Buckeye for Arthritis

So named for its resemblance to the large brown eye of a male deer, the buckeye nut grows on tall trees throughout the middle United States. The nut is dangerous to eat, but folklore abounds about the magical ability of the buckeye nut--worn close to the body to ward off pain from osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

The Buckeye Tree

There are two varieties of buckeye tree. The Ohio variety, Aesculus glabra, grows 30 to 50 feet high and releases slightly spiny seed pods containing up to five smooth brown nuts. It is also called the fetid buckeye or stinking buckeye because of the unpleasant smell released when the leaves are bruised. Its lightweight wood was prized in the central U.S. for its workability. The yellow variety, Aesculus octandra, grows to 90 feet tall and releases smooth, bumpy seed pods containing up to five nuts. Buckeye nuts are toxic and inedible.

The Buckeye Nut

The buckeye nut is large, spherical, slightly lumpy, smooth and medium to dark brown. Some say it resembles a human male testicle, which is part of its folkloric value. It is not to be confused with its cousin, the chestnut, which is edible, and the horse chestnut, which can be processed for oral consumption as a nutritional supplement. Chestnuts and horse chestnuts are slightly flat on one side.

Folk Uses

Among some Americans, the buckeye nut is a good luck charm. Folklore says, that carried in a pocket, the buckeye increases male sexual potency. Some people also drill a hole into it, fill it with liquid mercury and seal it with wax to bring luck in games of chance (Mercury was the Roman god of games of chance and sleight of hand). Others wrap it in a dollar bill and carry it to attract monetary wealth.

Buckeye for Arthritis

The buckeye nut has no medicinal value for arthritis; you simply carry it in your pocket or wear it around your neck to prevent arthritis or ward off the pain once arthritis does develop. Buckeye in any oral or topical preparation is toxic and can cause fatal poisoning.

An Alternative

While you cannot use buckeye medicinally, one of its close relatives presents an alternative. Horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum L.) can be processed into a dietary supplement--in a very specific dose of 300mg daily. There is limited evidence beyond folklore to suggest that horse chestnut can treat arthritis symptoms. Certainly, there is no cure for arthritis. If you do decide to try horse chestnut for arthritis, make sure your doctor knows about this and all other supplements you are taking.