Horse chestnuts ('conkers'!)

[Bob]

Does anyone know if conkers can be used as a food source (with preparation)? In their raw state I believe they are poisonous, which is a shame when they appear in such abundance - especially this year.

On the same subject - does anyone have any other use for this tree? I've used the leaves to produce a 'soap' and I've come across references to Native Americans using 'Buckeye' (this species ? or another closely related one?) as a fish poison. The high levels of saponins ('soaps') within the plant are released into streams / pools to bring the fish to the surface for easier spearing. Anyone ever tried this?!

Oh well - back to me game of conkers!!! :-?

 

[Ed]

There are a couple of methods written about leeching the toxins out of the conkers but they are all over 100 years out of date. .... so maybe if anyone has any more up to date info......
It has been used in the past to prevent sunburn (aesculin one of the toxins aids this) but many people have bad skin reactions to it.
I know a couple of beer makers that use a few flowering buds in with their hops.... but thats about it

Ed

 

[Colin KC]

You could always continue to play conkers with your conkers & get some real chestnuts, mmmm

 

[Colin KC]

You could always continue to play conkers with your conkers & get some real chestnuts, mmmm

'course, it's a shame real chestnuts don't grow on trees like conkers do :roll:

 

[sez]

There's saponin in Horse Chestnut? Wow, I didn't know that. How do you use it?

Sez

 

[Steve]

Just pick a few leaves, crush them in your hands and add a little water. Rub this together, and you will get a slippery lather produced. I believe it is also midly antiseptic