Horsetail for strong hair and young skin

MENU

Related Topic

Antioxdiants
Alpha Lipoic
Arthritis
Dry Skin
Free Radicals

Healthy Hair
Leg Cramps
Muscle Cramps
Strong Hair
Sports Injuiries


Horsetail

Related Products

Arthritis
Antioxidants
Beauty
Essential Oils
General Health

Herbal
Longevity
Men's Health
Women's Health
Shopping Center

Horsetail (Equisetum arvense)

Horsetail is a non-flowering, fern-like plant whose name derives from its stalky appearance in the spring (feathery branches appear in the summer). The whole plants or the stems of horsetail have been used since ancient times as an oral and topical remedy. It is also known as scouring rush and bottle brush, from a traditional use of the abrasive stems to scrub utensils and pots. Horsetail has been called a botanical relic, as abundant growths of huge, tree-like plants in the horsetail family grew in the early dinosaur age, over 200 million years ago. With the exception of one genus (including horsetail and a few other species) these ancient plants didn't survive, except indirectly-they powered the Industrial Revolution by being transformed into coal. Horsetail can now be found in temperate parts of the Northern Hemisphere around the world, in some places considered an invasive weed.

On This Page
Traditional Uses Modern Uses Recent findings Do scientists know how it works? Safety

Traditional uses

European and Chinese herbalists have long valued horsetail as topical remedy for wounds, skin conditions, frostbite, and chilblains. Horsetail has been used to heal hemorrhoids and stem the flow of blood from nosebleeds. Taken internally it is a folk remedy for heavy menstruation and bleeding ulcers. Herbalists have also recommended horsetail for osteoporosis, gout, rheumatism, arthritis, and joint pain. Urinary problems such as bladder infections and various forms of incontinence, especially bed-wetting in children, often called for horsetail. Some herbalists have suggested a horsetail gargle for sore throats. The herb was also used for fevers and loss of hair. In a few places horsetail was recognized as a folk remedy for such serious conditions as cancer, tuberculosis, diabetes, and congestive heart failure

Modern uses

Horsetail remains a useful herb today with topical and oral applications. It is recognized as a potential source of minerals such as silica that may play an important role in promoting recovery from broken bones, torn tendons, and injuries to connective tissue. Horsetail is used to help alleviate the symptoms of arthritis. It is often taken for its mild diuretic and astringent properties to help treat kidney and bladder ailments, such as urinary tract infections. Horsetail may benefit recovery from prostate problems, such as benign enlargement of the prostate gland. Herbalists also sometimes use horsetail to help prevent or treat:

Product Recommendations

	Contains: 880 mg Horsetail Grass
	Hair and Skin provides nutrients necessary for healthy hair, skin and nails. It includes effective doses of MSM (MethylSulfonylMethane), a sulphur source that provides necessary nutrients for the building process of proteins in Hair and Skin. Glucosamine, which aids in collagen and connective tissue formation. Concentrated Enzymes, that help with the proper break down of food allowing delivery of sufficient nutrients to the extremities. Biotin, essential ingredient for formation of hair, skin and nails, and a blend of other traditional herbs such as Horsetail, Rosemary, and Nettle
	Hair, Skin and Nail Formula with MSM! Plus Colloidal Silica for Maximum Benefits, with Horsetail.

Recent findings

Spanish researchers who used rats to study the effects of horsetail and six other plants traditionally taken to prevent and treat kidney stones tentatively attributed their beneficial effects to the solvent action of saponin compounds in the plants. Significant numbers of rats fed large doses of horsetail powder in conjunction with a high-cholesterol diet were shown to develop dermatitis.

Do scientists know how it works?

Chemists have determined that horsetail contains flavonoids, alkaloids (including equisitine and tiny amounts of nicotine), saponins, tannins, fatty acids, and sterols (primarily beta-sitosterol, campesterol, and isofucosterol). Horsetail is also a rich source of various minerals, including potassium, selenium, and silica. Horsetail's wound-healing action may be due in part to silica absorption. Taken internally silica may benefit the health of bones, connective tissue, nails, and hair. Tiny amounts of gold that horsetail may absorb from water may have a beneficial effect on persons suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. The compound equisetonin, a saponin, and certain flavonoids may account for the weak diuretic action.

Safety

Horsetail is relatively safe—in small amounts used occasionally. Ancient Romans and Native Americans were known to eat the young, asparagus-like horsetail shoots. These are not considered very appetizing, however, and are eaten today mainly by fans of wild food foraging. Even so, children and pregnant women should not use horsetail, nor should others take it regularly for long periods. Frequent use could lead to symptoms of a vitamin deficiency due to an enzyme, thiaminase, in horsetail that can destroy thiamin. Large amounts of other compounds in horsetail may also have toxic effects. Some people experience mild digestive upset even from occasional use.

Ask the Expert about Herbal Supplements (click)

References

Grases, F., et al., "Urolithiasis and phytotherapy," Int Urol Nephrol (1994), 26(5):507-11

Maeda, H., et al., "Occurrence of dermatitis in rats fed a cholesterol diet containing field horsetail (Equisetum arvense L.)," J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (1997), 43(5):553-63.

D'Agostino M, et al. Sterols from Equisetum arvense. Boll Soc Ital Biol Sper. 1984 Dec 30;60(12):2241-5.