American chestnut
Scientific names: Castanea dentata, Castanea americana
Family: Fagaceae
Alternate names: Castaño Americano, Châtaignier Américain, Châtaignier d'Amérique
Background
American chestnut (Castanea dentata) is a tree that's been destroyed by a fungal disease. Its leaves and bark have been traditionally used to make medicine.
American chestnut leaf contains chemicals called tannins, which might help reduce swelling.
People use American chestnut for cough, sore throat, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Don't confuse American chestnut with European chestnut. These are not the same.
American chestnut leaf contains chemicals called tannins, which might help reduce swelling.
People use American chestnut for cough, sore throat, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Don't confuse American chestnut with European chestnut. These are not the same.
Safety Safety definitions
When taken by mouth: American chestnut is commonly consumed in foods. But there isn't enough reliable information to know if any part of American chestnut is safe or what the side effects might be when used in larger amounts as medicine.
When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if American chestnut is safe or what the side effects might be.
When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if American chestnut is safe or what the side effects might be.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if American chestnut is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.Effectiveness
Effective Effectiveness definitions
There is interest in using American chestnut for a number of purposes, but there isn't enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.
Dosing & administration
Traditionally, American chestnut has been prepared as a tea. But there isn't enough reliable information to know what an appropriate dose of American chestnut might be. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult a healthcare professional before using.
Interactions with pharmaceuticals
It is not known if American Chestnut interacts with any medicines. Before taking American Chestnut, talk with your healthcare professional if you take any medications.
Interactions with herbs & supplements
There are no known interactions with herbs and supplements.
Interactions with foods
The tannins in American chestnut might affect how the body absorbs nutrients from foods, but it's not clear if this is a big concern.
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This monograph was last reviewed on 07/12/2023 11:00:00 and last updated on 21/12/2012 19:45:52. Monographs are reviewed and/or updated multiple times per month and at least once per year.
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Natural Medicines rates safety based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Likely Safe, Possibly Safe, Possibly Unsafe, Likely Unsafe, Unsafe, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate. For more information about Natural Medicines’ Safety Rating System, click here.
The Natural Medicines Effectiveness Ratings are assigned for specific indications. A product might be rated "Possibly Effective" for one condition, but be rated "Likely Ineffective" for another condition, depending on the evidence. For more info click here.
