Personalised assessment

Horse chestnut: the natural reference for your legs and venous circulation

ing marronnier inde
Venous circulation and light legs

Horse chestnut is one of the most extensively studied plants for supporting venous circulation. It helps maintain healthy circulation in the legs, reduce oedema, and ease sensations of pain, heaviness, and itching — discomforts that are very common during pregnancy and after prolonged periods of standing.

As effective as compression stockings

Available studies show that horse chestnut extract may be as effective as wearing compression stockings in reducing leg oedema associated with mild to moderate venous insufficiency, making it a natural and practical alternative — particularly welcome during pregnancy.

Targeted anti-inflammatory action via aescin

Its main active compound, aescin, exerts a recognised anti-inflammatory action on vascular walls, reduces fluid leakage from vessels and helps to improve venous tone, for progressive and lasting overall venous comfort.

Origin and description

Horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) is a large ornamental tree belonging to the Sapindaceae family, native to the Balkans and widely spread across Europe since the 16th century.

Its seeds, commonly known as conkers, contain a complex of triterpenoid saponins — aescin — whose venotonic and anti-inflammatory benefits are among the best documented in herbal medicine.

Aescin strengthens the tone of vascular walls, reduces their permeability and inhibits certain inflammatory mediators, which explains its effectiveness in reducing oedema and improving venous return circulation in the legs. Its relevance is particularly credible during pregnancy, a period when venous pressure gradually increases. The standardisation of aescin content in the extract used directly determines the consistency and effectiveness of the observed effects.

In its natural form, horse chestnut cannot be consumed as such: its seeds contain aescin at concentrations that make them bitter and toxic in their raw state, and they should never be consumed directly. It should not be confused with the edible sweet chestnut tree, whose fruits are chestnuts. The benefits of horse chestnut are exclusively accessible through purified and dosed extracts, obtained by rigorous pharmaceutical or phytochemical processes. Other plants with similar venotonic properties include red vine, butcher's broom and ginkgo biloba, often combined in formulas dedicated to circulatory comfort. There is therefore no common dietary source from which to obtain its active compounds, making supplementation the essential route to benefit from them.

As a supplement, horse chestnut is found exclusively in the form of standardised dry seed extract (standardised for aescin content), capsules, tablets or liquid ampoules. Standardisation for aescin content is the most important quality criterion, as it determines the actual effectiveness of the product. The liquid ampoule form, as in Light Legs by Jolly Mama, has the advantage of rapid absorption and easy integration into a morning routine. Clinical studies have been conducted on extracts standardised to precise aescin concentrations, underscoring the importance of choosing a product whose formulation is rigorously controlled. Digestive tolerance is good for the vast majority of people, although taking it on an empty stomach may cause mild discomfort in sensitive individuals. It is not recommended for people taking anticoagulant medication.

produit Light legs 2 desktop d9157b71 f512 4a6b bab2 2d21ac9f1a64

Products containing it

  • Light Legs Light Legs
    -25%
    Add

    Light Legs

    Complément aux plantes jambes légères

    20 ampoules de 10 ml (3 semaines)

    Compatible allaitement et grossesse (du 4 au 8ème mois)

    For everyone

    from

    £18.92

    £27.81

    Add

Why is horse chestnut the ally of your light legs during pregnancy and motherhood?

  • Good venous circulation in the legs

    Helps maintain normal venous circulation by strengthening the tone of vascular walls and promoting venous return to the heart.

  • Reduction of oedema

    Helps reduce swelling of the ankles and legs related to poor circulation, a very common discomfort from the second trimester of pregnancy onwards.

  • Relief from pain and heaviness

    Reduces sensations of pain, heaviness, and itching in the legs, to help restore greater everyday comfort, even during long days on your feet.

  • Vascular anti-inflammatory action

    The aescin it contains inhibits certain inflammatory mediators and reduces the permeability of vascular walls, helping to limit the fluid leakage responsible for swelling.

  • Comparable efficacy to compression stockings

    Available studies show comparable efficacy to compression stockings in reducing oedema associated with mild to moderate venous insufficiency — a natural and practical alternative.

