The sweet chestnut, also known as the common chestnut, is a tree native to Central, Southern and Western Europe. The sweet chestnut is known for its edible fruits, also known as chestnuts. In traditional medicine, in addition to the fruits, the leaves of the sweet chestnut are also used.
Occurrence and cultivation of the sweet chestnut
Until a tree bears fruit for the first time, 30 years can pass. Sweet chestnuts can live up to 600 years. The common sweet chestnut or sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa) is grown mainly in southern and western Europe. However, it is also found in Syria and Asia Minor. The sweet chestnut is a deciduous tree that can grow up to 35m high. The straight and strong trunk can reach a considerable girth of up to six meters. In summer, 12 to 20 centimeters long elliptical leaves are attached to the few but strong branches. The deep green leaves are toothed at the edges. The yellow inflorescences are up to 25 centimeters long and catkin-like. The flowers develop into chestnuts in the fall, which are surrounded by a spiny shell. Inside this fruit shell are two to three of the shiny brown nuts. The fallen fruits are distributed in the surrounding area by forest dwellers such as dormice, crows, squirrels or jays and contribute to the spread of the sweet chestnut. It can take 30 years for a tree to bear fruit for the first time. Sweet chestnuts can live up to 600 years. In Sicily there is the chestnut tree of the hundred horses. Its age is estimated at 2000 to 4000 years.
Effect and application
The fruits of the sweet chestnut, the chestnuts, belong to the nuts. Compared to their relatives such as walnuts or hazelnuts, sweet chestnuts consist mainly of carbohydrates and not fat. They also contain high-quality protein and numerous trace elements such as calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, copper or potassium. Vitamins E, C, provitamin A and various B vitamins are also part of chestnuts. Their energy content is quite high, 220 calories per 100g. Chestnuts today belong to the rather high-priced foods. In former times they were the “bread of the poor people”. The nuts were dried at that time and made so durable. Then they were ground and used together with other flours for baking bread. Even today, chestnut flour is still used in the kitchen. Chestnuts in roasted or boiled form are popular. Pureed chestnuts are a component of desserts, pies or ice cream. In many countries, chestnuts are traditionally served as a side dish with game or poultry during the Christmas season. Chestnuts are not usually eaten raw; the cooking or roasting process breaks down the starch contained in the nuts, making the chestnuts easier to digest. In addition, cooked or roasted chestnuts taste much more aromatic. Only Hildegard von Bingen recommends the consumption of raw sweet chestnuts for “heartache”. According to St. Hildegard of Bingen, the sweet chestnut is a universal remedy suitable for everyone. For her, the nuts were used raw, cooked or ground in the treatment of mental weakness, concentration disorders or gout. Even the chestnut wood was part of her medicine. The scent was said to be beneficial to the brain and people with vein problems were supposed to make a stick out of the wood and carry it in their hand. This should warm up the hand and this warmth should flow into the body and strengthen the veins and body forces there. Even today, chestnuts are considered a tonic for the nerves. This is probably due to their high content of B vitamins and phosphorus. In addition, they help to more relaxation through the amino acid tryptophan. The bioflavonoid rutin, which is also an ingredient of horse chestnut, strengthens the walls of the veins and prevents inflammation. In addition, the nuts are said to have an expectorant and anti-inflammatory effect, which is why they are used in folk medicine for colds. The tannins they contain have an astringent effect, i.e. they have an astringent effect on mucous membranes and can thus alleviate diarrhea. Connoisseurs also enjoy the leaves of the sweet chestnut as tea. Sweet chestnut leaf tea contains many tannins and other secondary plant compounds such as flavonoids, which are said to have antioxidant effects. As Sweet Chestnut, sweet chestnut is popular as a Bach flower. Bach flower essences are energetic remedies that find their use primarily in naturopathy.The Bach flower Sweet Chestnut is supposed to help especially with despair and is therefore used for people who, for example, have suffered a severe blow of fate and have lost all hope. However, so far there is no scientific evidence for the effectiveness of Bach flowers.
Importance for health, treatment and prevention.
The numerous health-promoting ingredients of the nuts and the leaves make the sweet chestnut an all-rounder in medicine. B vitamins and phosphorus strengthen the nerves, tryptophan calms tension, the alkaline nutrients regulate the acid-base balance, calcium and phosphorus strengthen bones and teeth, and the bioflavonoids help with vein problems. Despite this wide range of effects, the sweet chestnut is rarely used in medicine today. In naturopathy, it is mainly used by the followers of the medicine of Hildegard von Bingen. In modern orthodox medicine, the sweet chestnut plays no role, unlike the horse chestnut, which is used for venous disorders. The sweet chestnut is therefore more likely to be found on European plates than in medicine cabinets. But even there it unfolds its healing effect, albeit unintentionally, and also provides a culinary experience.
