Chestnut is a strong tree with a powerful root system. You can meet chestnut in the wild in the southern latitudes of the northern hemisphere of our planet. The fruits of the tree - chestnuts, are valued for their high nutritional value and are used as food. Bark, foliage and fruits are valuable raw materials in the pharmaceutical, medical and cosmetic industries.

Enthusiasts calmly grow chestnuts in mid-latitudes, getting a nut crop unusual for central Russia. Chestnuts, in addition to food, are in demand in folk medicine, which reveals their medicinal properties.

This article will focus on a nut that is no less common than walnut. This is chestnut. You will learn more about how to cook it correctly, what can be made of it, why it will be useful. Is it possible to eat it for children or expectant mothers. And also you will learn how to easily grow chestnuts directly in your area or even at home.

What is a chestnut

Chestnut is a tree belonging to the Bukov family. In height can reach fifty meters. And the diameter is about two meters. The bark of the tree is dark brown, thick and covered with deep furrows.

The chestnut tree reaches a height of 20-50 m with the base of the trunk, often with a diameter of 2 m. The bark often has a mesh shape with deep grooves or fissures, spiraling in both directions along the trunk. Long lanceolate, serrated leaves are 16-28 cm long and 5-9 cm wide.

The leaves of this tree have an oblong shape and sharp “denticles”. Light green in the summer, in the autumn they change their color to yellow. The length of the sheet plate can reach up to twenty centimeters. As for the flowers of the chestnut, they are collected in inflorescences up to fifteen centimeters long, and resemble spikelets.

Chestnut begins to bear fruit only after reaching the age of about twelve years. But it is wild. If we talk about the "domesticated" chestnut, then it begins to bear fruit at about the age of four to ten years. In the first decade of its life, a tree grows rather slowly. And it bears fruit once a couple of years, in the first two autumn months.

Sometimes in the name of a chestnut one can hear such additional words as a noble, genuine, edible.

What kind of chestnut has

The fruits of this tree have a spherical shape, surrounded by a shell, densely covered with thorns. During ripening, the shell has a green color, and already in ripe fruit it is brown. Inside the shell there are up to four nuts. When the fruit is fully ripe, the shell cracks and the fruit falls out.

The nut itself has a spherical or slightly flattened shape. Its surface is dark brown and smooth. The diameter of the nut can be up to six centimeters.

In what area does chestnut grow

Chestnuts love heat and moisture. And soil with a low level of acidity. This tree does not tolerate long heat and especially drought.

Chestnut can often be found in America, in the east of Asia, in the Mediterranean, Russia, Ukraine and the Caucasus. Interestingly, the size of the chestnut may depend on where it grows. So, for example, in Armenia chestnuts rarely grow to the size of a walnut, and in some European countries, on the contrary, this nut can compete in size, for example, with large mandarin.

How to find edible chestnut

Please note that you should not confuse edible chestnut with horse chestnut. The last kind of chestnut should not be eaten. Distinguishing them is not so difficult. These chestnuts literally differ from each other in everything - both in the structures of inflorescences, and in the shape of the leaves, and in how the nuts themselves look.

Remember that in edible chestnut leaves are elongated and have thorns at the ends. And inflorescences are similar to long and narrow female earrings. In contrast, horse chestnut blooms more luxuriantly, because it plays a more decorative role.

  edible chestnut photo

Edible chestnut is covered with brown shell, covered with many thorns. A horse chestnut has a bright green shell, which is more tuberous than prickly. And finally, the taste. Edible fruits - they are mealy-sweet. And inedible - with bitterness.

The composition of nuts

• Vitamins: A, B, C;
• Chemical elements: calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, fluorine, zinc;
• Other useful elements: proteins, tannins, fats, fiber, pectins, carbohydrates,

One hundred grams of raw chestnut nuts contains 165 kilocalories. And in fried - 16 calories more.

The benefits of chestnut for the human body

The main useful qualities of chestnut are its enriched composition. Nuts have the ability to relieve inflammation, fever, eliminate pain and soothe cough. These fruits are widely used to treat colds. Chestnut is able to rid the lungs of a debilitating cough in record time. Additionally, chestnuts also support digestion.

They can improve appetite and eliminate diarrhea. In addition, chestnut nuts can stabilize kidney activity. They are also used to lower pressure, strengthen the vascular walls. Chestnut will help to cope with varicose veins, stop the blood and heal small wounds. Fruits help recover faster after burns or getting cut wounds.

Chestnut use

The main use of chestnut, of course, is traditional medicine. Chestnuts help treat diseases related to digestion, breathing and nerves. These nuts will help in the fight against arthritis and radiculitis. In the process of treatment, whole nuts and compresses from ground mass are used.

And, of course, chestnuts are often used in culinary affairs. With their help they prepare first courses, second courses and even sweets! European cuisine is rich in dishes with chestnuts. For example, chestnuts in sweet syrup are simply adored there.

How to cook the fruits of chestnuts

There are two options for making chestnut nuts: you can either cook or fry them. The only thing that matters is that the chestnuts need to be peeled and film free. If this is not done, then the nuts will be bitter.

To well clean the fruits of chestnuts, you need to make incisions on them, and then boil in boiling water for literally five minutes. Then remove from the stove, cover and leave to stand for another fifteen minutes. Nuts will need to be cleaned before they have cooled. It will be more convenient and easier.

Bring the nuts to full readiness will help boiling at an average gas level for fifteen minutes. Or they can be fried in a skillet under a closed lid. You can also bake chestnuts in the oven. They need to be put on a baking sheet and sent to the oven for twenty minutes, a maximum of half an hour.

Chestnut will help to lose weight

The fat content in chestnut is quite low, because it is often used by nutritionists to help lose weight. Chestnuts even help get rid of cellulite, eliminate swelling and improve blood flow.

And chestnut oil often becomes an additive for creams and lotions for cellulite. Chestnut tinctures also effectively help get rid of excess.

Chestnut for children

Traditional medicine does not provide any advice on when to add chestnut nuts to a child’s diet. Pediatricians, for example, are not advised to give them before the child is five years old.

According to experts, before this age, chestnut can put a big strain on the digestion of crumbs. Which in turn can cause bloating and even constipation. Be that as it may, giving your child raw chestnuts is not worth it.

It is best to do this by boiling them and chopping them to a puree state. It will be best to add it to a mashed potato or soup.

Chestnut for future and young mothers

It's no secret that chestnuts help to overcome the sharp mood swings that women often experience during the period of bearing the baby. Chestnuts help to tidy up the pressure, stabilize sleep, strengthen the skeleton. There is a lot of fiber in chestnuts, which will only benefit the digestion of the future mother.

Chestnuts stimulate lactation during lactation. The fruits of this nut are rich in vitamins, which will only improve the quality of breast milk. But before you eat them, it will not be superfluous to consult a doctor.

