Horse Chestnut, (Aesculus hippocastanum L.) dried leaves and nut oil used as medicine.   Nut is not edible. Active compounds are triterpene saponins, rutin, quercitrin isoquercitrin.  Traditional uses of dried leaves prepared in infusion to treat coughs, arthritis, rheumatism, varicose veins, leg pain such as from varicose veins or phlebitis.  Infusions also as a treatment for hemorrhoids and painful menstruation.

Oil extract of seed used to treat venous insufficiency, swelling of the legs.  Vascular tightening effect.
Native American Uses:  Ohio Buckeye, Aesculus glabra Willd. inside of fruit used as an emetic.
California Buckeye, Aesculus californica (Spach) Nutt. was used to treat hemorrhoids, whereas the fruit was mashed and applied  to hemorrhoids.

Seed of A. glabra toxic, inedible. Raw seeds of A. californica used to poison fish.  Yet, the seeds of californica also eaten as food after leaching and cooking.  Tannin content is high and toxic in these seeds. Water treatment of mashed seed carries away much of the water soluble tannins.

More Native American Medicine:  Delaware: Mutton tallow and ground nuts use to treat ear infections.  Nut meal used as poultice.  This ointment also used to treat piles, rheumatism.

Powdered nut use for cough, chest congestion, asthma (antispasmodic).  Nut power is considered poisonous.

Veterinarian/Wildlife:  Pounded roots used to knock out fish in pools, ponds.  Other sources suggest crushed nuts use for same purpose.  A. californica: Seeds may cause abortion in wildlife.  Fruit used as a treatment for worms in horses.

Survival:  Old dried wood of buckeye makes excellent fire drill.

 

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Edible chestnuts on the right,  inedible horse
chestnuts to the left.