- Widely grown in southeastern Europe, the European version of horse chestnut is a tall tree, called horse chestnut because the crushed nut is added to horse feed. The variety is common in Ohio, where it's called buckeye. The seeds. are peeled, mashed, and pulped for health use. - Potential Health Benefits - Extract from the seed was reviewed and approved by Commission E for difficult venous insufficiency and pathological complaints of the veins of the legs. Horse chestnut seed can reduce swelling