally applied to ulcers. The fruits are used in rheumatism, neuralgia and haemorrhoids.