How does it work? (The science bit)

Le marronnier d'Inde agit principalement via l'aescine, un complexe de saponosides triterpéniques qui exerce une action à plusieurs niveaux sur le système veineux. Une fois absorbée, l'aescine se concentre préférentiellement dans les parois des veines, où elle renforce les fibres de collagène et d'élastine qui leur donnent leur tonicité. Elle inhibe également l'action de certaines enzymes, notamment la hyaluronidase et l'élastase, qui dégradent normalement les composants de la paroi vasculaire en cas d'inflammation ou de pression excessive. En préservant l'intégrité de ces parois, l'aescine réduit leur perméabilité, c'est-à-dire la quantité de liquide qui s'échappe des vaisseaux vers les tissus environnants, ce qui limite directement la formation des œdèmes et des gonflements.

Pendant la grossesse, la pression exercée par l'utérus sur les veines pelviennes ralentit progressivement le retour veineux depuis les jambes, entraînant une stase veineuse et une accumulation de liquide dans les tissus, particulièrement marquée en fin de journée et lors des périodes de chaleur. Le marronnier d'Inde, en améliorant le tonus veineux et en réduisant l'inflammation des parois, contribue à atténuer ces mécanismes et à rendre les jambes plus légères. Dans Light Legs de Jolly Mama, il est associé au cassissier, à la vigne rouge et au pin maritime pour une formule synergique à quatre actifs naturels, compatible avec la grossesse du 4e au 8e mois et avec l'allaitement.

Diehm C. et al. - Comparison of leg compression stocking and oral horse-chestnut seed extract therapy in patients with chronic venous insufficiency, The Lancet (1996)

Gallelli L. - Escin: a review of its anti-edematous, anti-inflammatory, and venotonic properties, Drug Design, Development and Therapy (2019)

Suter A. et al. - Treatment of patients with venous insufficiency with fresh plant horse chestnut seed extract: a review of 5 clinical studies, Advances in Therapy (2006)

Your questions, our answers.

Yes, it is one of the most scientifically well-documented venotonic plants. Its main active compound, aescin, strengthens the tone of venous walls, reduces their permeability and attenuates vascular inflammation, which contributes to reducing swelling and relieving sensations of pain and heaviness in the legs. Its efficacy has been validated in several rigorous clinical trials.

That is what certain comparative studies show for mild to moderate venous insufficiency. At standardised doses of escin, horse chestnut extract shows comparable efficacy to compression stockings in reducing leg oedema. These two approaches are complementary and can be combined according to individual needs and the advice of a healthcare professional.

Yes, within the safety window defined for Light Legs, from the 4th month through to the end of the 8th month of pregnancy. It is not recommended during the first trimester as a precaution, nor during the 9th month to avoid any effect on coagulation as the due date approaches. It is always recommended to seek advice from the healthcare professional monitoring the pregnancy before starting a course.

People taking anticoagulant medication should avoid this type of supplement, as aescin may potentiate the effects of anticoagulants. In cases of significant haemorrhoids, persistent oedema, or severe vascular pain, medical consultation is essential to identify the cause before any self-medication. Use is not recommended for children and adolescents under 18 years of age.

Very well. It combines naturally with red vine, which contributes to healthy blood flow, blackcurrant leaf, recognised for its antioxidant activity on vascular walls, and maritime pine, a source of proanthocyanidins. This is precisely the rationale behind Light Legs by Jolly Mama, which brings together these four plants for a complementary and comprehensive action on venous comfort and leg lightness.

Our other ingredients

View all our ingredients
ing vigne rouge 1

Red vine

Red vine leaf (Vitis vinifera) is traditionally used in herbal medicine to support circulatory comfort and relieve the sensation of heavy legs. It is naturally rich in flavonoids with documented venotonic properties.
ing cassissier

Blackcurrant

Blackcurrant fruit (Ribes nigrum) is rich in compounds recognised for their antioxidant properties. Blackcurrant is traditionally used to support venous comfort.
View all our ingredients
Pictos

Fast and free delivery

from £100 of purchases (and from £50 with a subscription)

Pictos 1

100% secure payment

CB, Visa, MasterCard, Paypal, Alma, Shop Pay, Apple Pay, Klarna, Twint, Amex

Pictos 2

A question?

We are available Monday to Friday (9am-1pm and 2pm-5pm):

Email Whatsapp
added to basket
View my basket
Continue shopping