Horse chestnut extract for venous disorders

Venous problems: effectiveness of horse chestnut extract confirmed again

18/02/2013

Venous disease is a common health problem, the incidence and severity increase with age. The gold standard of the treatment is the compression therapy with individually adapted medical compression stockings. As a recent Cochrane documentation shows, taking an extract of the horse chestnut (Aesculus Hippocastanum L.) offers an effective treatment option.

According to surveys of the German Society of Phlebology 30 percent of the population have symptoms such as varicose veins, edema or open legs. The poor perfusion of the leg veins (chronic venous insufficiency, CVI) often results in pain, swelling, itching, tiredness and increased hardening of the skin. The compression therapy, which promotes particularly effective the outflow of venous blood, but is difficult to handle and leads to unpleasant heat accumulation in the summer. Many sufferers reject it therefore.

An effective alternative is to take an extract of horse chestnut seed. The efficacy and tolerability of the herbal medicine has recently been reaffirmed (Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2012, Issue 11. Art. No .: CD003230, DOI: 10.1002 / 14651858.CD003230.pub4). In order to refresh already existing findings, the authors examined the available literature from the years 2002 to 2008 and requested the publishers of horse chestnut extracts already published and not yet published material. The analysis included data from a total of 17 randomized controlled trials.

The most important results:
1. Overall, the extracts of horse chestnut seeds have been shown to be effective in relieving subjective discomfort and objective symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency.
2. In six out of seven studies, measurements revealed leg circumference reduction compared to placebo.
3. Similar results were found in the symptom itching.
4. Another study even showed equivalent effects to the comparative compression therapy.

Well-documented extracts of horse chestnut seeds are an effective alternative for the treatment of venous problems, especially in summer. (Pm)

Picture: birgitH