What are the healing and medicinal properties of horsetail?
What are the Health Benefits of Horsetail?
- Osteoporosis. Several studies have showed that the silica contained in horsetail might help the body’s ability to absorb and utilize its calcium supply.
- Brittle nails. Horsetail also contains minerals which could help to strengthen weak or brittle fingernails. ...
- Respiratory Tract Complaints. ...
- Bleeding. ...
- Oral health. ...
- Hemorrhoids. ...
- Kidney Stones. ...
Why is horsetail a seedless vascular plant?
- Nonvascular plants referred to plants that lack vascular and they are usually primitive plants and plant-like species that reproduce through spores such as Thallophyte and Bryophyte.
- Seedless Vascular plants are pteridophytes comprising, Club mosses, fern, and horsetail. ...
- Seed plants
How to effectively use the horsetail herb for hair growth?
We can stand out:
- Shampoo . Use shampoo mixed with infusion or horsetail extract. Preparation: In half a cup of boiling water throw 3 tablespoons of horsetail grass. ...
- Tonic . Prepare an infusion to clarify the hair and improve capillary circulation with massage. ...
- Infusions . Take a cup of horsetail tea daily to support the treatment. ...
What is the recommended dosage of horsetail?
Horsetail is mostly used as a skin, hair, nail, and urinary remedy. A dose of 900 mg daily for 4 days may have a diuretic effect, but overall, an appropriate dose has yet to be determined. As with most herbal supplements, horsetail is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and should be avoided by pregnant and breastfeeding women.
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What Is Horsetail Used For?
In alternative medicine, herbs like horsetail have been used for many thousands of years to treat health problems. However, there is not enough research on horsetail to know if it will help these conditions. It's also not clear if it's safe for humans to use.
Research on Horsetail
Products that have horsetail in them may claim to help or even treat medical conditions. However, there is not enough research to support the claims. The research on horsetail that has been done was mostly in animals, not people. The results of those studies could help us learn about horsetail but do not necessarily apply to humans.
How Does Horsetail Work?
Certain chemicals in horsetail are thought to lower inflammation. They might also help the body make more substances that boost the immune system (antioxidants).
Possible Side Effects
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says that horsetail is an herb of undefined safety. 4 That means that there is not enough research evidence to prove that horsetail is safe to use or that it works for treating health conditions. The FDA has not approved horsetail for any use.
Selection, Preparation, & Storage
Medicinal preparations made with horsetail from Equisetum are usually considered safe. However, another species of horsetail named Equisetum palustre was found to be poisonous to horses.
Summary
Horsetail is a plant that has been used for thousands of years. It's often found in products that are meant to help with hair growth or bone health. However, there is not enough research to prove that it is can treat medical conditions or is safe to use.
A Word From Verywell
Always talk to your healthcare provider before taking an herbal supplement like horsetail. It's not OK to use horsetail if you take certain medications or have some health conditions.
What Is Horsetail?
Horsetail is a perennial plant belonging to the genus Equisetum. There are at least 15 different species of Equisetum around the world, and “horsetail” is often used to describe the entire group. In general, the above-ground parts of the horsetail plant are used to make medicine.
Health Benefits
One of horsetail’s most well-known uses is its employment for brittle nails — topically, internally or both. Numerous anecdotal reports tell of this herb’s ability to help improve brittle nails.
How to Use
You can find horsetail in many forms — including dried herb, tea, capsule, tincture and juice — either at your local health store or online. There are also creams, lotions and ointments, along with numerous hair and nail products, for topical use.
History
Equisetum is derived from the Latin equus (“horse”) + seta (“bristle”). The horsetail plant is believed to be a descendant of huge trees that lived during the Palaeozoic Era (600–375 million years ago). The plant doesn’t have any leaves or flowers and grows in two stages.
Risks, Side Effects and Interactions
Is horsetail poisonous to humans? Marsh horsetail ( Equisetum palustre) is known to be poisonous. If you gather the fresh plant for medicinal use, it’s important to know exactly what variety you’re handling. In addition, plants with brown spots should be completely avoided since these spots may indicate the presence of a toxic fungus.
Plant Description
Horsetail is derived from huge, tree-like plants that thrived 400 million years ago during the Paleozoic era. A close relative of the fern, horsetail is a nonflowering weed found throughout parts of Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and North America.
Parts Used
The aboveground parts of horsetail (fresh or dried) are used for medicinal purposes.
Medicinal Uses and Indications
Horsetail has traditionally been used as a diuretic (helps rid the body of excess fluid by increasing urine output). One study examined the use of horsetail by people who had a history of uric acid kidney stones. The people who took horsetail experienced an increase in diuresis (urine output).
Pediatric
Because horsetail contains traces of nicotine, it is not recommended for young children.
Precautions
The use of herbs is a time-honored approach to strengthening the body and treating disease. Herbs, however, contain components that can trigger side effects and interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications.
Possible Interactions
The effects of horsetail may enhance the effects of certain medications. For this reason, people taking prescription medications should not take horsetail without first consulting a health care provider.
Supporting Research
Blumenthal M, Goldberg A, Brinckmann J, eds. Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E Monographs. Newton, MA: Integrative Medicine Communications; 2000:208-211.
What is Horsetail?
So named because of its stem that resembles a horse’s tail, this plant belongs to Equisetaceae species of plants that date back millions of years. It is the sole surviving descendant of an ancient species which grew to the height of trees during the prehistoric era. Many of our current coal deposits descend from this family of plants.
What are the Health Benefits of Horsetail?
Horsetail has been used through the ages by several cultures around the world for various conditions including ulcers, kidney conditions, bladder problems and arthritis. In China, traditional practitioners use it to treat fevers, flu, inflammation, and eye problems like conjunctivitis.
Availability of Horsetail
Horsetail can be bought in several different forms including tinctures, capsules, dried leaves, tea bags and powdered extract. Capsules are considered reliable because they usually have standardized ingredients.
Precautions and Side Effects
There are few side effects associated with the short-term use of horsetail. However, some mild reactions include diarrhea, stomach upset and excessive urination. Some more serious side effects have been reported including nerve damage and amnesia.
Silicon
Some proponents of natural remedies suggest that the silica in horsetail extract makes it a good hair care product. They back up their claims with:
Collagen
Many advocates of using horsetail for hair care suggest its impact on collagen and calcium for bone regeneration are also beneficial for hair health and appearance.
Antioxidants
Proponents of horsetail extract suggest that horsetail’s antioxidant properties are helpful for hair health, supporting their assertions with:
