Description :
Horsetail is a perennial plant usually found in or near marshes, streams, or rivers. Horsetail grows in temperate northern hemisphere areas of Asia, Europe, North America, and North Africa. In the early spring horsetail grows single fertile stems each of which bears a reproductive cone called a strobilus that is between ¾ to 1 ½ inches long. Late in the spring the strobilus dies and the second stage of growth begins. In the summer the plant grows another hollow, tubular stem that grows up to 3 feet tall. Horsetail has no leaves or flowers. Taken internally as a tea or pill, Horsetail can support kidney function and assist with bladder function. Externally, ground Horsetail can be used to cover bleeding.
Cultivation and Harvest:
Harvest the young, sterile stems in early summer. The stems should be dried. Then they can be ground into a powder for use in teas, tinctures, pills and capsules.
Precautions:
Do not take if pregnant or nursing. Avoid use in people with liver or kidney disease, high blood pressure, or heart disease. Children should not take horsetail. Horsetail should not be taken internally for more than three days. Long-term use or high doses of horsetail have caused irreversible kidney damage due to too much silica. Wear a dust mask when grinding to prevent inhaling silica dust.
Traditional Herbal Actions:
Astringent, Diuretic, Hemostatic, Anti-inflamatory, Vulnerary
Other Names:
Dutch Rushes, Pewterwort, Snake Grass, Puzzlegrass At Quyroughi, Atkuyrugu, Bottle-brush, Chieh Hsu Ts’Ao, Cola De Caballo, Corn Horsetail, Equiseto Menor, Field Horsetail, Horsetail Rush, Kilkah Asb, Mare’s Tail, Paddock-pipes, Prele, Scouring Rush, Shave-grass, Sugina, Thanab Al Khail, Vara De Oro, Wen Ching
Ingredients: Horsetail (Equisetum spp.)
None of these items or statements are approved by FDA. Consult your physician before taking any supplement. Do not take herbs or tinctures during pregnancy without consulting your healthcare provider. This product is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease. All information here is for entertainment and educational purposes only.
*This statement has not been verified by the FDA and is only referenced here as a fun fact and/or for historical commentary, is not to be used as medical advice in any way. Consult your doctor before ingesting any herbal product.
Ezra –