Overview:

Horsetails are the last remnants of huge tree like plants that thrived 400 million years ago.  Horsetail is closely related to ferns and is native throughout Europe, Asia, the Middle East and North America.  It is a perennial with hollow stems and shoots that closely resemble asparagus.  It has two distinct stem forms.  The variety that grows in early spring is brown in color and is topped by a spore containing cone.  The mature form of the herb appears in summer and has feathery branched stems.  These plants are closely related to ferns and can reach a height of over 6 feet.

Horsetail has been used in traditional medicine all over the world.  Since the time of the ancient Greeks and Romans, it was used to stop bleeding, treat ulcers, and wounds as well as a treatment for tuberculosis and kidney problems. Today the horsetail is still an important herb in traditional medicine.

Active Ingredients:

Horsetail high mineral salt content, especially silica, is extrememly high.  This makes it an excellent choice in nutritional support for building and repairing bones, connective tissue and skin.  Horsetail contains:

• Silica-two thirds of which are water soluable silicic acid
• potassium
• selenium
• manganese
• magnesium
• the alkoloids, nicotine palustrine and palustrinine
• flavonoids
• sterols including cholesterol, isofucosterol, campesterol
• saponins

Traditional uses:

  The uses for horsetail in traditional medicine are many.  They include:

• urinary tract infections
• kidney stones
• diuretic
• osteoporosis
• osteo and rheumatoid arthritis
• skin, nail and hair support
• externally it is good for burns and speeds wound healing, sprains and fractures

Clinical uses:

There has been little clinical study of horsetail but professional herbalists recognize its value as a:

• diuretic
• treatment for kidney stones and gravel
• a wash for poorly healing wounds
• maintaince of healthy skin and hair as well helping to prevent hair loss

Recommended Dosage:

When taking horsetail it is very important to drink plenty of water.

Pediatric

Pediatric dosages are calculated by a child’s body weight.  Since adult dosages are calculated using a body weight of 150 lbs to calculate a pediatric dose simply take the child’s weight and divide by 150 lbs.  For example, if a child weights 50 lbs and the adult dose for a supplement is 150mg:

50lbs/150lbs=.33 or 1/3 of adult dose so take the 150mg adult dose and divide by 3 to obtain the child’s dose of 50mg.

Adult

• Decoction (a strong tea):  pour boiling water over 2-3grams of horsetail, boil for 5 minutes, steep for 15 and then strain.  Drink 3 times/day.
• Tincture (1:5) in 30% ethanol: 1 to 4ml three times a day.
• For a compress use 10grams of herb steeped in 2 quarts of water and use this per day.
• Bath for arthritis and sprains.  Boil 100grams of herb and seep for one hour.  Add this to a warm bath to sooth joints and muscles.

Contra-indications:

• Horsetail is not meant to be taken over long periods of time
• Do not use horsetail if you have kidney problems
• Buy horsetail from a reputable supplier.  A close relative E. palustre to horses and may be so in humans as well,

Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should consult a health care provider before using horsetail.

Drug interactions

Do not take horsetail if you are taking:

• Digoxin as horsetail may enhance the toxic effects of this drug

Web References

1. Holistic Online
2. Flora Health
3. Wikipedia
4. UMM.edu

1. Blumenthal M, Goldberg A, Brinckmann J, eds. Herbal Medicine: Expanded
2. Bradley P, ed. British Herbal Compendium. Vol. I. Dorset (Great Britain): British Herbal Medicine Association; 1992: 92-94.
3. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, Ore: Eclectic Medical; 1998:85.
4. Commission E Monographs. Newton, MA: Integrative Medicine Communications; 2000:208-211.
5. Duke, J. 1997: The Green Pharmacy, The Ultimate Compendium of Natural Remedies from the World's Foremost Authority on Healing and Herbs. pp. 36-37; 98; 132-133; 415. Rodale Press.
6. Flynn, R. and Roest, M. 1995. Your Guide to Standardized Herbal Products. One World Press, 601 Granada Drive, Prescott, AZ, 86301; Library of Congress: 94-80040;  pp. 50-51.
7. Foster S, and Duke JA. 1990. Horsetail in Medicinal Plants. Houghton Mifflin Co., New York, NY, p. 304.
8. Foster S, Tyler VE. Tyler's Honest Herbal. 4th ed. New York: The Haworth Herbal Press; 1999:219-220.
9. Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Christof J. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 2nd ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company; 2000: 409-410.
10. Turner N, and Kuhnlein H. 1991. Traditional plant foods of Canadian indigenous peoples. Nutrition, botany and use. In Food and Nutrition in History and Anthropology Vol. 8. Gordon & Breach Science Publishers, Philadelphia, PA, p. 48.
11. White L, Mavor S. Kids, Herbs, Health. Loveland, Colo: Interweave Press; 1998:22, 33.
12. Wichtl M (ed). 1994. Equiseti herba – Equisetum (English translation by Norman Grainger Bisset). In Herbal Drugs and Phyto-pharmaceuticals. CRC Press, Stuttgart, pp. 188-191.