Roasted chestnut

Roasted chestnuts are far from an exotic dish. Southerners are happy to cook nuts in this way using a simple recipe. However, untrained people should use roasted chestnut with caution. Nuts may be a product with signs of individual intolerance.

In addition, people who decide to lose weight a little fried chestnuts better to remove from the diet. High calorie content and a large amount of carbohydrates contained in nuts will lead to the opposite result.

Any product requires an individual approach, chestnut is no exception. Here are a few secrets to making a roast chestnut recipe:

1. The first rule. The main thing is not to overdo it and not overcook, otherwise the chestnuts will turn out to be dry, hard and not tasty.
2. We do not lubricate the pan with any oil.
3. Pour chestnuts into a frying pan and set on fire. The trick is that you need to cut the nuts with a sharp knife before frying, and choose a pan with a thick bottom.
4. It is necessary to remove the peel from the finished chestnuts, make it better than a rhinestone, otherwise it will be problematic to remove it from the cooled nuts.
5. We remove films and membranes.
6. Do not be greedy. Do not fry much. Unfinished cold chestnuts dry out become tasteless.

Chestnut jam

Chestnut jam is very popular in the culinary field. Not only in itself, but also as a filling for baking and other desserts. This sweetness can be stored up to six months. To increase the shelf life, jam must be rolled up in sterilized jars or frozen.

Components:

• Chestnut fruits - 0.5 kilograms;
• Sugar - 0.5 kilograms;
• Water - 0.3 liters;
• Rum - 1 tablespoon.

Powder the nuts of the chestnut through a sieve. Pour water into a saucepan, put on gas and pour sugar. Stir frequently until sugar is completely dissolved. Then add the chestnut crumbs to the syrup and cook for about half an hour, stirring occasionally so that they do not burn.

When the jam becomes thick and darkens to a rich brown color, pour in the rum and boil for a few more minutes. After that, you can pour jam into jars and roll up.

Chestnut honey useful properties and contraindications

Chestnut honey is no less healthy than flower or buckwheat. First of all, it is a very effective natural antibiotic. You can not only eat it. This honey can treat wounds and burns - chestnut honey relieves inflammation.

Often it is used in order to cure diseases associated with breathing or the genitourinary system. Chestnut honey can tidy up digestion. It will be especially useful in spring and autumn - it will strengthen the immune system and help withstand viruses.

Restrictions for use

This is undoubtedly a healthy product. But even he has his limitations. So, you should not eat chestnuts in any of their manifestations, if you have:

• Allergic reaction;
• Diabetes;
• Bleeding in the stomach;
• The cycle of menstruation is broken;
• Renal failure.

But even if everything is in order, do not exceed the daily intake of forty grams. If you overeat chestnuts, you can make a failure in the digestive system: bloating or even constipation.

How to grow a chestnut tree yourself

Chestnut is not so difficult to grow on your own site or even in an apartment. At the very beginning, of course, it is necessary to collect mature chestnuts in the fall. They should be whole.

It is easy to grow a nut on the plot. To do this, plant a few nuts at a depth of five centimeters and at a distance of approximately ten centimeters. In the spring you will see the first shoots.

To grow a chestnut at home, you need to leave the nuts on the balcony until the first frost. And then for the whole winter to remove on the lower shelf of the refrigerator. Toward the end of February, the nuts should be put in pots with soil and put on the windowsill. The first sprouts will appear in a month or two

Chestnuts are not as popular with us as they are in Western Europe, Japan, or East Asian countries, however, it is high time to correct this omission. Healing and nutritious nuts grow in the subtropical zone; therefore, they are not included in the menu of our traditional cuisine. But avocados, and “New Year's fruit” - tangerines, and many other products that often appear on our table are also imported from the southern latitudes.

We think, having learned how chestnuts are useful, our housewives will certainly begin to prepare them for their home. Moreover, the fruits do not require special culinary skills and are delicious just fried or baked.

Nuts that are suitable for eating do not grow in our country and can only be purchased at supermarkets.

Nutritional Information of Chestnuts

Despite the outward resemblance to hazelnuts, the product resembles little of its composition. Chestnuts contain:

• about 60% starch
• 15% sugar
• 6% protein
• 2% fat

The percentage may vary, depending on the variety of fruits. Nevertheless, in its effect on the human body, chestnuts are more reminiscent of rice and potatoes than nuts, in which the proportion of proteins and fats is high.

A carbohydrate-rich product is recommended for athletes and people in need of enhanced nutrition to restore energy. After hearty chestnuts, you don’t feel hungry for a long time, therefore they are often included in weight loss diets, with one caveat: in small quantities.

Vegetarians also appreciate the product as an additional source of vegetable protein.

Also in chestnuts contains:

• cellulose
• tannins
• vitamins A, C, K and group B
• trace elements: potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium, silicon, selenium, copper, zinc
• folic acid
• pectins
• glycosides

The fact that chestnuts are an important ingredient in Mediterranean cuisine, recognized as one of the most wholesome in the world, says a lot. With the regular use of fruits, the metabolism improves, the intestines begin to function more actively, toxins are more quickly eliminated and enzymes necessary for digestion are produced.

Immunity is strengthened, malfunctions in the cardiovascular system are eliminated, blood composition is normalized and the general tone of the body increases. Italians, French and other residents of southern Europe knowingly love chestnuts, because they can protect us from stress and improve our mood during the period of seasonal autumn depression. Despite the high content of carbohydrates and sugars, the fruits can and should be eaten by people who are struggling with excess weight, since in this case fat deposits do not form and the load on the liver is reduced.

History reference

The first seedlings of the chestnut sowing (or noble) was brought from Asian campaigns by Alexander the Great. He noted that by consuming the fruits of this tree, warriors become more alert and suffer less from stomach problems caused by unusual food.

Magic nuts of youth and beauty

Chestnuts are able to turn back the clock and bring us back the charm of youth. They contribute to the production of elastin and collagen - proteins involved in the renewal of cells and tissues.

The trace elements that make up the healing nuts have beneficial effects on the skin, hair and nails, improving their condition and appearance. And zinc and phosphorus, in addition, strengthen teeth and gums.

The cure for many diseases

In the pharmaceutical industry, horse chestnuts, which are usual for us, are used more often, decorating the streets with fragrant "candles" of inflorescences in the spring, and in the autumn they are thrown with fruits in a spiny shell that are so well suited for crafts.

However, Castánea satíva nuts have healing properties. They are shown with:

1. dysentery;
2. hemorrhoids;
3. cystitis;
4. painful menstruation and menopause;
5. mastopathy;
6. edema of different origin;
7. circulatory disorders and thrombosis, since they thin the blood;
8. spasms of blood vessels;
9. atherosclerosis;
10. neuralgia;
11. respiratory diseases;
12. rheumatism.

