Opium Buckeyes

[Opiyum]

I'm hoping somebody(JACKY) could/can help clear something up for me about a topic I stumbled across in a legitimate book of the Botany persuasion. You should know first of all that I was living in columbus OH at the time and that the book, in my best estimate, was dated somewhere in the mid to late eighties. Basically the theory was that, as you've probably guessed from the title of this thread, Buckeyes, see photo, contained in effect a more powerfull opiate than opium produces. I guess it wouldnt be and opiate if it wast derived from opium so that doesnt make sense but you catch my drift. It even went as far to say that its painkilling capabilities would exceed that of all opiates by many times. Have you heard of this before? Validity?

I feel like since I read it in a book that it has some merit.

http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/species/aegl.htm

[siggy]

Man, that would be so ar out - an as yet "un-scheduled" source - friggin' buckeyes! Probably can't just crack it like a nut and eat it, but maybe this would be a good tea? OK, all you chemists out there, let's look into this - you could start marketing them on e-bay and make a fortune, or just keep it between us on this site and we could all have an inexpensive supply. Cool!

[jacky]

IN the encyclopedia of psychoactive plants the ohio and red buckeye trees are listed as producing an opium substitute.
the purported active compound is aesculine, which is described as a hypnotic.

I think this is the same plant referred to commonly as horse chestnuts. the seeds are toxic until treated , the treated product has been used as a famine fodder.

quercitin is listed a a possible active component of this tree as well. quercitin is listed as the narcotic principle in guava leaves. I have taken grams of quercitin at a time, and noticed no narcotic type effects. quercitin is a potent anti-oxidant, and I take it 4-5 times a week. It is possible some analog or quercitin might have more pronounced effects?

looking up some information it states among many other properties that the whole herb can be a treatment for .fever, cold cough, nerve pain, as an analgesic, and for diarrhea. sounds like there could be a use for the seeds similiar to opium, BUT, I have not seen any info that describes aesculine as an opioid, or even as an analgesic/hypnotic.

I know where to get gads of tthese horsechestnuts, I think I have one sitting on my front porch. If anyone is interested in researching the plant most health food stored sell the extract in the herb dept.