Are there any side effects with taken horse chestnut? Can it be taken with other herbs?
There are generally no side effects when taking horse chestnut at the recommended doses. It is recommended that in pregnancy it be used externally only. Varro Tyler, in "Herbs of Choice" (Pharmaceutical Products Press, 10 Alice Street, Birmingham, NY, 13904-1580, U.S.A.) states "Side effects are uncommon, but gastrointestinal irritation may occur."
Rudolf Weiss, MD, in his book "Herbal Medicine" (Beaconsfield Publishers, Beaconsfield, England) reports that intravenous injections of excessive doses of a drug manufactured from one of the active principles of Horse Chestnut resulted in kidney disorders and kidney failure.
Recommended doses are: Dried herb: 1/2 teaspoon of powdered chestnut per cup of boiling water, steeped 15 minutes; dose 1/4 to 1/2 cup three times daily. Tincture made from 1 part powdered chestnut to 10 parts 45% alcohol: 1 teaspoon three times daily.
Herbalists use Horse Chestnut in combination with other herbs, depending on the client's needs. If you are self-medicating with other herbs, note that the actions of Horse Chestnut are anti-inflammatory, blood vessel dilator and astringent. It will have an additive effect when taken with herbs with the same actions.