Externally chopped edible chestnut pulp can be used as a hemostatic, wound healing and disinfectant. Effectively help fruits and burns, accelerating the process of tissue regeneration.

Calorie content

As can be seen from this table, boiled or baked fruits will bring the greatest benefit, but fried and pickled fruits need to be eaten a little (no more than 40 g at a time).

If you follow a diet, it is better to use chestnuts in the first half of the day, then the energy with which they charge the body will be completely consumed. But for dinner you can allow yourself only 2-3 nuts.

Who should not eat chestnuts

A carbohydrate-rich product, for all its usefulness, is a junk food. Therefore, it is undesirable to give it to children older than five to six years of age. The fragile body of babies is unlikely to be able to fully digest chestnuts, which threatens indigestion, flatulence and colic.

It is better to boil healthy nuts in the children's diet in boiled form, making soup puree. If the product caused discomfort in the child, it is advisable to postpone the “acquaintance” with it for some more time and consult a doctor.

Nursing mothers will also have to give up chestnuts so as not to cause excessive gas formation or an allergic reaction in the baby.


  Fruits are contraindicated in the following diseases:

• diabetes
• kidney stones and bladder
• hypotension
• hepatic and renal failure
• inflammatory processes of the gastrointestinal tract

Attention!

Healthy people need to eat chestnuts, but in moderation, so as not to gain excess weight and not provoke the pancreas.

Raw nuts are recognized as the most difficult for digestion.  They can only be consumed in a ripe form, then we will improve our health and treat ourselves to a delicious product without side effects.

How to choose chestnuts

We found that nuts that have reached full maturity are most beneficial. But how to choose just such fruits in the store or in the market?

1. You need to buy fresh chestnuts in season - from September to February. Nuts deteriorate quickly, so it is not possible to feast on them the rest of the year. If you could not buy fresh fruits, you should pay attention to frozen or pickled fruits - they are, moreover, easier to prepare, because they do not need to be peeled.
2. The nutshell must be hard, smooth, without stains and damage, with a uniform, dark color and glossy shine.
3. Ripe, high-quality chestnuts - heavy and large, about the same size.
4. Round-shaped nuts are tastier than their more flattened "congeners."
5. The freshness of the fruit is determined by clicking on them with a finger. If the shell is soft, the shelf life has clearly been prolonged.

Attention!

The greenish layer between the kernel and the walnut shell is an indicator of insufficient ripeness. Such chestnuts are better to boil, stew or fry, but do not eat raw.

Storage rules

Fresh chestnuts are a capricious and perishable product. At room temperature in a dry, preferably dark place, they can lie for no more than 5 days, after which they dry out and wrinkle.


If you put the fruits in the refrigerator, with other vegetables and fruits, they will "last" 2 weeks, provided that they are wrapped in a plastic bag with holes for ventilation. Otherwise, nuts will quickly mold.

If you want to eat fresh or roasted chestnuts out of season, it is better to freeze them. The product will not lose its qualities within six months.

Attention!

During freezing, fresh chestnuts should be placed in a vacuum container or wrapped with foil, but in no case should you use a plastic bag, otherwise they will deteriorate. This warning does not apply to fried fruits.

Another option: storing raw, unpeeled nuts in sand poured into wooden crates or barrels. Tanks are installed in the cellar and kept at a temperature of 2 - 5ºС until spring.

Instead of sand, you can take dry chestnut leaves.

Chestnuts belong to those products, once you try which, you no longer want to give them up.  Yes, and why limit yourself to such a healthy treat?

Well, buy and start cooking.

Useful video

A small reference material about chestnuts:

Chestnut is a tree that everyone has heard about, but not everyone knows about its amazing properties and features. In this article you will learn about the incredible benefits of this tree, discover its healing properties, learn to determine the edible fruits of chestnut in appearance and be sure to try them.

In this article, the main place is given to edible chestnut. But horse chestnut, which is well known to the inhabitants of the European part of Russia, will be mentioned.

Appearance

The sowing chestnut has several names: edible, noble, real. Beech family, genus Chestnut.

Deciduous tree. Its height reaches 35 m, and the trunk circumference is 2 m. The bark is thick, brown in color with deep longitudinal cracks.

Sharp-toothed leaves up to 30 cm long. In summer, the leaves are yellowish-green, and in the fall they become bright yellow. Inflorescences of light yellow or green color resemble narrow long earrings, in the lower part of which there are female branches, and in the upper - male.

The fruits of the chestnut are edible nuts, ripening in brown buns, protected on the outside by numerous long spines, and covered with silky felt on the inside. In each bun, 1-4 nuts of a round or flattened shape ripen with a smooth, shiny surface of dark brown color.

How to distinguish edible from inedible

Also in nature there are inedible chestnuts. The most famous is horse chestnut. It belongs to the Sapindov family, the Konskashtanov family.

The main differences between horse and edible chestnut:

The shape and size of the leaves.

• inflorescences;
• fruit taste: horse chestnut, they are bitter, sowing - sweetish;
• the number of fruits in a nut.
• the outer shell of the cocks: on horse chestnut it is bright green with small tubercles, and on the seed chestnut - brown, with long spikes.

The only similarity of horse and sowing chestnuts is the external similarity of the fruits: they are dark brown in color, with a smooth, shiny surface, decorated with a bright spot.

Types of Edible Chestnuts

In the world there are about 30 species of chestnut trees and shrubs.

The most popular types of seed chestnut, the fruits of which can be eaten, are:

• European sowing;
• Japanese, or towny;
• Chinese softest.

Each species differs from each other in habitat, trunk height, size and shape of leaves and fruits, flowering and fruiting.

   Chinese soft chestnut

Where is it growing?

Edible chestnut - a tree with a moody character. For a rich harvest, this fastidious culture needs a warm climate, air humidity of at least 70% and slightly acidic, moist soil.

Chestnut does not withstand not only drought and summer heat, but also a drop in air temperature in the spring and summer. He loves light, but this does not prevent him from growing in the shade.

In Russia, these chestnuts can only be found in the Krasnodar Territory. It also grows in Armenia and Azerbaijan. But the chestnut fruits from these places rarely reach even the size of a walnut.

Things are quite different in Italy, France, Spain. The fruits of European chestnuts grow to the size of a large mandarin, as the climate and soil of these countries are ideal for this wonderful tree. Edible chestnut is also cultivated in southern Ukraine, the Balkans, East Asia and the US Atlantic coast.

Collection and storage

Harvest from one adult tree is from 60 to 200 kg. Fruiting begins from 3-15 years.

