Horsetail Benefits, Usage, Medicinal Properties, Nutrition, Dosage, Preparations, safety, science backed and traditional view

Horsetail – Equisetum arvense  (L.) (also used Equisteum hyemale) also known as Snake Grass, Puzzle Grass, Shave-grass, Bottle Brush, Pewterwort, Ma Wei, Skrzyp Polny.

 

 

Horsetail is produced by spores rather than seeds. Equisetum species - horsetail family are Creeping, perennial, Branching rootstocks, rooted at the nodes. The Arial stems may be annual or Perennial, are cylindrical, fluted, simple or with whorled branches at the jointed nodes. The internodes are usually hollow. The Surfaces of the stems are covered with Silica. The Cones are terminal, often forming large colonies; to 2 1/2 ft. Sterile stems green, with whorled branches and nodes; leaves reduced to brownish, papery, toothed sheath around node; sheath with fewer than 14 teeth. Fertile stems brownish to whitish, with large "cone" at tip, formed by spore-producing scales; cone produced in early spring.

It can be easily mixed up with other horsetail species. If in doubt, cut through the central stem to look at the arrangements of hollows. E. arvense has a central hollow less than half the size of the peripheral hollows, unlike E. palustre, where the central hollow is about the same size as the peripherals. E. fluviatile has a large central hollow, more than three-quarters the width of the stem. The only place horsetail is not found is in Antartica. Most plants prefer wet sandy soils, though it can be semi-aquatic.

Large quantities of the plant can be toxic. This is because it contains the enzyme thiaminase, a substance that can rob the body of the vitamin B complex. In small quantities this enzyme will do no harm to people eating an adequate diet that is rich in vitamin B, though large quantities can cause severe health problems. The enzyme is destroyed by heat or thorough drying, so cooking the plant will remove the thiaminase.

 

Part used: Herb, ashes of herb

Note: Barren stems only. Barren stems will appear after the fruiting stems have died down. Used entirely, they are cut off just at the root.

Note: Equisetum palustre (marsh horsetail) contains the toxic alkaloid palustrine. Palustrine has caused poisonings in cattle and sheep, but toxicity in humans has not yet been established. Historical adulteration of horsetail products with Equisetum palustre has been reported. As with all herbs it is important to get your Horsetail from supplier who follows GMP practice.

 

 

Constituents: Horsetails have an unusual chemistry compared to most other plants. rich in silica 5-8%, contain several alkaloids (including nicotine and relustrine), various minerals, potassium, calcium, trace aluminium; saponin (equisetonin), Flavonoids (luteolin, kaempferol, isoqueerticin), aconitic acid, phytosterols, startch.

 

Flavor/Temps: Slightly Bitter, Bland and Astringent, Cold, Dry

Restoring, Nourishing, Astringing, Stabilizing, Dissolving

 

Tropism: Bones, Skin, Kidney, Bladder, Liver, Intestines, Lungs

 

Meridians: Lungs, Liver, Large Intestine, Bladder, Kidney

Fluid, Warmth

 

Key actions in western medicine: Antibacterial, Antioxidant, Vulnerary, Diuretic, Astringing, Anticancer, Antimicrobial, Anti-inflammatory, Coagulant, Demulcent

 

Indications in western medicine: strengthens bones, nourish skin and hairs, arthritis, excessive sweating, gout, eczema, diabetes, oedema, kidney and bladder stones, urinary tract infections (incl. acute prostatitis and cystitis), bleedings, eye, mouth, throat and gum infections, enteritis, venereal infections with discharge (gonorrhoea, vaginitis), haemorrhage(incl. haemoptysis, metrorrhagia, haematuria, epistaxis), demineralization, muscular and skeletal weakness(incl. lupus, osteoporosis, chronic arthritis, muscular arthritis), anaemia, debility, cysts, lungs diseases (chronic and degenerative incl. asthma, emphysema, TB), obesity, hypertension, water retention, cellulitis, sperm loss, lumbar pain, chronic ulcers (external and internal, incl. leg/cancerous/peptic ulcers), prostate enlargement

