Horsetail Health Article

Silica and horsetail

Horsetail is rich in minerals, particularly silica deposited in its stems. Silica helps to promote the body's absorption of calcium, an important component in tissue repair and bone and cartilage formation. Horsetail's silica and silicic acid content ranges from 5-8%, making it a good source for strengthening weak connective tissues, and healing bones, fractures, and torn ligaments. Horsetail is also used to treat arthritis and osteoporosis, as the silicon in horsetail may replace lost silicon in the affected bones.

Horsetail may be a possible remedy for senility. Senility often occurs when there is more aluminum in the blood than silicon. One theory suggests that when the silicon and aluminum levels are balanced, the symptoms of senility will disappear.

Wound healer

Horsetail's ability to stop blood flow has made it useful in treating nosebleeds, internal bleeding, heavy menstrual bleeding, bleeding hemorrhoids, and bleeding wounds. Often a compress made from fresh horsetail juice is placed on the wound to stop the flow of blood. The healing effect may be strongest when horsetail is taken both internally and externally.

Other uses

Horsetail is also used to remedy brittle nails, bleeding wounds, hair loss, cystic ulcers, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, gonorrhea, digestive disturbances, bronchitis, lung disorders, tuberculosis, poor teeth and gums, varicose veins, and fallen arches. Skin ailments such as sties, rashes, itchy eczema, or eye inflammation may be treated with an external compress made from horsetail tea.

Preparations

Horsetail is gathered in the spring and early summer, after the fertile stems have died and the barren shoots have grown. The plant is cut above the root and the stems are used dried or fresh. Horsetail is available in dried bulk, powder, capsules, tablets, or tincture forms.

It is recommended that commercial preparations of horsetail contain no more than 3% blackish rhizome fragments and no more than 5% stems or branches from other horsetail species. Standard preparations generally contain 10% silicic acid and 7% silica.

Taken as a dietary supplement, horsetail is a good source of calcium and silica. Horsetail can be made into a tea (infusion or decoction) and consumed internally. Horsetail may also be used in full body baths, sitz baths, foot baths, compresses, hair rinses, and poultices.

For the capsule form, two capsules can be taken with water up to two times daily.

To make a tea, 1 cup of boiling water can be poured over 2 tsp of dried horsetail and steeped for 15 minutes. Up to 4 cups of the cold tea can be drunk daily for bladder or kidney ailments. The tea may be used externally as a hair rinse for dandruff or an oily scalp.

About 10-60 drops of the tincture can be used daily.