Evidence supporting the use of: Escein
For the body system: Veins

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 4

Escin (also spelled "Aescin") is a mixture of saponins found primarily in horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) seeds. It has a long history of use in Europe for the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), varicose veins, and related venous disorders. Numerous clinical studies and systematic reviews have evaluated escin's efficacy for supporting the veins and improving venous tone.

Pharmacologically, escin is known to exhibit anti-inflammatory, vasoprotective, and venotonic properties. It is believed to strengthen vein walls, reduce capillary permeability, and promote vascular tone, thereby reducing symptoms like leg swelling, pain, and heaviness associated with venous insufficiency. Several randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials have demonstrated that oral or topical escin preparations can significantly reduce edema and improve subjective symptoms in CVI patients compared to placebo.

Meta-analyses, such as those published in the journal Phytomedicine (2015) and the Cochrane Database (2012), have concluded that horse chestnut seed extract (standardized for escin content) is more effective than placebo and comparable to reference medications for alleviating CVI symptoms. Adverse events are generally mild and infrequent when standardized extracts are used appropriately.

Based on this body of evidence, escin is widely considered to have scientifically validated efficacy for supporting vein health, particularly for mild-to-moderate chronic venous insufficiency.

More about Escein
More about Veins

Other body systems supported by Escein

Capillaries
Veins

Products containing Escein

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