Chestnut Sowing, Or Noble

The Sowing Chestnut, also known as the Noble Chestnut, is a tree of the Beech family (Fagaceae) native to the Mediterranean. Currently, chestnuts are grown in various parts of the world, including in parks and forests in Germany.

The parts of chestnut used for medicinal purposes are its leaves. Chestnut leaves have an elongated lanceolate shape with toothed edges, each of which has a thorn. Male flowers are collected in erect catkins, and female flowers are equipped with bracts and are united in groups of 2-3. The chestnut blooms in May and June, and its fruit contains brown seeds that are dense and prickly on the outside.

Chestnut leaves have the pharmaceutical name Castaneae folium (formerly: Folia Castaneae). The active substances contained in chestnut include tannins, tri-terpenes, vitamin C and flavonoids.

Although traditional medicine has long used chestnut leaves to treat bronchitis, whooping cough, asthma and other respiratory diseases, the German National Health Service in its monograph dated April 23, 1987 does not confirm the effectiveness of chestnut in this area of ​​​​use. However, further research may show that chestnut may be useful in treating respiratory diseases.

Despite this, I would recommend drinking chestnut leaf tea for relief from respiratory diseases. There are no known side effects if the dosage is followed, and there is no risk.

Finally, it is worth noting that roasted chestnuts are a famous southern delicacy. They are also used to fatten geese. However, for medical purposes only specially prepared chestnut leaves should be used.

In general, the Sowing or Noble chestnut is an interesting object for research in the field of medicine and herbal medicine.