By the time of full ripening, the fruits of the chestnut contain the maximum amount of nutrients. The degree of maturity can be determined by the color of the fruit - they become dark brown. This time is ideal to start the collection.

The fruits are harvested before they begin to fall from the tree, by the time they are almost completely developed:

Freshly picked chestnuts are much better than dried chestnuts. They contain a maximum of useful substances, and they also taste better. Storage of fresh fruits is permissible only at a temperature close to zero.

For the purpose of long-term storage, the collected nuts are dried in the open sun, or in special dryers and placed in dry, well-ventilated rooms.

Leaves are harvested in August - September. They should be no more than 20 cm in length. Then they are laid out in loose layers and dried in shaded places. Storage takes place in cardboard containers or linen bags and always in a dry room.

How to choose and where to buy

The edible chestnut season lasts from August to November. At this time, the fruits and seeds of freshly harvested chestnuts can be purchased in the markets, as well as in supermarkets. Fresh chestnuts have a short shelf life and quickly deteriorate. Pickled or freshly frozen chestnuts are on sale throughout the year.

When choosing the fruits of an edible chestnut, pay attention to:

• On the shape and size. Nuts must be large, of the same size;
• On weight and hardness. Quality chestnuts are heavy and hard;
• To the surface. Nuts should be glossy, dark brown.

When buying fruits of edible chestnut on the market, be sure to purchase it. Seeds and fruits of horse chestnut, which is unfit for human consumption, are also sold in the markets.

Edible species characteristics

• fresh fruits have a sweet, pleasant taste;
• after heat treatment, the fruit resembles potatoes to taste;
• beginning of flowering: June, July;
• the first flowering occurs in the 3-12 year of life;
• the diameter of ripe pluses in forest chestnuts is up to 6 cm, in cultivated chestnuts - up to 10 cm

Nutritional value and calorie content

The fruits of the planting chestnut are a unique food product. They have high energy value and are very nutritious. Due to the lower fat content compared to other nuts, chestnuts are considered more healthy and less oily.

In 100 gr. fresh nuts contains:

• proteins - 1.6 grams;
• fats - 1.25 grams;
• carbohydrates - 44 grams.

Calorie chestnut fruits:

• fried - 182 kcal / 100 gr;
• fresh - 166 kcal / 100 gr;
• stewed or boiled - 131 kcal / 100 gr;
• for a couple - 56 kcal / 100 gr.

Chemical composition

Edible chestnut fruits contain:

• carbohydrates - up to 62%;
• proteins - up to 6%;
• fats - up to 5%;
• various trace elements: titanium, molybdenum, cobalt, barium, fluorine, aluminum, zinc, copper;
• essential mineral salts; phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, sodium, potassium;
• fiber - from 2.5 to 3.5%;
• sugar - up to 17%;
• various vitamins - B1 and B2, C, PP, A;
• acids: lactic, citric, malic;
• tannins;
• oils;
• pectins;
• flavonoids.

The bark of the trunk and branches of the edible chestnut contains:

• glycosides;
• oils;
• tannins.

Edible chestnut leaves contain:

• glycosides;
• pectins;
• routine;
• vitamin K;
• vitamin C;
• flavone compounds;
• tannins.

Beneficial features

Chestnut has earned human love not only because of its beauty and delicious taste of the fruit. The amazing abilities of this tree have been discovered for a long time.

Edible chestnut has a beneficial effect on human health, as it has the following medicinal properties:

• anti-inflammatory;
• antitussive;
• wound healing;
• painkiller;
• antipyretic;
• astringent;
• hemostatic;
• diuretic;
• saturation of the body with proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, fiber and minerals.

See more about edible chestnuts in the next video.

Horse chestnut has more powerful healing properties. The spectrum of its action is the widest and is used as such means as:

• anti-inflammatory;
• decongestant;
• anticonvulsant;
• venotonic;
• hemostatic;
• astringent;
• bactericidal;
• wound healing;
• anesthetizing;
• sedative;
• antioxidant;
• antitumor;
• tonic;
• diuretic;
• sweatshops;
• antipyretic;
• antithrombotic;
• anti-sclerotic;
• immuno-strengthening.

Harm

Despite such an impressive list of useful properties of chestnut, it is necessary to say about contraindications and possible harm that your health may cause, eating chestnut fruits in food or using medicines based on this plant.

When eating chestnut, the following complications can occur:

• violation of the digestive tract due to excessive consumption: constipation, diarrhea, bloating.
• cramps
• exacerbation of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, blood, liver and kidneys;
• allergic reactions.

Contraindications

Contraindications to the use of edible chestnut in the dosage form and as a food product:

• individual intolerance;
• hypotension;
• decreased blood clotting;
• overweight;
• chronic renal failure;
• pregnancy and breastfeeding (due to the risk of allergic reactions);
• diabetes is a contraindication for the consumption of chestnut honey.
• menstrual irregularities.

Also, horse chestnut fruits can cause harm to health, when a person unknowingly takes them for edible chestnuts. In case of poisoning, nausea appears and digestion is disturbed. And it is also possible allergic reactions with external use of horse chestnut.

Oil

Since the flesh of a chestnut contains little fat, a large amount of oil cannot be obtained from it. Chestnut oil is used in cosmetology for the production of creams and shampoos.

Chestnut oil cares for dry hair and protects it from drying out. And also used to care for oily skin, restoring its balance. Chestnut oil is able to protect the skin from ultraviolet radiation.

Application

In cooking

The tasteful and healthy qualities of chestnut made it very popular in the food industry and cooking. As a source of vegetable protein, vegetarians include chestnut in their diet.

Edible chestnut fruits:

• eat raw, boiled, stewed, smoked or fried;
• crushed into flour and coffee drink;
• in grated form is used for the preparation of marzipan and chocolate;
• processed into alcohol.

Chestnut is a real find for creating both modest dishes and gourmet ones. In the kitchen it is used as:

• seasoning, filling and side dish for meat dishes;
• additive to first courses;
• seasoning for wheat and oatmeal;
• chestnut paste for making toasts and sandwiches;
• component for the preparation of confectionery and bakery products, pasta and various desserts;
• various independent dishes.

How to bake chestnuts in the oven, see the following video.

Souffle

Two yolks are ground with 50 gr. sugar, add vanillin, cinnamon and 20 gr. liquor and mixed with chestnut puree. Then two well-beaten proteins are gradually introduced into the dough and everything is mixed.

The soufflé mold is greased with oil, sprinkled with flour and spread the resulting mass. Then sent to the oven, heated to 200 degrees, for 20-25 minutes. The finished dish is removed from the mold, sprinkled with powdered sugar and immediately served on the table.

French cream soup

500 gr. peeled chestnuts are cooked over high heat for 5 minutes, then peel them and lower them in 1 liter of boiling meat broth. One onion is fried in butter and two grated carrots and one turnip (or celery) are added to it.

