Aesculus hippocastanum
The great hemorrhoid remedy with fullness and aching in the rectum. Marked venous congestion throughout the body with a sensation of fullness, heaviness, and backache.
Source
Tincture of the ripe, shelled horse chestnuts (fruit) of Aesculus hippocastanum (Sapindaceae).
Available Potencies
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Keynote Symptoms
Hemorrhoids — blind, painful, purple, with fullness and aching in rectum as if full of sticks. Severe sacral and lumbosacral backache. Venous congestion and stasis. Fullness in various organs. Mucous membranes dry, swollen, burning. Purple congestion of rectum.
Mind & Emotional Symptoms
Gloomy, despondent, irritable. Confused, dull. Unable to fix attention. Extremely irritable, loses temper easily.
General Symptoms
Venous stasis and portal congestion predominate. Fullness and heaviness in all affected parts. Mucous membranes of mouth, throat, and rectum dry, swollen, and raw. Walking aggravates nearly all complaints. Constant dull backache affecting sacrum and hips.
Physical Symptoms
Head
Dull headache with confusion. Neuralgic stitches from right eye to occiput.
Mouth
Dry mouth and throat. Tongue feels as if scalded.
Throat
Dark congestion. Feels rough, dry, and constricted. Follicular pharyngitis with burning.
Stomach
Heartburn. Feeling of fullness. Eructations sour or bitter.
Rectum
Hemorrhoids blind, bleeding, purple, very painful, with fullness and sensation of sticks in rectum. Anus feels dry and raw. Burning after stool. Constipation with dry, hard, difficult stool.
Back
Severe, constant, dull aching in lumbosacral region. Sacroiliac pain. Back gives out when walking. Paralytic feeling in arms, legs, and spine.
Extremities
Legs heavy, stiff, weary. Varicose veins. Knees feel weak.
Modalities
Better From
Cool open air. Continued exertion (loosens up). Summer.
Worse From
Walking. Standing. After stool. Morning on waking. During pregnancy. Cold air.
Constitutional Type
Plethoric individuals with tendency to venous congestion. Purple, congested appearance. Often with portal congestion and liver involvement. Sedentary people with hemorrhoidal tendency.
Clinical Indications
Hemorrhoids (especially blind, non-bleeding). Lumbosacral backache. Venous congestion. Varicose veins. Portal congestion. Prolapsed uterus. Pharyngitis. Constipation.
Comparative Materia Medica
Compare Aloe (hemorrhoids with bearing-down, sense of insecurity in rectum), Collinsonia (hemorrhoids with constipation, alternating with heart symptoms), Nux vomica (hemorrhoids from sedentary habits with ineffectual urging). Aesculus is unique in its fullness, sticks-in-rectum sensation, and constant sacral backache.
Safety Information
Nux vomica as an antidoting remedy. Coffee.
Horse chestnut seeds contain aesculin, a toxic coumarin glycoside. Raw seeds are poisonous causing gastrointestinal irritation, muscle twitching, and weakness. Mother tincture should be used with caution.
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