 

Key actions in eastern medicine: Clears Heat; Astringes Reduces Secretion Stops Bleeding and Discharge; Tissue Repair; Bone, Lungs, Bladder, Kidney Strengthening; Clears Damp Heat; Reduces Inflammation; Prevents Infections; Tonifies Urinary Qi; Harmonises Urinary and Pain Relive; Nourish the Blood, Regulate Mineral Metabolism and Relieve Fatigue, Restore Bone and Musculoskeletal Tissues, Reduces Plethora, Resolves Toxins and Promote Detoxication, Benefits to the Skin, Promoting Urination and Dissolving Deposit

Indications in eastern medicine: Intestines damp-heat; Bladder damp-heat; Skin damp-heat; Genitourinary damp-heat/cold; Bladder Qi constraint; Metabolic toxicosis; Musculoskeletal deficiency (Kidney and Liver depletion); Kidney and Bladder Qi deficiency. Builds bones, excess menses, wounds, haemorrhaging, skin rashes, burns, kidney stones, tonsillitis, urinary tract infections, coughing blood, very good for menopausal women, blurred vision, red eyes, conjunctivitis, sore throat, colds,

 

Ground: Melancholic kras, Constitutions and Biotypes

 

Preparations: fresh juice, decoction, tincture, vinegar tincture, powder, infused oil

 

Dosage 3 times a day unless instructed otherwise by herbalist:

Fresh juice 5–10 ml

Tincture 1-2 ml, 1:2, 25% ethanol

Vinegar Tincture 1-2 ml, 1:2

Decoction 2-5g

Powder 2-5g

 

Note: Fresh juice is most efficient remedy, only use from barren steams. Barren stems will appear after the fruiting stems have died down. Fresh juice use only in May/June as later plant will be somewhat strong and toxic.

Note: Ethanolic tincture is weakest horsetail preparation, adding splash of vinegar may improve constituents’ penetration, use only fine powdered herb

Note: Vinegar tincture will be much better than ethanolic.

Note: for decoction use only fine powder, simmer up to 3 hours to extract all constituents, adding splash of vinegar may help to with extraction of constituents

Note: Finelly ground powder can be used externally and internally; for acute condition should be used both internal and topical (powder form or poultice). Gargles, Poultices and washes are very effective.

 

Synergy examples: Horsetail with Couch Grass, Uva Ursi, Knotgrass, Golden Rod for chronic UTI

 

Cautions: Horsetail is mild remedy with minimal chronic toxicity.

Using Horsetail on its own for longer period that several weeks may cause urinary track irritations. Careful if pregnant, or if fluids are depleted as long-term use could be harsh on the kidneys.

It is advisable to ensure high vitamins B intake during treatment with Horsetail. Crude horsetail contains thiaminase, which breaks down thiamine. Chronic ingestion in animals has been associated with thiamine deficiency.

 

Interactions with drugs: Taking horsetail with chromium-containing herbs and supplements might increase the risk of chromium toxicity (Horsetail contains chromium (0.0006%). In one case report, chromium-induced acute hepatitis was thought to be related to the use of chromium polynicotinate and chromium-containing herbs including horsetail for 5 months)

 

Pharmacokinetics

Excretion: In human research, horsetail intake resulted in the excretion of metabolites from caffeic acid, kaempferol, and quercetin, including ferulic acid, dihydrocaffeic acid, and hippuric acid

 

Side effects:

Orally (very rare) - Abdominal distension, increased bowel movements, and nausea.

 

History and folklore:

Culpepper says:

'It is very powerful to stop bleeding, either inward or outward, the juice or the decoction being drunk, or the juice, decoction or distilled water applied outwardly... It also heals inward ulcers.... It solders together the tops of green wounds and cures all ruptures in children. The decoction taken in wine helps stone and strangury; the distilled water drunk two or three times a day eases and strengthens the intestines and is effectual in a cough that comes by distillation from the head. The juice or distilled water used as a warm fomentation is of service in inflammations and breakings-out in the skin.'

