Health Information Center : Horsetail

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Its botanical name comes from two Latin terms, "equus" meaning horse, and "seta", meaning bristle. The name resulted because of its peculiar bristled appearance at the stem joints. Horsetail is strongly astringent and is therefore used for both internal and external wounds. It has been used for centuries, as a diuretic aiding in kidney infection, dropsy, and gravel. It is also used as a wash for swelling eyelids. In Guatemala, American Indians have used it for cancer. Poultices and infusions of it were used for polyps, abdominal and oral cancer. Horsetail has large amounts of silica. Children have large amounts of silica in their body which makes children so supple and limber.

Benefits associated with use of the herb Horsetail:

o the use of calcium in the body
o high silica content
o helps to aid circulation
o strengthen nails
o increases the flow of urine
o good for preventing split-ends in hair
o kills eggs of parasites
o dissolves tumors
o increases the production of urine and helps with prostate problems
o helps heal fractured bones faster
o good for eyes, ear, nose, throat and glandular disorders
o used in mixture with calcium for osteoporosis
o historically has been used for diabetes

Horsetail is also known as:

Shavegrass, Bottlebrush, Dutch Rushes, Equisetum arvense