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Other Names: Asprêle, Bottle Brush, Cavalinha, Coda Cavallina, Cola de Caballo, Common Horsetail, Corn Horsetail, Dutch Rushes, Equiseti Herba, Equisetum, Equisetum arvense, Equisetum hyemale, Equisetum telmateia, Field Horsetail, Herbe à Récurer, Horse Herb, Horsetail Grass, Horsetail Rush, Horse Willow, Paddock-Pipes, Pewterwort, Prele, Prêle, Prêle Commune, Prêle des Champs, Queue-de-Chat, Queue-de-Cheval, Queue-de-Rat, Queue-de-Renard, Scouring Rush, Souring Rush, Shave Grass, Shavegrass, Spring Horsetail, Toadpipe.<br>
Horsetail is a thin, and sterile perennial plant with a rhizomatous stem that looks like the tail of a bird or a horse. It is reproduced by its spores instead of the seeds. It is also known as Pewterwort (due to its use in polishing pewter and wood), Scouring Rush( due to the abrasive coating of silicates on its stems which was used for scouring metal pots). It's other common names are Shavegrass, Candock, Paddock pipes, Bottle brush, Horsetail Fern, Field Horsetail, Common Horsetail or Giant Horsetail. Ancient Greeks, Roman and Chinese herbalists have been using Horsetail for its health benefits for centuries. Aside from its health benefits, its leaves have been used for dyeing a soft green colour, the stalks were used to make whistles to call spirits, Indians used it to polish wooden tools, in Japan horsetail is still used as a finest sand paper to sand the wood before varnishing and in shampoos and cosmetics. However, horsetail is valued more for its health benefits due to a number of great minerals and other nutrients it contains, such as manganese, calcium, iron, flavonoids, caffeic acid esters, saponins, tannins, alkaloids, fatty acids, phytosterols, glycosides, phenolic acids, aconitic acid, and silica. Similar to Alfalfa plant, Horsetail is capable of absorbing unique minerals from the earth like Silica which are not found in many other plants.
*Edema : A few studies and laboratory research shows that Horsetail may have diuretic activity and may enhance body's ability to produce urine. It is believed that rich at minerals and vitamins Horsetail may also help re-mineralize and replace the mineral stores of the body exhausted by increased urination due to its diuretic activity. The German Commission E have approved Horsetail use as a diuretic for edema and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) also rates horsetail as a grade B for its use as a diuretic. The B grade stands for good scientific evidence for Horsetail's use. Therefore, taking Horsetail extract or its tea daily for two months may be beneficial for the fluid build up in the legs and rest of the body caused by edema.
*Excessive Bleeding : Studies suggest that the coagulant and hemostatic activity of Horsetail may help minimize or stop the internal or external bleeding as well as excessive menstruation. Also the anti-inflammatory agents in Horsetail may relieve the inflammation and discomfort caused by inflamed wounds, injuries and menstrual cramps. Simply drink one cup of Horsetail tea 2 to 3 times daily. To make Horsetail tea, add 1-2 teaspoons of dried horsetail into a cup of boiling water and let it steep for 7 to 10 minutes. Strain out the tea and drink it warm. Horsetail tea bags can be a good alternative to loose horsetail herb.
*Gingivitis and Tonsillitis : Gargling with a mouthwash made with Horsetail tea or its extract may help with the inflamed tonsils, mouth sores and bleeding gums. To make Horsetail mouthwash, boil one teaspoon of Horsetail herb in one cup of water for 7-10 minutes or add 3-4 drops of Horsetail extract into one cup of lukewarm water. Simply gargle and swish this liquid three to four times daily until relieved. The powder also strengthens elamel.
*Hair Growth : Research shows that silica in Horsetail may help promote hair growth and strength and may also be beneficial for hair loss, dandruff, and split ends. Therefore, drinking Horsetail tea and massaging its herbal tincture and washing the hair with Horsetail extract mixed shampoo may be effective to achieve dandruff free nourished, strong, lustrous, and rejuvenated hair. Herbalist believe that massaging 3-4 drops of Horsetail extract or tincture mixed in 2 tbsp of extra virgin coconut oil or extra virgin olive oil may help stimulate the hair growth and decrease dandruff by improving the circulation in the scalp and strengthening hair follicles. Simply massage the Horsetail oil mix into the scalp for at least 10 minutes 3-4 times weekly. For hair wash, add 3-4 drops of Horsetail tincture into your regular shampoo and wash as normal. Also after shampooing, pour half a cup of cold Horsetail tea into the hair and wash it out after 4-5 minutes just like conditioner. Taking Horsetail extract capsule or drinking one cup of Horsetail tea for two months may add to the effectiveness.
*Hemorrhoids : The anti-inflammatory and hemostatic activity of Horsetail may alleviate the pain and help decrease or stop the bleeding caused by hemorrhoids. Simply drink one cup of tea before every fiber rich meal. Fiber rich meal minimizes the risk of constipation which is considered one of the causes of pain associated with hemorrhoids and hemorrhoids itself.