Vegetables spread in a pan, add salt and cook for another 10 minutes. until the chestnuts are ready. Allow the soup to cool slightly and beat it with a blender. Before serving, season with sour cream and garnish with dill or other herbs.

In medicine

The role of edible chestnut in medicine is invaluable.

Parts of the tree are used fresh and dried in the form of infusions, decoctions and alcohol tinctures for the treatment of many diseases:

• inflammatory processes of the upper respiratory tract;
• whooping cough;
• varicose veins;
• diseases of the stomach and intestines;
• edema associated with kidney disease;
• epistaxis;
• wounds and cuts;
• abscesses and boils;
• wounds and cuts;
• bladder catarrh and dysentery;
• expansion of the veins of the anus and rectum;
• dilated veins of the nasopharynx;
• painful menstruation;
• menopause

Flowers for painful menstruation

Dilute 30 drops of juice from chestnut inflorescences with two teaspoons of water and take twice a day.

Leaves with severe coughing and whooping cough

A mixture of two teaspoons of chopped chestnut leaves and 250 ml. bring the water to a boil and cook for 3-5 minutes. Then filter and take a throat during the day.

Separately, it must be said about chestnut bee honey: rare and incredibly healthy. Its specific taste is astringent and bitter. But its healing properties are undeniable. It saturates the body with vitamins B, C and D, enzymes, various amino acids, as well as calcium, manganese, iron and copper.

Chestnut honey is used:

• as the prevention of gastrointestinal diseases, to improve appetite and stimulate the secretion of bile;
• with asthma, bronchitis, tonsillitis and other diseases of the respiratory tract;
• to strengthen the organs of the cardiovascular system, as well as normalize blood pressure;
• with disorders of the nervous system, as it has a calming and relaxing effect;
• with various damage to the skin as an antibacterial agent.

To eliminate the bitterness in the taste of chestnut honey, you need to slightly warm it over a fire. But in this case, all valuable properties will be lost. Chestnut honey does not crystallize and can be stored for up to three years.

Horse chestnut in medicine

The therapeutic properties of horse chestnut have long been used in alternative medicine, and are also widely used in pharmaceuticals.

Medicines and folk medicine based on horse chestnut help with the following diseases:

• varicose veins and varicose ulcers;
• sinusitis;
• hemorrhoids;
• arthritic and rheumatic pains;
• diarrhea;
• malaria;
• uterine bleeding;
• salts and radionuclides in the body.

Fruit broth bath

A bath with a decoction of horse chestnut fruit is effective for the treatment of mastopathy, varicose veins, circulatory disorders, hemorrhoids, rheumatism, thrombophlebitis and vascular spasm.

One kilogram of fruit and 5 liters of water are brought to a boil, and then boiled over low heat for 30 minutes. The resulting broth is filtered, poured into the bath, where it cools to 37-38 degrees. This bath is taken for 10-15 minutes before bedtime. The course is 10 to 12 baths, daily or every other day.

Infusion of fruits on the water

Take 2 tbsp. chopped horse chestnut, pour boiling water. Put in a water bath for 15 minutes. Strain the broth and take 2 tbsp. 4 times a day for the following diseases:

• cough,
• bronchitis,
• diarrhea
• inflammation of the kidneys.

To be treated before recovery.

Oil for varicose veins, bruises

5 tbsp chopped fruit pour 0.5 l. vegetable oil. Put in a water bath for 1 hour. Cool and strain. Rub 2-3 times a day in problem areas.

To be treated before recovery.

Alcohol tincture on flowers

Put horse chestnut fresh flowers in a 1/3 volume bottle, add alcohol and cork well. Insist 1 month in a dark warm place. Shake daily. Strain. Refrigerate for storage.

Alcohol tincture of fruits

30 pcs horse chestnut peel and peel and chop, pour 0.5 liters. vodka. Cork and put in a dark place for 1 week. Strain.

Rub into problem areas 2-3 times a day. The course of treatment is 1-2 months.

Inside, tincture is taken with the addition of boiled water, 20 drops 3 times a day 30 minutes before meals. The course of treatment is 4-8 weeks.

The healing properties of this tincture:

• thins the blood
• with varicose veins,
• thrombophlebitis
• bruises
• gkmorroe,
• hypertension
• radiculitis
• arthrosis,
• osteochondrosis,
• sprain.

Infusion of bark on the water

1/2 tsp crushed bark of horse-cereal pour 1 tbsp. boiled water at room temperature. Insist 8 hours, strain. Take the infusion 3-4 times a day for 2 tablespoons. 30 minutes before meals with the following diseases:

• hemorrhoids (apply both internally and externally),
• lung and bronchial diseases
• diarrhea
• diseases of the back (apply both internally and externally),
• runny nose
• internal bleeding
• gout
• rheumatism.

The course of treatment is from 1 to 4 weeks, depending on the disease.

Hemorrhoids treatment bath

50 gr horse chestnut bark or branches pour 3 liters. water and bring to a boil. Cook for 15-20 minutes. Strain and pour into a bath of cool water.

Before going to bed after bowel movement, take a bath for 15 minutes. The course of treatment is 2 weeks.

Take 1 tsp at the same time. juice or alcohol tincture of flowers, diluted with water, 2 times a day for the entire course of treatment.

Sinusitis treatment

Peel fresh horse chestnut. To give the fetus the shape of a “pencil” with a size so that it fits into the nostril. Lubricate the “pencil” with honey and insert into the nostril.

After 5 minutes there will be a burning sensation, sneezing. A lot of mucus will stand out. Remove the pencil immediately and insert into another nostril, leave it until mucus is secreted.

The procedure is done a day before recovery. Every time you need to use fresh chestnuts.

The tool is used on initial diseases in addition to the appointments of the attending physician.

Attention!  A prerequisite for the use of chestnut as a medicine is to consult a doctor.

In production

Chestnut wood is highly regarded in construction and furniture production due to its strength, aesthetic appearance and resistance to various fungi. It is more durable than oak, so it is recognized as the best for making barrels for aging wine.

Leaves, bark and buns act as raw materials for natural dyes and extracts for vegetable tanning of the skin.

Extracted chestnut chips are used in the production of pulp, and chestnut oil is used in soap manufacture.

At home

In everyday life, chestnut trees are used as a decorative element for garden and summer cottages. Often, chestnut is grown at home.

Varieties

There are more than 400 crops suitable for cultivation. The most common varieties are:

• Large-fruited. Fruit weight - 7-12 g. It grows in Azerbaijan;
• Small-fruited. Fruit weight - 4.5-6.5 g. It grows in Azerbaijan;
• Lyons, Storm de Lilyac, Neapolitan. Fruit weight - 20-60 g. Cultivated in Italy, southern France and the Iberian Peninsula.

Chestnuts with large fruits are not found in the natural environment.

About the red chestnut, which is not afraid of chestnut moths, see the following video.

Cultivation and care

For the cultivation of seed chestnut, certain climatic conditions and soil composition are necessary. However, there are cultivars of edible chestnut adapted for wintering, which are grown in temperate climates.

There are several ways to grow chestnut:

• seedlings;
• seeds in the spring;
• seeded in the fall.

Seedlings

For the first method, you need to purchase chestnut seedlings. This can be done in flower markets, but for complete confidence in their quality it is recommended to contact a specialized nursery.

For planting, a special soil substrate is used, consisting of forest land (50%), humus (50%), special dolomite flour and slaked lime, 0.5 kg per 50 cm3. This mass is placed in the ground, seedlings are planted at a depth of about 10 cm and watered abundantly with water at a comfortable temperature. Keep in mind that for best fruiting, one seedling needs an area of \u200b\u200babout 3 meters in diameter.

Seeded in spring

For the spring method of cultivation, the fruits of the last crop are used, which were aged under temperature conditions from + 5 to 6 ° C for 5 months. Five days before planting in the soil, it is necessary to soak the fruits in warm water. Then their shell swells, and inside the process of embryo development begins. Then these seeds are planted in the ground without shelter.

Seeded in autumn

For the autumn cultivation method, crumbled nuts are collected and a stratification procedure is carried out. The fruits are placed in open containers and sprinkled with sand, and then removed in the cold for 10-12 days. The best temperature for stratification of seeds: from + 5 to 6 ° C.

After that, the seeds are planted in well-moistened soil to a depth of 5 or 6 cm, every 10 or 15 cm, and from above they are covered with fallen leaves. In spring it is necessary to thin out the seedlings.

Care

When caring for a chestnut tree produce:

• watering young trees as the soil dries;
• single fertilizer in early spring;
• loosening the soil 2 or 3 times during the season;
• mulching the soil around the trunk with fallen leaves, sawdust or peat.

On growing chestnuts at home, see the following video.

• the beams of the famous Notre Dame Cathedral in Reims are made of Colchis chestnut wood;
• during the reign of Alexander the Great, army food supplies were provided by crops from numerous chestnut groves that were planted specifically for these needs;
• more than 75% of the world production of chestnuts falls on the PRC (69%) and Korea (7%). The share of Russia is 2%;
• the life of the chestnut under optimal conditions is 500 years or more;
• spiders never weave in buildings made of this wood. Due to this valuable property, the construction of most of the medieval castles of Europe used beams made of chestnut wood;
• edible chestnuts cooked on fire, eat hot and washed down with grape juice. This combination is the most perfect for gourmets;
• horse chestnut flowers are endowed with valuable properties only the first 2 days of flowering.

Modern medicine is increasingly resorting to old and already proven recipes. Patients try to prefer natural medications to medicines. Perhaps this is correct, because such compounds cause the human body much less damage than a variety of chemical compounds. One of the well-known medicinal products is the chestnut fruit. Their application is quite wide. It can be both internal and external.

This article will provide you with information on how to properly cook and collect the fruits of chestnut. The use in folk medicine of this tool will be described below. You can find out what problems and diseases it eliminates.

Chestnut: tree fruits

If we talk about the components from which traditional natural medicines are made, then this is not only dense round chestnuts. Currently, the benefits of tree bark, its inflorescences, leaves and green shells of the fruit have been proven. The components described are always collected at different times. The flowering period is the spring months, in particular May. It is then that the neatly cut inflorescences and leaves from the plant are produced.

Mostly collected in this period. It contains the maximum amount of nutrients. Speaking directly about the fruits, they are harvested in late summer or early fall. It all depends on the region in which the trees grow. In warm areas, this period falls on September-October. In colder - in July-August. After assembly, the fruits of the chestnut, the photo of which is presented to your attention in the article, are carefully processed. They can be dried, crushed, cooked or infused. It all depends on the purpose of the application.

Chestnut fruits: properties

The plant gained popularity in folk medicine many decades ago. In the 18th century, chestnut extracts were first used in traditional medicine. Currently, you can find a lot of drugs containing this plant.

The healing properties of chestnut fruits can be listed for a very long time. The plant has antiseptic, astringent, healing, antipyretic and regenerating effects. It also has a beneficial effect on blood, blood vessels and the heart. It is impossible not to note the medicinal properties of chestnut in relation to the stomach, intestines and the general digestive system. The fruit of the tree is widely used to treat neurological problems and diseases of the respiratory system. Skin pathologies are often eliminated with a plant such as chestnut (its fruit). Cosmetology is a separate branch of medicine in which the described product is used.

To whom is the plant contraindicated for use?

Treatment with chestnut fruits almost always has positive reviews. All due to the fact that it contains a huge amount of tannins, vitamins (especially C), coumarin glycosides (fraxin, esculin and others), starch, fatty oil. However, some people are contraindicated in such components. That is why, before you independently resort to traditional medicine, you need to visit a doctor and consult with him.

Chestnut fruits (photo - below) and potions from them should not be used during pregnancy and after childbirth. During lactation, it is better to abandon such therapy, since there is no data on the effect of the plant on the child. Cooked products can not be taken with reduced platelets and bleeding. It can be life threatening. Chestnut (fruit) is not used for exacerbations of kidney and liver diseases. If the patient suffers from gastritis, an imbalance in the acid balance of the stomach, then it is worth warning him about the dangers of such treatment.

Chestnut fruits (the use of drugs prepared from them) can lead to the development of seizures of the extremities, the appearance of heartburn, nausea, vomiting, and stool disorders. If you encounter such symptoms, then categorically refuse traditional treatment and seek help from traditional medicine.

Horse chestnut (fruits): application in various fields

As you already know, the prepared medicine can be used internally and as a local remedy. It all depends on the pathology and accompanying symptoms. The most popular remedy is chestnut tincture. It is prepared in various ways, however, all options for use can be divided into two. In the first case, the drug is taken drip inside. In the second, it is applied to the surfaces of the body.

Chestnut lotions and decoctions are also very popular. To prepare them, use bark, peel and flowers. Preliminarily, the ingredients are dried and ground.

An important point in the use of chestnut is a ban on its use. It must be remembered that the fruits of this tree are inedible. They are very dangerous for health in their usual form. If a person consumes several fruits, then severe poisoning can occur (up to a fatal outcome). It is necessary to protect the prepared raw materials from children and pets. Especially often the victims of chestnut are domestic rodents and dogs. Consider what horse chestnut (fruit) has in folk medicine.