A quantity of silica is deposited in the stems, especially in the epidermis or outer skin. In one species, E. hyemale (Linn.), the epidermis contains so much silica that bunches of the stem have been sold for polishing metal and used to be imported from Holland for the purpose, hence the popular name of Dutch Rushes. It is also called Scouring Rush, and by old writers Shavegrass, and was formerly much used by white smiths and cabinet-makers. Gerard tells us that in his time it was employed for scouring pewter and wooden kitchen utensils, and thence called Pewterwort, and that fletchers and combmakers rubbed and polished their work with it, and long after his day, the dairymaids of the northern counties of England used it for scouring their milk-pails. Linnaeus tells us that this species, among others, forms excellent food for horses in some parts of Sweden, but that cows are apt to lose their teeth by feeding on it and to be afflicted with diarrhoea. As a matter of fact, cattle, in this country, usually instinctively avoid these plants and would probably only eat them in the absence of better fodder.

The Latin “Equisetum” is derived from the two words, “Equus” and “Seta” meaning horse and tail respectively as the plant’s branches somewhat resemble the tail of a horse. Over two hundred millennia ago the plant was taller and resembled a tree. Other than their size the plant has changed very little over all these years. It is a potent, versatile and gentle herb. It is rarely cultivated as it is highly invasive and difficult to eradicate once introduced.

Ancient Romans ate horsetail also making it into a tea and thickening powder.

Native Americans ate the young shoots raw, using the leaves as a dye that produced a soft green colour.

The dried herb powdered and taken three to four times a day is said to help with spitting up of blood. The ash of the burnt plant can be used for stomach acid issues, dyspepsia, etc. as it is considered both cooling and astringing.

A decoction applied externally will stop bleeding wounds and helping to quickly heal them, it can also be used to reduce swelling of the eyelids.

In China, horsetail was traditionally used primarily to treat a wide variety of eye disorders, hence the Chinese common name of “Eyes of Fire.” Now, it is also used to treat a wide variety of other ailments that include bleeding stools, colds, psoriasis and more. A common recipe used in China to tone the skin was simply to chop several stems, that are not in bloom yet, add 2 pints of water, 1 tablespoon of honey and simmer for about 20 minutes. Applied to the skin it will help shrink enlarged facial pores.

 

 In one study, short decoction prepared from horsetail 25 grams/L was found to contain silicon 200 mg/L. Another study with infusion 250grams/L found only 750mg of silicon.

Animal research suggests that horsetail extracts might have analgesic effects. These effects do not appear to be related to the opioid system

Animal research suggests that horsetail extracts might have anticonvulsant effects, which decrease the severity and frequency of induced seizures

Laboratory research shows that certain horsetail extracts exhibit antimicrobial effects. Specific extracts appeared to have differential effects against various species of bacteria and fungi

Laboratory and animal research shows that the aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts of horsetail have both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Flavonoid constituents and other phenolic compounds are thought to play a role. Anti-inflammatory effects appear to be related to a reduction in the function of immune cells

Animal and human research show that various horsetail species demonstrate diuretic properties. In clinical research, taking horsetail for four days produced a diuretic effect equivalent to hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg. However, electrolyte excretion was not affected. The mechanism of this diuretic effect is not entirely clear, but has been attributed to flavonoid, phenolic compounds, and mineral salt constituents of horsetail.

Laboratory research suggests that horsetail might have antiviral effects

Preliminary research suggests that the flavonoid and petrosin constituents of horsetail might have hepatoprotective properties

Animal research suggests that horsetail extracts might have sedative effects. These effects resulted in increased sleeping time and increased fall rate

 In human or animal research, Equisetum myriochaetum and Equisetum giganteum have demonstrated hypoglycemic activity . The mechanism of action is unclear. However, in animal research, Equisetum giganteum did not affect the number or size of pancreatic islets. It is unknown if other species of horsetail have hypoglycemic activity.

 Laboratory research suggests that horsetail constituents might have vasorelaxant effects

 

 

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