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==Special Precautions of Horsetail==

Similar to most dietary supplements, Horsetail is safe when taken short term and in moderation. If you are taking any other supplements or medication, consult with your health care provider before the therapeutic use of Horsetail. People with vitamin B deficiency or alcoholics (who are usually Thiamine deficient) should avoid Horsetail because it contains an enzyme, thiaminase, and its overdose and longer term use destroys thiamine (B1). Do not take Horsetail supplements, if you are using any kind of nicotine patches, or are sensitive to nicotine, or are taking any diuretics or laxative drugs because Horsetail has diuretic and nicotine properties which may cause overdose of these ingredients and may lead to serious health problems such as dehydration or low potassium (hypokalemia) and nicotine overdose symptoms such as rash, cold hands and feet, abnormal heart rate, fever, muscle weakness, and weight loss. Pregnant, lactating mothers and children should not take Horsetail because of its Nicotine content. Horsetail should be used short term only, for a maximum of two months unless advised by your doctor otherwise. Ideally, the consumption of Horsetail supplements should be stopped for one week after one month of its regular use and be continued on for another month.

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.

* Horsetail is known for its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antimicrobial, antioxidant, coagulant, demulcent, diuretic and astringent activity. Reportedly, it has been used in the treatment of a number of health conditions which include brittle bone, hair, teeth and nails, white spots on nails, gingivitis, tonsillitis, inflammation of the mucous membranes of the mouth, rheumatic disorders, edema, osteoarthritis, diabetes, acne, wounds, itchiness, rashes, burns, frostbite, chilblains, athlete's foot, cracked and tired feet, drawing out pus from boils and carbuncles, ulcers, fistulas, herpes simplex, dyspepsia (impaired digestion), gastrointestinal conditions, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory tract infections, bronchitis, fever, malaria, bladder problems, urinary tract infection, bed wetting in children, kidney stones (nephrolithiasis), prostate problems, hemorrhoids, muscle cramps, tumors, broken bones, fractures, sprains, nose bleed and other heavy bleeding. Horsetail is also known to strengthen the body's immune system.

*Urinary Incontinence and Bladder Weakness : Studies have shown that Horsetail extract may be beneficial for patients suffering from nocturnal incontinence (bed-wetting), bladder and urinary tract infections and weakened bladder. It may also relieve the persistent urge to urinate with Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). Suggested remedy is to take one capsule of Horsetail extract two to three times daily. It is reported that taking a bath with Horsetail tea for at least 15 minutes two to three times a week may be helpful for UTI and Bladder weakness. For steam bath, steep 10 teaspoons of dried Horsetail into one quart of boiling water for 10-15 minutes and add the strained tea into the bath water.

* Cancer : It contains [[chlorophyll]], known to fight cancer by preventing the cytotoxic and hyperproliferative effects of iron metabolism. Additionally, research suggests that horsetail has antioxidant properties and may even inhibit cancer cell growth because of this.

[[Category:Treatments]]

[[Category:herbal medicine]]

[[Category:Antilithic]]

[[Category:Antineoplastic]]