What is Organic Horse Chestnut Balm

Horse chestnut is a plant in the Hippocastanaceae family, it is well known to the countries in Europe and Asia. The tree is native to the countries of the Balkan Peninsula found in the gardens throughout Europe, the trees can grow up to 36 metres tall. During the first and second World War horse chestnut seeds were used to produce acetone . Horse chestnut seed extract is known for many benefits on human health, it has been investigated for its efficacy as vasoprotective, anti-edemigenous and antioxidant properties . Remedial use of horse chestnut seeds are used for treating haemorrhoids, lower back pain and varicose veins .

Horse chestnut seeds contain 3-6% aescin, a mixture of triterpene saponins. Saponins are known as aescin, these have a gentle soapy feel and are potent anti-inflammatory compounds. They help reduce capillary fragility and prevent leakage of fluids into the surrounding tissues which can cause swelling. Triterpene saponin mixture is made up of diacylated tetra- and pentahydroxy-beta-amyrin compounds, a primary component of the horse chestnut seeds. The seeds also contain hydroxycoumarin various flavonoids and polysaccharides.

What does Horse Chestnut Balm do?

• VENOUS INSUFFICIENCY (VI)

• This is a condition in the legs which causes the veins to work ineffectively, this makes it difficult for blood to return to the heart from the legs. Chronic venous in- sufficiency (CVI) is caused by poor blood flow in the veins of the legs. Effects of this can cause leg pain, swelling, itchiness, tenseness as well as hardening of the skin and fatigue. Venous insufficiency occurs in adults and its prevalence increases with age. Symptoms of venous insufficiency include oedema of the ankles and calf .

  An open study recorded 8 weeks of therapy of horse chestnut product aescin gel. The patients applied the gel every morning and evening, in combination with one 20mg tablet per day. By the end of the 8 weeks symptoms decreased heaviness and pain in the legs and blue discolouration all shown to improve .

  VASCULAR PROTECTIVE

• Varicose and spider veins are two known problematic vein disorders which appear in the legs around the ankles, calves, thighs and inner knees. These vein disorders occur as a result of blood collecting in the veins and leading to swelling. The blood has been known to cause the veins to expand beyond as it flows backwards. Topical application of a lotion containing horse chestnut twice a day over four weeks has helped in the treatment for vein disorders by allowing the lotion to penetrate into the epidermis. Result over the duration of using the lotion reduced the size and colouration of the spider veins, further use provides maintenance by inhibiting new veins to occur.

• ANTI-AGEING

• Horse chestnut extract has generated contraction forces in fibroblasts. Fibroblasts are a cell in connective tissue which produce collagen and other fibres and play a huge role in wound healing. Clinical testing was carried out using 40 healthy female volunteers, a gel formation of 3% of the extract was applied topically to the skin around the eye three times a day for nine weeks. Wrinkles on the corners of the eyes were significantly reduced after six weeks. Overall, this study indicates that a horse chestnut extract can generate contraction forces in fibroblasts and can be used as an anti-ageing ingredient for topical use on the skin .

• HAEMORRHOIDAL

• Haemorrhoids are a common gastrointestinal disorder which tend to worsen over time and should be treated as soon as they occur. They are small lumps which can appear inside and around the anus, haemorrhoids are caused by swollen veins in the lower rectum and tend to be painless unless severe they may cause pain and discomfort. Internal and external use of horse chestnut has been used to treat haemorrhoids. In a placebo-controlled double-blind study treatment with aescin was shown to improve swelling, a common symptom of haemorrhoids .

ANTIOXIDANT

Antioxidants are substances which may prevent or delay some types of cell damage. Free radicals can cause oxidative stress which may trigger cell damage. Both free radicals and oxidants play a duel role as toxic and beneficial compounds, these have been shown to be harmful or helpful to the body. It is important to consider diets which are high in fruits and vegetables as these are great sources of antioxidants and lower the risk of several diseases including, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.

A study investigated administration of an antioxidant formula containing horse chestnut. Patients involved in the study group had decreased levels of pain, swelling and bleeding after two weeks. After another two weeks results showed an improvement of both clinical signs and symptoms in the study group. Results indicated a positive improvement when horse chestnut was used as a treatment for haemorrhoids in combination with other herbs.

