Wild chestnut is a large tree that usually has a height of about 20 to 30 meters. It is a large, thick, and leafy tree. The bark of the wild chestnut is cracked and is brown colored. On relatively thick branches, in April and May bright buds are usually developed, which have shells that excrete a resin-like mixture of substances. Protected from the cold and other harmful conditions, from the shells in the interior of the mentioned buds, flowers and leaves are developed. The leaves are placed on long shanks. They usually consist of 7 smaller parts that look a bit like fingers of the hand. These smaller perts of leaves have a jaggy edge.
The flowers are symmetrical, usually white or yellow and can have pink spots. They usually stand and grow in upright stips. The flower are bell shaped with 4 to 5 unequal petals and about 7 bent stamens that can also be seen. The fruit of this medicinal plant is in form of a spiny pouch with 1 to 4 relatively large shining brown seeds. For medicinal applications drug in the spring usually buds and flowers are collected. In the fall, the seeds of chestnuts are collected.
Flowers and buds of the wild chestnut are good remedy for rheumatic problems, gout and neuralgia. Wild chestnut fruits are also used in the treatment of hemorrhoids and enlarged prostate, swollen scrotum, varicose veins, fever from colds and diarrhea.
There are also many more properties that herbal remedies like wild chestnut have, but all the data that would be necessary to mention to describe plants like this one properly, probably wouldn’t fit in a single article. Luckily, there are many websites that describe medicinal abilities of wild chestnut more deeply, so one can also look for more information there.
