[[File:Horsetail.jpg|thumb|350px|left|Equisetum Arvense]]
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, Acker-Schachtelhalm, Scouring Rush, Souring Rush, Shave Grass, Shavegrass, Spring Horsetail, Toadpipe, Heermoes<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<br>Horsetail is a thin, 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 sterile perennial plant with a soft green colour, rhizomatous stem that looks like the stalks were used to make whistles to call spirits, Indians used it to polish wooden tools, in Japan horsetail is still used as tail of a finest sand paper to sand the wood before varnishing and in shampoos and cosmeticsbird or a horse. However, horsetail It is valued more for reproduced by 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 spores instead of absorbing unique minerals from the earth like Silica which are not found in many other plantsseeds.
==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.
==The benefits Health Benefits and Uses of Horsetail are==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. Uses of Horsetail
*Boils and Carbuncles : The antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity of Horsetail may help with the inflammation and infection caused by Boils and Carbuncles. Its salve, compress and poultice is used to draw out the pus from boils, carbuncles and sores. To make a compress simply soak crushed dried Horsetail herb into lukewarm water for 15 minutes. Wrap the soaked Horsetail herb in a small piece of cheese cloth and apply it onto the carbuncle or boil. The use of hot and cold compresses of this Horsetail poultice 2 to 3 times daily may help reduce the inflammation and draw out the pus. To alternate between the hot and cold compress, simply make two poultices and dip one in small amount of warm water and the other in cold water before applying. Apply each compress for about 5 minutes each, at least 3 times in one session. To reduce the inflammation and pain, a paste made by Horsetail leaves or its extract can be applied onto the affected area. To make the horsetail paste, add a small amount of water to half a teaspoon of Horsetail extract powder or soak crushed horsetail leaves into warm water. Apply this paste after hot/cold compresses to speed up the healing process.
*Brittle Nails : Horsetail contains minerals that may help with weak and brittle fingernails and white spots in the nails. Reportedly, simply taking Horsetail extract daily and soaking the brittle nails into Horsetail infusion may strengthen and repair the nails. To make Horsetail infusion, steep 2 teaspoons of dried herb in a boiling cup of water for 10 minutes. Let it cool down and soak the nails for about 20 minutes. After 20 minutes of soaking, pat dry the nails and apply a mixture of equal parts of lukewarm extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice thoroughly. Wrap your fingers with fine cotton cloth for overnight. Repeat this remedy for at least 3-4 times a week.
* Skin Problems (Rashes, Burns, Acne, Wrinkles) : Studies have shown that anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-septic, and anti-oxidant agents and silica in Horsetail may give it the ability to heal wounds, rashes, burns, skin lesions and acne. Silica is known to help form collagen which is important for the development and the maintenance of healthy connective tissues throughout the body. Therefore, Horsetail extract is widely used in anti-aging, anti-wrinkle and other cosmetic products. Simple home remedy is to apply Horsetail extract paste onto the affected skin for at least 20 minutes 4-5 times a week. By drinking Horsetail tea, its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity may delay the aging process by strengthening the connective tissues and may help relieve the inflamed and irritated skin. For acne, diluted and cold Horsetail tea can be used as a toner after washing the face every night. Simply dab a cotton swab into the diluted tea and apply it all over the face avoiding the eyes.
*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.==Main Combinations==*Osteoarthritis: [[Turmeric]] + [[Harpagophytum]] + Horsetail*Rheumatism : [[Turmeric]] + [[Harpagophytum]] or [[Blackcurrant]] + Horsetail*Tendonitis: [[Turmeric]] + [[Blackcurrant]] + Horsetail*Osteoarthritis, Tendinitis : Horsetail + [[Harpagophytum]] + [[Turmeric]] + [[Krill Oil]]*Osteoporosis : Horsetail + [[Lithothamnium calcareum]] + [[Cod Liver Oil]]
[[Category:Treatments]]
[[Category:herbal medicine]]
[[Category:Antilithic]]
[[Category:Antineoplastic]]
[[Category:Demulcent]]
[[Category:Diuretic]]
[[Category:Expectorant]]