Aesculus

Varicose veins with a tendency to itch, throb, or swell toward evening

Overview. Aesculus glabra, the Ohio buckeye, is a medium sized tree of the eastern and central United States whose seeds and bark were used by nineteenth century Eclectic physicians much as horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) is used today. The seed, bark, and occasionally leaf were the parts employed, the bark as a bitter astringent febrifuge and the seed for its action on the venous system. Modern herbal use of this genus for venous complaints rests almost entirely on standardized horse chestnut seed extract, with Ohio buckeye itself now rarely commercialized, though its chemistry and traditional applications closely parallel its European relative.

Clinical Notes. In practice today, when a clinician reaches for buckeye it is almost always in the form of a standardized horse chestnut seed extract rather than raw Ohio buckeye material, because the crude seed is unpalatable and unsafe without processing.

Therapy. Aesculus Glabra is a narcotic, but actively stimulates the nervous system somewhat like nux vomica. It has a special influence on the capillary circulation of the rectum, and on the pelvic and portal circulations and overcomes constipation and congestion associated with hemorrhoids, and aids in the absorption of the coagulated blood in hemorrhoidal tumors where a surgical operation is not deemed advisable.

Action, Medical Uses, and Dosage. Undoubtedly horse-chestnut acts upon the human system very much after the manner of buckeye (Aesculus glabra). By some, however, its power over the circulation is thought to be more pronounced, particularly its control over the portal vessels.