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info
Horsetail belongs to a species of
a primitive nonflowering plant in the genus Equisetum, most common of
which are E. hyemale and E. arvense. Another, E. palustre, contains
a toxic alkaloid, palustrine, and should be avoided.
Horsetail is an herbal remedy used in ancient Roman
and Greek medicine. Equisetum is Latin rooted, equus meaning
"horse," and seta meaning bristle.
Botany
A ferny perennial with jointed rootstocks.
Stems and simple and erect, smooth and regularly striated, 80 cm tall,
diameter 3-5 mm, branched, usually without sub-branches. Rhizome looks
like a string of beads.
Distribution
Difficult to eradicate once cultivated and established.
Used for erosion control by sides of ponds.
Popular for ornamental or landscaping use.
Constituents
and properties
Horsetail contains
silicon; considered as a natural supplement for osteoporosis.
Also, has a high silica content. which accounts for its use as a natural
scouring or sanding pad.
Flavanoids probably responsible for its diuretic action.
Styptic effect, strengthening and regenerating the connective tissue.
Rich in nutrients and minerals: calcium, potassium, magnesium.
• Considered anodyne, antiseptic, cardiac, carminative, diaphoretic,
diuretic, galactagogue, vulnerary.
• Considered astringent, a good clotting agent, stopping epistaxis.
Part utiliezed
Stems
Uses
Culinary
Young
shoots can be eaten boiled.
Folkloric
Decoction used for
kidney problems, rheumatisim, gout, venereal diseases.
Used for sprains, eczema, hair rinse.
Used for wounds. Never apply topically to open wounds!
Traditionally used in Europe as a herbal diuretic for edema and fluid
retention.
Considered for osteoporosis, nephrolithtiasis and wound healing.
Used for cholelithiasis, liver problems, hyperuricemia, diarrhea.
Used externally, to facilitate wound healing.
Decoction used for bleeding wounds and wound healing.
Decoction added to herbal baths to facilitate healing sprains and skin
conditions.
In Serbian traditional
medicine, used for infections of the urinary tract.
In Europe, traditionally used as a diuretic for the treatment of edema. Approved by the German Commission E for this indication. Also, occasionally used for osteoporosis, kidney stones, urinary tract inflammation, and wound healing.
Others
Ornamental: stems used for flower arrangements.
Scouring and sanding from its high silica content.
Dye: Yields a yellowish green color when mordanted with alum; deeper
green with iron.
Used in cosmetics and shampoos.
New formulations
• In Italy,
a horsetail-calcium formulation used for treatment of osteoporosis and
fractures.
• Hairloss: The silica content together with its other minerals and elements (flavonoids, alkaloids, sterols, etc) are common ingredients in commercial products being touted in the treatment of hair loss.
Studies
• Essential
Oil / Antimicrobial Activity: Study
on the volatile constituents of the stems of EA identified 25 comounds.
The major constituents were: hexahydrofamesyl acetone, cis-geranyl acetaone,
thymol and trans-phytol.The 1:10 dilution of the essential oil showed
broad spectrum of strong antimicrobial activity against all tested strains.
• Anti-Diabetic:
Effect of Equisectrum arvense in Histological
Changes of Pancreatic B-cells in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats:
Study showed the methanolic extract of EA produced significant antidiabetic
activity.
•
Herbal Radiomodulator: A study was done
to identify non-tosic and effective radioprotective compounds that can
reduce the adverse effects of radiation. E. arvense, together with other
medicinal plants, was examined in vitro on cultured human peripheral
blood lymphocytes. Equisetum
arvense yielded the saponoside equisetonin, with small amounts of vitamin
C, malic acid, oxalic acid, linoleic acid and oleic acids. Extract of
E arvense significantly enhanced the incidence of micronuclei compared
to control.
• Hepatotoxicity Study: A study in rats evaluating the acute hepatotoxicity of E arvense failed to produce hepatice changes.
• Sedative / Anticonvulsant: A study on the hydroalcoholic extract of E arvense showed anticonvulsant and sedative effects. It increased latency, decreased severity, reduced incidence and protected animals from death. Phytochemical analysis detected tannins, saponins, sterols and flavonoids.
• Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM):
MSM, a dimethyl sulfone, has been isolated from plants like Equisetum arvense.
MSM has shown therapeutic promise in animal studies. It has been proven to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.
Toxicity
and concerns !
• Toxic in large amounts. Horsetail growing in
highly fertilized areas draw selenium and nitrates from the soil. Children
using the hollow stems as blowgun may also be at risk.
• Diuretic effects may enhance tosic effect of certain medications,
such as digoxin (heart failure), phenyton (anticonvulsant), anticoagulants.
Availability
Cultivated
Tea bags (Horsetail Herbal Tea) and powdered extract in the cybermarket.
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