Equisetum arvense (Horsetail)

Question 1

How do you recognise Horsetail?

Answer 1

• Herbaceous perennial, ancient plant
• Fertile spore bearing heads develop in the Spring before the sterile stems.
• Sterile hollow, jointed stems arise from creeping rhizomes. Native to temperate areas of the N. hemisphere.
• Has been used as an abrasive to clean pans and polish metal.
• Can be used as a natural fungicide on some crops
• Be careful to find the right species as there are several others in the UK. Two species, Great Horsetail and Field Horsetail, also produce separate fertile creamy-white or pale brown stems which bear the large cones. These appear early in the season, usually in April, are very conspicuous, but wither within 1-2 weeks.. These species then produce branch-bearing, green, sterile stems looking more like the other species which produce their (longer lasting) cones at the top of green stems.

Question 2

What are Horsetail’s main constituents?

Answer 2

Constituents:
* Flavonoids (antiflam) – kaempferol & apigenin.
* Triterpenoids.
* Phenolic glycosides – equisetumosides.
* Saponins – equisetonins.
* Alkaloids – palustrine, and a trace of nicotine.
* Minerals – silica important but also contains calcium, selenium, copper, magnesium, manganese, potassium, iron, calcium & sodium. Silica is important for structural strength and elasticity in connective tissues.
* Thiaminase - lowers levels of vitamin B1

Question 3

What family is Horsetail in?

Answer 3

Member of the Equisetaceae.

Question 4

What is Horsetail good for?

Answer 4

Summary: Due to minerals, used to strengthen tendons, connective tissue, lungs, hair, nails - anything with a quick turnover of minerals. Also tonic for oesteoporosis too BUT needs to be a decoction or decoted tincture.

Actions:
* Diuretic.
* Anti-infective.
* Anti-inflammatory.
* Vulnerary.
* Remineraliser.
* Connective tissue tonic.
* Anti-atheroma (Barker).

Applications:
* Cystitis & urethritis.
* Urinary incontinence.
* Prostatitis.
* Kidney stones (especially uric acid stones).
* Arteriosclerosis.
* Because of its remineralising qualities the plant has been used to strengthen connective tissue and the lungs (used for TB in the past). It has also been used to strengthen hair and nails.
* Osteoporosis.
* Externally has been used for haemmorhoids and for wounds in the past.

Question 5

What is Horsetail’s Latin name?

Answer 5

Equisetum arvense

Question 6

What parts of Horsetail do you use?

Answer 6

Green aerial parts.

Question 7

What safety issues might Horsetail have?

Answer 7

• Equisetums contain thiaminase which causes thiamine deficiency in horses and cattle. There are no reports of this problem in humans. The silica in the plant may wear down teeth of animals grazing upon it.
• Some books suggest that other (easily confused) species may be toxic.

Question 8

What useful research does Horsetail have?

Answer 8

Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of the Genus Equisetum (Equisetaceae): A Narrative Review of the Species with Therapeutic Potential for Kidney Diseases

A Review on the Treatment of Osteoporosis with Equisetum arvense

Equisetum arvense: New Evidences Supports Medical use in Daily Clinic – A bad translation in the title of this one! The abstract makes it sound like a complete panacea!

Question 9

What remedies might you use Horsetail in?

Answer 9

• Dose – 20-50 ml/week of 1:3 tincture.
• It may be that decoctions are a better way to extract the minerals than tinctures, though decocted tinctures can be used.
• Bendle has not used it that often, mainly for prostatitisis and for cystitis. Cystitis script for a woman with long standing cystitis tincture: Agathosma, Glycyrrhiza, Gelsemium, Hypericum, Equisetum - horsetail was mainly there to build the bladder tissue