What does Sunflower oil do?

Sunflowers are a large crop with bright yellow petals and tall green stems. Sunflower seed oil originates from the seeds of Helianthus annus. This oil is made up of oleic and linoleic acid making it a suitable ingredient in skin products. Sunflower oil has shown encouraging benefits in improving hydration of the adult skin without inducing erythema (redness of the skin). Sunflower oil has been suggested as a suitable option for use in promoting skin barrier homeostasis.

What does Beeswax do?

• Beeswax is secreted by bees to build honeycombs where to store honey. When the wax is first secreted by the bees it is white and when in contact with honey and pollen the colour changes to an intense yellow. After four years the beeswax will turn brown this is because it contains cocoon.

• Beeswax may help with delaying collagen degradation and faster regeneration of the skin after damage, this is because beeswax contains beta carotene, a valuable source of vitamin A. Vitamin A contributes to healing of the skin, preventing breakouts, providing the skin with moisture and giving it a natural glow.

  What does Shea Butter do?

• Shea butter comes from a shea tree known as Vitellaria paradoxa. Native to West Africa it is often found south of the Sahara Desert. This fruit is green/yellow in colour. The outside fleshy layer leaves behind the seeds which are grounded into a paste and boiled into water so that shea butter can be extracted.

• Shea butter is composed of triglycerides in addition with oleic, stearic, linoleic and palmitic fatty acids. In addition, it is comprised of unsaponifiable compounds which are often used in the cosmetic industry, these compounds pose potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Shea butter is often used in the cosmetic industry and has shown to have the same effectiveness as ceramide precursor products when applied topically to the skin. Ceramides help the skin to produce more ceramide so that the skin can protect itself to a high extent.

  What does Burdock do?

Burdock is a plant from the Asteraceae family native to Europe and Asia. Tannin, arctigenin, arctin, β- eudesmol, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, inulin, trachelogenin 4, sitosterol-β-D-glucopyranoside, lap- paol, and diarctigenin are the main biologically active constituents isolated from burdock. Burdock has shown to treat skin complaints such as eczema, acne and psoriasis. In Chinese medicine, burdock root is used to treat conditions that result from accumulation of toxins in the body. Including sore throat, rashes, oils and skin complications.

What does Marigold flower do?

• Marigold flowers are from the daisy family Asteraceae, native to Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean countries. Marigold was popular in Ancient Greece and in Indian and Arabic cultures. The name Calendula is Latin meaning the first day of the month, which refers to the plants near-continual flowering habit. When used topically on the skin marigold was shown to accelerate wound healing and improvements in skin hydration and firmness. Calendula extract applied twice daily for 3 weeks was found to exert significant wound healing in patients with venous leg ulcers .

What does Rosemary do?

Rosemary is a herb with a distinct taste and aroma, native to the Mediterranean region. Rosemary is known to reduce signs of ageing in women’s facial skin. A significant improvement in fine lines, wrinkles, brightness, roughness, redness, hyperpigmentation, and overall appearance of the skin was found during a clinical trial after 12 weeks of topical use of moisturizer applied twice daily to the skin.

What does Lavender oil do?

Lavender oil is an essential oil which has been used for many years for its therapeutic uses to relieve pain and infection and helping support relaxation and sleep. Lavender was used in ancient Arabian, Greek and Roman medicines as an antiseptic. Essential oils are absorbed into the blood and therefore exert effects through the blood stream. Lavender aromatherapy massage was shown to significantly reduce pain in individuals with osteoarthritis over a short-term period.

INGREDIENTS

Helianthus annuus seed oil (Sunflower oil)
Cera flava (Beeswax)
Butyrospermum parkii (Shea butter)
Aesculus hippocastanum seed extract (Horse chestnut) Arctium lappa root extract (Burdock)

Calendula officinalis flower ext (Marigold flower) Rosmarinus extract (Rosemary)
Lavandula angustifolia oil (Lavender oil) Limonene & Linalool (Citrus)

Recommended use of Horse Chestnut Balm

External use only, apply to affected part of the skin as required. Do not use internally. Avoid applying topically to broken or ulcerated skin.