Horsetail, Equisetum spp., is truly a wonder from another age. The Equisetum family are known as a ‘living fossils’ as they are the only living examples of the Equisetopsida class which formed the major part of the understory of the great Paleozoic forests. These covered the land for over 100 million years, roughly 542 to 541 million years ago, a time which saw the first large reptiles and an explosion in marine life. Now Equisetum arvense usually grows between 20-40 cm high, but at that time, its relatives grew up to 30 metres tall, giant green skeletons which stroked the heavens with their feathery branches. This era ended with the Permian- Triassic extinction event, or the Great Dying as it has become known, the largest mass extinction in the history of the Earth. It took the Earth 30 million years to recover. Horsetail however endured and, as a result, holds in its dreaming more than we humans, as relatively new species on Earth, can possibly imagine. Fossil records show that Horsetails made up a large part of the coal forest swamps and are therefore powering much of our current lifestyle.
Horsetail Dance by Barry Buman
There are a variety of species including Marsh, Water, Great and Wood Horsetails, several of which have been used for medicine, though the most commonly used is Field Horsetail, Equisetum arvense, as the others are thought to be more toxic. Even Field Horsetail can cause problems to livestock if they eat a large amount as it contains an enzyme which depletes thiamin (Vitamin B1) levels. This enzyme is deactivated by heat though so teas or decoctions will be safe long term for humans and animals alike. It’s best avoided in pregnancy however as it contains high levels of selenium. Horsetail is a gymnosperm, or non-flowering plant, which spreads through spores released by fertile stems. These grow up in spring to be replaced later in the season by the distinctive, segmented sterile stalks which are used in medicine.
Field Horsetail (Lat. Equisetum arvense)
The capability of absorbing silica from the earth is quite unique in plants so this extremly important mineral is hard to find in the plant world. Yet large amounts of silica are deposited in the stems of the horsetail.
No other herb from the entire plant kingdom comes even close to horsetail in terms of silica content.
Silica facilitates the absorption of calcium by the body. Both silica and calcium are components of teeth, bones, joints and connective tissues such as tendons and ligaments. Hence horsetail is used to stimulate healing broken bones and strenghtening bones in osteoporosis, to treat bone and joint inflammation as well as connective tissue injuries. Also collagen, an important constituent of the tissues, is built with silicon. It also nourishes nails, hair, eyes and skin and is known for its anti-aging effects and eliminating exess oil from hair and skin.
Horsetail is a powerful diuretic used in the treatment of kidney and bladder diseases and because of its antibacterial and astringent effects, horsetail tea may be used externally to treat wounds, prevent infections and stop bleeding. It’s ability to stop bleeding makes it a remedy for heavy menstrual bleeding, bleeding hemorrhoids, nasal or gastric bleeding.
Horsetail has also been traditionally used to treat respiratory inflammation, bronchitis, cough and tuberculosis, water retention, rheumatic diseases, gout, swelling and frostbite. It is generally considered safe. CAUTION: Yet the Marsh Horsetail (Equisetum palustre) is toxic to horses. Horses reading the blog might find this information useful. I have found many sources advise NOT to take Horsetail whilst pregnant or breastfeeding. If you experience nervous sensitivity or urinary irritability after use, discontinue.
Use: Tea - Steep in hot water, strain and drink at least one a day. Vinegar - This can be made by steeping Horsetail herb in apple cider vinegar for a month to six weeks, straining, then enjoying added to salads, diluted in water for compresses or added to the bath water – about 1/2 a cup. Vinegar is a particularly useful method for extracting minerals from a wide variety of herbs.
Collection and Drying
Tea preparation
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