Horsetail

Horsetail (Equisetum arvense), an herbal remedy since ancient times, has traditionally been used to stop bleeding, increase urine production, repair broken bones, and treat rheumatic conditions such as arthritis. Today, horsetail continues to have medicinal value. The plant's stems are rich in silica and silicic acids, which help mend broken bones and form collagen, an important protein found in connective tissue, skin, bone, cartilage, and ligaments. Horsetail is also used as a diuretic, a treatment for kidney and bladder complaints, and an external therapy for bleeding wounds.

Plant Description

Horsetail is a descendent of huge, tree-like plants that thrived 400 million years ago during the Paleozoic era. Closely related to ferns, horsetail is a non-flowering weed found throughout parts of Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and North America. The plant is a perennial (returns each year) with hollow stems and shoots that look like asparagus. As the plant dries, silica crystals that form in the stems and branches give the plant a scratching effect, thus accounting for its historic use in polishing metal, particularly pewter.

Parts Used

The aboveground parts of horsetail (fresh or dried) are used for medicinal purposes.

Medicinal Uses/Indications

Taken internally, horsetail is used to treat the following conditions and symptoms.

• Inflammation or mild infections of the genito-urinary tract
• Kidney stones
• Bladder stones

Horsetail also can be applied externally to treat the following.

• Wounds (especially poorly healing ones)
• Burns
• Rheumatic conditions
• Fractures
• Sprains

Available Forms

Horsetail is available in the following forms.

• Dried herb
• Liquid preparations

Horsetail preparations should be stored in well-sealed containers to ensure protection from light.

How to Take It

Recommended doses are as follows.

• Internal: 6 g per day
• Herbal infusion: 4 oz. three times per day
• Tincture (1:5): 1 to 4 ml three times per day
• External (compresses): 10 g of herb per 1 liter water per day

Adequate fluid should be consumed when taking horsetail preparations orally. A tea is prepared by pouring boiled water over 2 to 3 g horsetail herb, boiling for five minutes, and then straining after 10 to 15 minutes. Drink during the day between meals. An infusion for internal use is made by adding 1.5 g of horsetail herb to 1 cup of boiling water. Let it steep for 30 to 40 minutes.

Precautions

Horsetail remedies prepared from Equisetum arvense are generally considered safe. However, you should not take horsetail if you have edema (excessive fluid in body tissue) associated with heart or kidney problems. If you are planning to use fresh horsetail in a bath, you should first consult your health care practitioner. Also, other species of horsetail such as Equisetum palustre are poisonous and should not be used. 

Possible Interactions

Do not use horsetail if you are taking digoxin or digitalis. The diuretic effects of horsetail may cause potassium loss, dangerously increasing the risk of toxicity associated with digoxin and digitalis.

Supporting Research

Allaby M, ed. Concise Oxford Dictionary of Botany. Oxford/New York: Oxford University Press; 1992: 337-338.

Blumenthal M, ed. The Complete German Commission E Monographs. Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Boston: Integrative Medicine Communications; 1998: 150-151.

Bradley P, ed. British Herbal Compendium. Vol. I. Dorset (Great Britain): British Herbal Medicine Association; 1992: 92-94.

Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, Ore: Eclectic Medical; 1998:85.

Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary. 25^th ed. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders; 1974.

Grieve M. A Modern Herbal. Vol. I. New York: Dover; 1971: 419-421.

Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Christof J. PDR for Herbal Medicines. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company; 1998: 830-831.

Harnischfeger G, Stolze H. Equisetum arvense - Ackerschachtelhalm. In: Bewahrte Pflanzendrogen in Wissenschaft und Mediizin. Bad Homburg/Melsungen, Germany: Notamed Verlag; 1983: 119-127.

Hoppe HA. Drogenkunde. 8th ed. Vol. 2. Berlin: Waler de Gruyter; 1977: 173-176.

Kreitmair H. Die Pharmazie. 1953; 8:298-300.

Steinegger E, Hansel R. Lehrbuch der Pharmakognosie. 3rd ed. Berlin: Springer-Verlag; 1972: 214.

Thomson WA. Medicines from the Earth: A Guide to Healing Plants. Alfred Van Der Marck Ed. Maidenhead, England: McGraw-Hill Book company; 1978: 62.

Tyler V. The Honest Herbal: A Sensible Guide to the Use of Herbs and Related Remedies. 3^rd ed. New York: Pharmaceutical Products Press; 1993: 179-180.

Vollmer H, Hubner K. Nauyn-Schmiedebergs. Archiv fur experimentelle Pathologie und Pharakologie. 1937; 186: 565-573, 592-605.

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