Diseases of the veins and blood vessels

Chestnut (tree fruits) is often used to treat hemorrhoids and varicose veins. The main quality of the plant is that it helps to thin the blood and remove the inflammatory process. The most useful parts of the tree for this purpose are brown fruits and flowers. The tincture is being prepared from the latter. Fruits can be used as raw materials for a compress.

• To prepare the tincture, you need to take round brown chestnut fruits (5 pieces) and 50 grams of dried inflorescences. All this is placed in enameled or glassware and poured with vodka. You need to insist the medicine for two weeks in a dark place, shaking daily. Such a drug is applied to the dilated veins of the lower extremities with a cotton swab twice a day.
• Take fresh inflorescences and squeeze the juice from them. The resulting composition should be stored in the refrigerator, taking 30 drops daily. Remember that manipulation is best done before meals.
• If you suffer from hemorrhoids or ulcers appear on your legs, you can use the chestnut crushed into dust. To do this, clean the skin and dry it. Then grind it and store in a dry place. Sprinkle the affected areas daily at bedtime, then apply a bandage.

Viral and bacterial infections of the respiratory tract

Chestnut (fruit) is able to cure diseases such as tracheitis, bronchitis, tonsillitis, laryngitis. In some cases, the plant helps to cope even with pulmonary tuberculosis. With any disease that is accompanied by a cough, the effect of the plant is observed. However, you need to know how to cook it.

• Take the dried bark of a tree and chop it. Pour the fruit with two glasses of chilled water and let stand for 8 hours. After this, it is necessary to strain the drink. Take 3 tablespoons by mouth up to 6 times a day.
• Grind dry Take one tablespoon of raw materials and fill it with two glasses of boiling water. Wait 10 minutes and strain. In the resulting liquid, put two tablespoons of honey. Drink a quarter cup three times a day.

Women's issues

Often used in gynecology is the chestnut plant - a tree whose fruits have the important property of normalizing hormonal levels. So, such alternative medicines are prescribed for malfunctions in the menstrual cycle, a prolonged absence of menstruation, infertility, mastopathy, and so on. Remember that you must always consult with a gynecologist before starting the correction.

• Prepare 8 dry flowers of a tree and fill them with hot water. Bring the solution to a boil and remove from the stove. After this, strain and leave overnight. The next day, drink one sip every hour. Next, take a break for two days and build a diagram.
• For cycle disorders, tincture is usually recommended. To prepare it, take the whole fruit of the chestnut in a ratio of 1 per 100 milliliters of vodka. Mix the ingredients and leave for one month. You can take the composition 5 drops three times a day, starting from day 16 of the cycle. Remember that the drug contains alcohol. Gynecologists advise, before starting this correction, to take tests to determine the level of hormones in the blood and get recommendations from a specialist.

Joint diseases: inflammation and trauma

The properties of horse chestnut are different. Among them there is an anesthetic. If you suffer from rheumatism, arthritis, inflammation of the articular joints, then chestnut will help you. In such situations, the plant can be used both internally and externally. To enhance the effect, these two schemes are combined.

• Take 10 green fruits and lightly cut them. Place in a container and fill with a bottle of vodka. Wait a week, then strain. This tincture is taken orally by 20 drops with a meal. If it is impossible to use ethanol, compresses are made from the obtained tincture once a day for two hours.
• Peeled chestnut fruits in an amount of 5 pieces, grind into flour, add a fat cream or butter. If possible, you can use. In this case, the effect will be maximum. Rub the sore spots before going to bed, and then wrap them with cloth.

Stool Disorders: Diarrhea and Diarrhea

As you already know, chestnut fruits contain tannins and astringents. They relieve inflammation and establish intestinal motility. With diarrhea, this medicine helps quickly and effectively.

• Grind a teaspoon of bark and fill it with two glasses of boiling water. Wait until the broth cools down, and then strain. Take 50 milliliters before each meal.
• Peel the fruits of the chestnut from the green peel and mash the last in the mortar. Add half a glass of hot water and leave for 6 hours. Then remove the peel. Take a teaspoon drink three times a day.

When treating diarrhea with the described agent, you need to carefully monitor the work of the intestines. As soon as the condition returned to normal, the folk remedy is canceled. Excessive use of the drug can lead to chronic constipation.

Use in cosmetology: chestnut for face and hair

Recently, the plant has been used very often for the preparation of masks, point preparations and hair components. As you already know, chestnut has antioxidant properties. This helps women using this composition to keep their skin young and beautiful. Even in a polluted and dusty city, the fairer sex can have a beautiful complexion. Chestnut and its fruits help get rid of acne, blackheads, skin irregularities, as well as narrow enlarged pores.

For the face, you can cook a variety of masks with chestnut. For this purpose, fresh inflorescences and fruits of the tree are chopped. Depending on the type of skin, additional ingredients are added: honey and egg yolk (for and cucumber (for oily); lemon and zinc paste (for problematic), etc. Before doing this, be sure to conduct a sensitivity test and make sure that there is no allergic reaction.

The use of chestnut for hair helps reduce hair loss and enhance growth. As a result, the hair becomes soft, shiny and obedient. Problems such as dandruff, seborrhea, high fat content and the like are eliminated. After each wash, rinse the curls with a decoction of chestnut. To prepare it, take whole fruits and place in an enameled bowl with water. Bring to a boil and wait 10 minutes. Cool and strain.

Chestnuts, the benefits and harms of which have been known to people since ancient times, are used not only in folk, but also in traditional medicine. About 30 species of this representative flora grow in nature, the most widely used by people are fruits and other parts of the plant of 2 types of chestnuts: horse and noble.

The benefits and harms of a noble chestnut

Chestnuts are well known not only as sources of medicinal raw materials. Trees have a very aesthetic appearance, therefore, are widely used for landscaping cities. Flowering plants are very beautiful. In addition, these are magnificent honey carriers. Chestnut honey is highly valued for its exquisite taste, amazing aroma and pronounced healing properties. The strong wood of these trees has long been used in carpentry and for the manufacture of barrels. Sweetish edible fruits are exported by some Mediterranean countries.

The fruits are mainly used in cooking. Chestnuts, the benefits and harms of which are determined by their chemical composition, are a delicacy for many gourmets. They contain a large amount of potassium and copper, so they are useful for heart failure. A fairly high content of iron and phosphorus improves the condition of anemia. Compared to other nuts, chestnuts are record holders for the presence of vitamins C, PP, A, B. Due to their low fat content (up to 5%) and high enough protein and carbohydrate content, fruits are highly appreciated by those who monitor their weight. You can satisfy your hunger by eating only 3-4 fried fruits. The high content of vegetable protein in chestnuts makes them an indispensable product, along with legumes, for many vegetarians.

