Horsetail

Latin: Equisetum arvense
Family: Equisetaceae

Horsetail, Equisetum spp., is truly a wonder from another age. The Equisetum family are known as a ‘living fossils’ as they are the only living examples of the Equisetopsida class which formed the major part of the understory of the great Paleozoic forests. These covered the land for over 100 million years, roughly 542 to 541 million years ago, a time which saw the first large reptiles and an explosion in marine life. Now Equisetum arvense usually grows between 20-40 cm high, but at that time, its relatives grew up to 30 metres tall, giant green skeletons which stroked the heavens with their feathery branches. This era ended with the Permian- Triassic extinction event, or the Great Dying as it has become known, the largest mass extinction in the history of the Earth. It took the Earth 30 million years to recover. Horsetail however endured and, as a result, holds in its dreaming more than we humans, as relatively new species on Earth, can possibly imagine. Fossil records show that Horsetails made up a large part of the coal forest swamps and are therefore powering much of our current lifestyle. (1)

Properties & Actions

Diuretic, Kidney tonic, Vulnerary, Astringent, Styptic (hemostatic), Anti-inflammatory, Connective Tissue Tonic (Increases connective tissue tone and resistance)

Horsetail is a wonderful example of the doctrine of signatures as its skeletal structure and jointed segments indicate one of its primary uses in strengthening and healing joints, bones and connective tissue. Matthew Wood writes, “If you pick the young plant and break the seal between the joints, there is still an elastic material within the joint that holds it together. As you roll the joint between your fingers, you will notice that it flexes much like one would want the knee or any joint to flex when bending. The idea of cartilage is immediately presented to the mind.” Famed for its high silica content it not only helps the musculoskeletal system but strengthens weak nails and hair when used either externally or internally as well as arteries and veins. This is also reflected in the strong stems which could be seen to relate to the various channels of the body.
It is also commonly used in conditions of the bladder including chronic cystitis, benign prostate enlargement, incontinence and enuresis (bedwetting) as it strengthens the connective tissue of the bladder and has astringent properties. As a kidney tonic, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial it is greatly beneficial for the whole urinary system and can be a helpful diuretic, reducing edema and swelling. (1)

Qualities & Tastes

Cold, Dry, Mildly Bitter and Pungent; Fairly bland, slightly sweet

Parts Used

Young, spring stems

Resources & Recommended

Cautions & Contraindications

Excessive consumption may lead to thiamine deficiency.

Additional Sources Cited

(1) https://whisperingearth.co.uk/2010/06/12/horsetail-ancient-wonder-modern-medicine/