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Horsetail - Benefits and Side Effects
Botanical Name of Horsetail: Equisetum arvensis, Equisetum arvense.
Other Common Names of Horsetail:
Bottlebrush, shave grass, corncob plant, scouring rush, field horsetail, pewterwort, paddock-pipes, Dutch rushes.
Habitat:
Horsetail is native to both North America and Europe. It is one of only a few Equisetum survivors from the dinosaur era. In parts of Northern America, Canada and Europe it is often considered a rather bothersome weed because of its prolific tuber system.
Plant Description:
Horsetail is a very unique plant because it has two very different stems. In the early sprint, it grows a stem that looks somewhat like asparagus. Later in the summer, the stem appears as a thin, green and somewhat feathery.
Plant Parts Used:
The dried and barren stems.
 The Horsetail Plant ( Equisetum arvensis) (Click on image to enlarge)
Attribution: Photographed by Eric Guinther in Portland, Oregon
Therapeutic Benefits & Uses of Horsetail and Claims
- Horsetail contains silicic acid, potassium, aluminum salts, and calcium
 Meadow Horsetail (Equisetum pratense Ehrh) -
Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913.
An illustrated flora of the northern
United States, Canada and the
British Possessions. Vol. 1- Historically, horsetail has been used to stop bleeding, repair broken bones and as an herbal remedy for arthritis. It has also been beneficial in the treatment of dropsy, gravel and kidney infections, including ulceration and ulcers in the urinary passages.
- Because horsetail has the ability to increase urine production, (a diuretic) it had gained popularity as an herbal treatment of kidney stones and urinary tract infections as well as prostrate problems.
- Horsetail helps stop bleeding of ulcers and controls excessive menstrual bleeding. Topical preparations of horsetail can be used to heal wounds, sprains, fractures and burns. It has been used as an herbal treatment for rheumatic conditions and skin problems such as dandruff.
- It has also been used successfully in the treatment of tuberculosis.
- Because horsetail is rich in silica and silicic acids it could be beneficial as an herbal treatment for osteoporosis.
- The herb is used for its diuretic effects, that is, it promotes loss of water from the body. This property can be attributed primarily to the presence of flavanoids.
- Some studies support that horsetail could be helpful in improving memory and cognitive function.
Dosage and Administration
The most common way that horsetail is administered is in a tea. Normally it is prepared by pouring boiled water over 2 to 3 grams of horsetail herb.
Boiling time is five minutes. After it is boiled it needs to stand for approximately 10 to 15 minutes. Then it can be strained. Drink the tea between meals during the day.
- For Internal Use: 6 g daily (the German E Commission recommends this dosage)
- As an herbal infusion: 4 oz three times daily
- As a tincture (1:5): 1 to 4 mL three times daily
- For external use such as compresses: 10 g of herb per 1 liter of water daily
Side Effects and Possible Interactions of Horsetail
The herb horsetail is not without its side effects. These include electrolyte imbalance, deficiency of thiamine- if used over a long period or if too much alcohol is consumed while on Horsetail supplements, topical application may cause skin problems, it might produce nicotine toxicity like symptoms such as nausea, muscle weakness, fever, abnormal pulse rate. The herb’s diuretic effect causes loss of potassium, which in turn might increase digitalis toxicity. If horsetail is used with Benzodiazepines, Disulfiram, or Metronidazole, it may cause a disulfiram-like reaction. Use of horsetail in conjunction with other medicines, which lead to depletion of potassium such as Corticosteroids, diuretics, and laxative stimulants, increases the risk of Hypokalemia. Excessive use of licorice with horsetail should be avoided as this combination may lead to cardiac toxicity and also loss of potassium.
Those who should keep away from horsetail include expecting or nursing women, people with a weak heart, people prone to thiamine deficiency such as those who consume excessive alcohol and those who are taking potassium wasting diuretic, a cardiac glycoside (Lanoxin), a corticosteroid, or licorice. It must be kept in mind that sometimes the liquid extract contains 25% alcohol and hence shouldn't be used with Disulfiram, Metronidazole, and Benzodiazepines.
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"There's fennel for you, and columbines; there's rue for you; and here's some for me; we may call it herb of grace o'Sundays"
William Shakespeare (Hamlet)
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