Horsetail has been well known for thousands of years, touted as a staple by many ancient herbalists for it's incredible ability to heal bone and many diseases of the bones and calcium deficiency. Horse tail is a plant that has survived since the time of dinosaurs, there are fossilized remains of horsetail forests that grew to over 100 feet tall.
PLANT BASICS
Horse tail grows in or near water. I find it only near running water in my region. It has the characteristics of bamboo if you are attempting to ID. It grows in segments and each segment has an airtight end and an open end. I don't usually give common names or scientific names to plants here for ease of understanding, but this plant has a common name that is directly related to one of it's many uses; scouring rush.
Identification can be done anytime from spring to fall. Though the time to pick for use in in the early to mid spring. They grow fairly quickly and the larger they get the more silica they have that is not dissolved in the plant fluid, which makes it far more digestible. The best time to harvest is when the shoots are very young and this way you get a much greater amount of consumable silica.
INVASIVENESS, WARNINGS AND USES
The plant can be fairly invasive if left unchecked, the only good part about this is that they grow only in wetlands and by running streams. If your water source is polluted, the horsetail will be as well.
Horse tail earned the name scouring rush due to its ability to clean things. The silica once processed through the plant is set in the outer portion of the plants ridges, as seen above, and therefore can be used to clean even metal.
Its most well known use is for its healing abilities. Horsetail uses silica from the sand it grows in to form its extremities, in order to use this silica it must process the silica into a small enough size to carry it in its inner liquid. This is why using it while it is still green, opposed to drying it, is the best way to ingest it. I do not dry it, I immediately make a tea out of it. Steeping it in hot water for 5-10 minutes will leech out the silica and give it to you in a drink you can flavor as you wish, and will help with the following:
kidney and bladder troubles, arthritis, bleeding ulcers, tuberculosis, cool fevers, eye inflammations such as conjunctivitis and corneal disorders, dysentery, flu, swellings, hemorrhoids, urinary tract health (the plant is VERY well known for its effects on the urinary tract, it is in fact one of the best diuretics available in the plant kingdom), healthy hair and nails, healing after a surgery, aid the body in fighting harmful organisms, fixes calcium for skeletal health, helps in the repair of collagen, can be used for osteoporosis, or any degenerative bone disease, anemia, lung damage (from smoking, tuberculosis or emphysema), inflammation, hemorrhaging, cystic ulceration, ulcers, cystitis, infection, diuretic (this plant is one of the best known diuretics in the the plant kingdom and can aid in weight loss as well)
I guess the list goes on and on, since the silica content is the most powerful of its compounds anywhere I need help with bones, joints, cartilage, and general healing, it is a powerful aid.
Remember with any powerful herb there are warnings. Since this plant is high in potassium and silica, it can be harsh on my kidneys and if I were pregnant or breast feeding (which I am not, since I am a man (Yes I have a gender)), I would avoid use of it. Drying the plant may produce silica dust which could be harmful if I were to have repeated exposure. It could also effect the heart if over consumed, so I keep consumption down to two week intervals with a one week break in between, I do not use it for over three months without a one month break.
COMPOUNDS AND COMPONENTS
silicic acid, saponins, flavonoids, sterols, tannins, potassium, aluminum salts, manganese, magnesium, sulfur and calcium
ANIMAL USES
Safe for both cats and dogs. I have been adding it on my rabbits and chicken feed, I will report any adverse reactions, so far they have worked for me.
CITING
Well please up-vote and follow if you like my content. I will continue to post similar articles on plants, homegrown foods, gardening and homesteading ideas. Again thanks for dropping in. Remember that this is not medical advice nor do I prescribe anything to anyone. This post is for educational purposes only. Your body is your temple, treat it well. Have a great garden!
