10 herbs you need to know; your guide to some of the most useful herbs on the market.

Store shelves full of herbal supplements are proof of the surging popularity of natural remedies--ginseng and St. John's wort are practically household names. Of course, there are many other herbal remedies that promote health and wellness, but learning about them can seem overwhelming. We prepared this herbal primer to use when you visit your doctor, herbalist or specialist at your natural products store. Consult it to start a dialogue, ask questions or find the product you need.

Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum)

PRIMARY USES: * Venous insufficiency (chronic) * Varicose veins (legs) * Symptoms associated with varicose veins such as swollen legs, pain and heaviness in legs, and calf pain

AVERAGE DAILY DOSE: Dry extract from dried seed (standardized to 16 percent to 20 percent triterpene glycosides): 250 to 312.5 milligrams (mg), twice daily, equivalent to 100 mg escin daily. Dry extract front fresh seed (standardized): two tablets containing 63 to 90 mg each, three times daily (equivalent to 120 mg escin daily). After one to two weeks reduce to one tablet, three times daily.

NOTE: Unprocessed horse chestnut seeds should not be eaten or made into tea.

ADVERSE EFFECTS: Rare adverse effects can include severe itching, nausea, stomach complaints, irritation of the stomach's lining and reflux. An isolated horse chestnut seed chemical, escin Ib, might partially delay or even inhibit emptying of the stomach. This possibly adverse effect can be minimized by taking the extract in an enteric-coated tablet with the main meal.

Evening Primrose Oil (Oenothera biennis)