How to eat chestnuts? There are many ways to use fruits in cooking:

• powder is used to make coffee;
• ground fruits are used in the preparation of marzipan and chocolate;
• edible chestnuts are added to the side dish to the meat;
• stuffed with nuts nuts;
• roasted chestnuts are added to soups;
• from them you can make pasta for sandwiches;
• they are just fried for the Christmas holidays.

For those who do not know whether it is possible to eat chestnuts raw, we answer: you can eat raw. But, like all nuts, roasted is still tastier.

It is believed that the use of nuts of a noble chestnut cheers up, helps fight chronic fatigue and stress. In addition, the fruits normalize metabolism, restore the composition of cartilage and bone tissue, have a beneficial effect on the functioning of the heart, circulatory system and kidneys, relieve swelling and have a slight analgesic effect. Chestnut vegetable oils improve skin condition and restore hair structure.

Since the fruits are very satisfying, it is difficult to overeat, but abuse can lead to bloating and constipation even in a healthy person. Allergy sufferers also should not get involved in them, as nuts can provoke an exacerbation of allergies. You can not often eat the fruits of a noble chestnut and people who have low blood clotting and low blood pressure.

How to distinguish edible chestnut from horse?

Be careful and do not confuse noble and horse chestnuts. The nuts of these trees are really similar in appearance. But the trees themselves are very different from each other. Edible chestnut belongs to the Bukov family, it grows mainly in Mediterranean countries. Konskiy is a separate family of the Konskokashtanovs; its distribution range also covers northern countries. He has inflorescences similar to openwork candles, the stem of the inflorescence is located vertically upward. And at the edible inflorescences collected in long earrings. Complex leaves of horse chestnut are similar to an open palm, 1 sheet consists of 5-7 plates. The edible leaves are simple, with small sharp teeth, up to 30 cm long.

The fruits of both trees are covered with a meaty shell. The green hilly shell of the horse fruit looks like an underwater mine. And the edible shell is brown in color with small spikes. Ripe fruits fall out of the shell. The chestnut has a smooth, shiny brown surface with a bright matte spot on one side.

These 2 fruits taste very different from each other. The bitter taste of horse makes it suitable only as an additive to livestock feed. By the way, from ancient times, the Turks fed horses, exhausted in long hikes, chestnuts. At the same time, horses recovered very quickly. Hence the name.

The benefits and harms of horse chestnut

What is useful chestnut? Although horse chestnuts are not suitable for food, they have a rich chemical composition. Horse chestnut, the benefit and harm of which is determined by biologically active substances, has been used to treat various diseases for a very long time. In the Mediterranean countries, fruits and bark were used as far back as the Middle Ages in the treatment of fever, amoebic dysentery and malaria. Powder from nuts was applied to varicose ulcers. With gout, it was recommended to take baths with a decoction of chestnuts.

In Germany, in the eighteenth century, with lingering diarrhea, hemorrhoids, and uterine bleeding, a decoction of the bark was used. Sebastian Kneipp, a German priest who devoted his whole life to the development of healing methods that are simple and accessible to everyone, advised using horse chestnut for thrombophlebitis, for cleansing the liver and gastrointestinal tract, for inflammation of the female genital organs, colds, radiculitis, and rheumatic pains.

After years of research, alcohol tincture of the plant entered the official medicine of European countries in 1866. Since that time, they began to sell it in pharmacies for the treatment of chronic inflammation of the intestines, gout and hemorrhoids. Since the end of the 19th century, horse chestnut has been used by doctors in France to treat varicose veins, prostatitis and prostate adenoma. In the middle of the twentieth century, in Germany began the mass production of drugs containing extracts from fruits and used in the expansion of veins. In modern pharmaceuticals, plant extracts are available as part of the following drugs:

• Reparil-gel;
• Aescusan;
• Eskuvi;
• Esaven Gel;
• Avenol et al.

The pharmaceutical effect of the drugs is primarily due to the content of bioactive compounds in almost all parts of the plant. In the course of scientific research, it was found that escin, present in the cortex and fruits, has a vasoconstrictive effect, it relieves inflammation and swelling. The calming effect of drugs is used in the pathology of the nervous system (hypochondria, hysteria). Such drugs are highly effective in the treatment of radiation sickness, as they actively purify the blood from radionuclides and toxins.

Chestnut, whose beneficial properties are expressed in anti-inflammatory, decongestant, analgesic, anticonvulsant, wound healing, hemostatic, astringent, bactericidal action, has found widespread use in folk medicine in many countries of the world.

For the treatment of varicose veins on the legs and hemorrhoid cones, freshly squeezed juice of plant flowers is taken inside. 30 drops of juice should be instilled in 1 tbsp. l and add water. Take 2 times a day.

Flower juice can be preserved. To do this, it is diluted in half with water, brought to a boil and rolled into jars. At the reception, 30-40 g of juice is used.

A decoction of green seed coat has a pronounced hemostatic effect. Therefore, it is used for uterine and intestinal bleeding, not associated with cancer processes.

With leukemia, an infusion of horse chestnut flowers can be an excellent additional means of restoring blood composition. For its preparation, 1 tbsp. l pour flowers in 1 cup of cold water, bring to a boil and insist 8 hours. Infusion is used for 1 tbsp. l every 15-20 minutes. Thus, up to 1 liter of infusion is drunk this day. The course of treatment is 2 cycles of 20 days with a break of 10 days.
  The same infusion and the same treatment regimen are used for brain tumors.

The shiny brown shell of chestnuts is used in the preparation of a treatment for prostatitis. For this, the seed peel is ground into powder and diluted in vodka in a ratio of 1:10, i.e. on a bottle of vodka (0.5 l) you need to take 50 g of powder. Insist for 1 month. Take 20 drops 5-6 minutes before meals. The treatment is also course. 20 days of drug use alternate with 10 days of rest.

A decoction of horse chestnut leaves is prescribed for rheumatism and gout, cholecystitis, vasospasm, inflammation and intestinal atony. The effectiveness of a decoction of leaves with inflammation of the bronchi and pulmonary tuberculosis has been proven. A decoction of bark and leaves is especially useful for smokers.

The components are harvested in the spring, immediately after the flowering of the tree. It is better to collect bark from young thin branches. Raw materials are dried in a shady, well-ventilated area.

The rich content of useful mineral components and bioactive substances in horse chestnut flower extracts has identified them as a valuable component of many cosmetics. They neutralize the effect of free radicals, slow down aging, tone the walls of the capillaries, enhance blood microcirculation and have a calming effect. Therefore, drugs can be used for itchy dermatitis.

Precautionary measures

The health benefits of chestnuts are expressed in the many recipes of traditional medicine. However, when using drugs, precautions must be observed.

Although the fruits are considered slightly toxic, they are not recommended for pregnant women and nursing mothers.

In all cases, funds can be taken only after consultation with your doctor.