Horsetail

Horsetail, more precisely field horsetail (Equisetum arvense), also known as Horsetail or ponytail, is an herbaceous perennial that is found in the arctic and temperate regions of the northern hemisphere.

Occurrence & cultivation of horsetail

Horsetail grows from a perennial, widely branched rhizome with roots up to 50 cm deep. In the spring, non-photosynthetic plant stems with up to 100,000 spores per stem develop from underground buds from the previous year.

Only after these fertile stalks have wilted do the characteristic spore-free shoots of horsetail grow. The 10 - 90 cm long sterile stems, 3 - 5 mm in diameter and about 2 - 5 cm long movable segments, reach a height of up to 50 cm. Horsetail prefers moist soil on arable and grassland.

However, once established, the plant is drought resistant and prone to invasive growth, which is why it is also fought as a weed. At the same time, horsetail is considered an indicator of poor tillage.

Application & use

Until Field horsetail all other horsetail species are poisonous. Field horsetail contains several substances that are treated with medication.

The plant is rich in the minerals silicon (10%), potassium and calcium as well as flavonoids, vegetable acids, saponoids and glycosides. In particular, these ingredients have an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect. Horsetail has the ability to accumulate gold, as well as cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc in its tissues.

The accumulation of silica deposits in the stems gives the horsetail its coarse and rough texture. Historically, horsetail was therefore used to polish metal, especially tin. This is where the name horsetail is derived. European horsetail contains the anti-allergy compound quercetin, which is typically not found in North America and Asia. The plant also has low levels of nicotine.

For processing in teas, tinctures and coatings as well as in cosmetics (active ingredient collagen) the upper 2/3 of the sterile plant shoots are dried, cut and pulverized. To make horsetail extract, the herb is scalded and boiled to dissolve the silica. The cooled essence is filtered and can be mixed with a cream based on wool wax alcohol to make a healing ointment, for example.

Preparations made from horsetail are available as capsules or in medicinal herb combinations as tablets, coated tablets or drops. In Asia, the buds prepared like vegetables are considered a delicacy. Field horsetail extracts are an effective fungicide for combating soot and rust on roses and mint. In biodynamic cultivation, horsetail is used to enrich the soil with silicon, which reduces the effects of waterlogging on the plants.

Significance for health, treatment & prevention

Horsetail is known as one of the most valuable vegetable sources of silicon dioxide. Roman and Greek medicine already knew the effectiveness of the prehistoric plant and traditionally used horsetail to stop bleeding, to heal ulcers and wounds, and to treat tuberculosis and kidney diseases. The natural silicon strengthens the bones and protects the skin from wrinkling.

It has a strengthening effect on the connective tissue, is anti-inflammatory, tightens the skin, promotes blood circulation and is astringent. Horsetail rinse is also suitable for the care of oily hair. The improvement in bone density shown by a medical study is due to the fact that the silica in the body converts to calcium. Horsetail is traditionally used as a diuretic to rid the body of excess fluid by excreting more urine.

Applications relate to the treatment of kidney and bladder stones, urinary tract infections, incontinence and general kidney or bladder disorders. Almost every herbal preparation for dehydration now contains components of horsetail. Horsetail is a clinically proven antioxidant and is used to treat edema, osteoarthritis, and osteoporosis.

A 2010 clinical study found that horsetail extract can suppress free radicals as well as the growth of cancer cells. In house medicine, horsetail is used to treat chronic coughs and, by placing the cooked herb directly on it, to heal joint inflammation and rheumatism.