European Chestnut

• Overview
• Uses
• Side Effects
• Precautions
• Interactions
• Dosing

European chestnut is a tree. The leaves are used to make a medicinal tea.

People take European chestnut for breathing problems including bronchitis and whooping cough; and for digestive tract disorders including diarrhea, bloody stools, nausea, and other stomach disorders.

Other uses include treatment of disorders affecting the legs and circulation, fever, infection, swelling, kidney disorders, muscle pain, a connective tissue disorder called sclerosis, and swelling of the lymph nodes due to tuberculosis infection.

People also use European chestnut as a gargle for sore throat. They sometimes apply it directly to the skin for treating wounds.

How does it work?

European chestnut contains chemicals called tannins that might help reduce skin swelling (inflammation) and have a drying (astringent) effect on the tissues.

Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...

• Bronchitis.
• Whooping cough.
• Nausea.
• Diarrhea.
• Stomach problems.
• Circulation problems.
• Fever.
• Infections.
• Kidney disorders.
• Muscle pain.
• Sore throat, when used as a gargle.
• Wounds, when applied directly to the skin.
• Other conditions.

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate (detailed description of each of the ratings).

European chestnut seems safe for most adults when taken by mouth. There isn't enough information to know whether it can be safely applied to the skin as a medicine.

European chestnut contains a large amount of chemicals called tannins. Tannins absorb substances in the stomach and intestines. Taking European chestnut along with medications taken by mouth can decrease how much medicine your body absorbs, and decrease the effectiveness of your medicine. To prevent this interaction, take European chestnut at least one hour after medications you take by mouth.

The appropriate dose of European chestnut depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for European chestnut. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.