Secret life of Conkers
What are your plans for the weekend?
I’ve got big plans to collect some of these beauties. Seeing them on the ground at the beginning of autumn always takes me back to my school days, but what I didn’t know then, was that they are useful in a couple of other amazing ways:
Firstly, I haven’t tried it, but I’ve heard that you can use them for washing instead of detergent 
, they need to be treated in a certain way but this no chemicals, no plastic, no cost option is very appealing! Check out The Watercress Queen on Facebook for more details on this method.
, they need to be treated in a certain way but this no chemicals, no plastic, no cost option is very appealing! Check out The Watercress Queen on Facebook for more details on this method.Secondly, and the reason for my interest, is that they are amazing for vein health and inflammation; especially for relieving pain and discomfort associated with varicose veins in the legs. The active ingredient is called aescin, and studies have shown horse chestnut creams applied topically to be as effective as compression stockings, at reducing symptoms of Chronic Venous Insufficiency! Unfortunately I am prone to varicose veins and bad circulation and chilblains in my feet, so a lovely soothing horse chestnut cream is a staple in my winter tool kit 
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.I’ll be making a big batch, so please pm me if this sounds like something you need in your life!
NB: conkers also contains poisonous chemical called aesculin, so do not eat!!