Aescin is a natural compound found in horse chestnut seeds. It is often used to treat varicose veins and other venous disorders. Aescin works by strengthening the walls of veins and improving blood flow. It is available in supplement form and is usually used in creams and ointments.
Aescin and Veins
Venous disease is a common clinical vascular disease, which is a syndrome mainly caused by poor blood return and excessive venous pressure due to abnormal venous structure or function. Its main clinical features are lower extremity heaviness, fatigue, pain, edema and varicose veins, skin nutritional changes and venous ulcers. Drugs used to treat venous diseases can be broadly divided into two categories: venoactive drugs (VADs) and drugs that affect the properties of blood flow. VADs mainly include aescin. Aescin is the main active ingredient extracted from the dried and mature seeds of the aesculus plant Tianshi chestnut.
How Does Aescin Help Your Veins Health?
Several trials have shown that horse chestnut seed extract aescin improves symptoms associated with chronic venous insufficiency. Aescin reduces the permeability of the vessel wall to low molecular weight proteins, water, and electrolytes by stimulating the release of F-series prostaglandins that induce venous constriction, such as prostaglandin F2α. It has the functions of reducing capillary permeability, activating venous valves, increasing venous tension, promoting venous blood return, and scavenging free radicals.
What are the Side Effects of Aescin?
Adverse effects of aescins are usually mild and uncommon. The results of an analysis showed that the application of horse chestnut seed extract had a significant effect on pain, edema and leg fatigue, and no serious adverse events were reported. A small number of patients may experience itchy skin, nausea, or gastrointestinal distress. The use in children and pregnant women is unclear.