What Is Horsetail Used For?

Equisetum arvense, commonly referred to as horsetail, is a plant that grows in wet areas, and its above-ground parts have been used for a variety of medicinal purposes since ancient Greek times. Horsetail can be found as a dried extract in powdered form, liquid extract, tincture or tea. You should old take horsetail under a doctor's supervision.

Nutritional Benefits

Phytochemcials are potent antioxidant substances, found in numerous plants, that are thought to support health and help prevent disease. Horsetail contains the phytochecmicals beta-carotene, saponins, glycoside, phenolic acid, tannins and cafeeic acid; it also contains the minerals iron, calcium, potassium and magnesium, and numerous B vitamins. Horsetail is particularly rich in silicon, which is necessary for the formation of collagen; collagen promotes healthy nails, skin and hair.

Bone Health

Silicon also helps your body to absorb calcium and it works synergistically with calcium to promote healthy bones and connective tissue. Due to this fact, horsetail may enhance healing of broken bones and it has been traditionally used for the treatment of a variety of bone disorders, including arthritis and gout. Osteoporosis is characterized by thinning bones, and the University of Maryland Medical center states that although more research needs to be done, preliminary research suggests that horsetail enhances bone density and may therefore be beneficial for osteoporosis sufferers.

Other Traditional Uses

The MedlinePlus website states that horsetail is commonly used to treat fluid retention, kidney stones and urinary tract infections. It is also used for incontinence, which is an inability to control urination and to promote kidney and bladder health. According to Phyllis Balch in her book "Prescription for Nutritional Healing," horsetail acts a diuretic, reduces inflammation, strengthen the heart and lungs, helps to prevent muscle cramps and spasms, and promotes weight loss. Horsetail is sometimes used topically to depress bleeding and accelerate healing of burns and wounds. Other purported uses include the treatment of baldness, bronchitis, cardiovascular disease, edema, gallbladder disorders, hepatitis, jaundice, prolonged menstrual bleeding, prostate disorders, tuberculosis and uncontrolled bleeding of the nose, lungs or stomach. Medline Plus warns, however, that there is insufficient evidence to determine the efficacy of horsetail for the treatment of these conditions.

Precautions

Horsetail derived from Equisetum arvense is generally considered safe; however horsetail derived from the Equisetum palustre plant variety has been found to be toxic to horses and you should not take it. The University of Maryland Medical Center also warns that prolonged intake of horsetail may cause a vitamin B-1 deficiency. As such, if you are taking horsetail long-term, consider also taking a B-complex supplement. Finally, horsetail may interact with alcohol, nicotine and certain drugs, and you should talk to your health-care practitioner before supplementing with it.