Links for more information & research about horsetail

The University of Maryland published an in-depth article in 2013 about horsetail here:

https://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/horsetail

The Sarah Cannon Research Institute in August, 2013 published an article about this herb:

http://sarahcannonresearch.com/your-health/index.dot?id=21760&lang=English&db=hlt&ebscoType=static&widgetTitle=Oncology

Healthline published an in-depth 4 page article about horsetail:

http://www.healthline.com/natstandardcontent/horsetail

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database has an informative article about this herb:

http://naturaldatabase.therapeuticresearch.com/nd/PrintVersion.aspx?id=843&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

Purdue University has a comprehensive horsetail article:

https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/WS/WS-29-W.pdf

HerbWisdom.com has an article that mentions a Russian study found horsetail can help remove lead from the human body:

http://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-horsetail.html

Zhion.com has an interesting article about this herb and mentions many research studies done on it:

http://www.zhion.com/herb/Horsetail.html

A doctor wrote an article about horsetail herb in February, 2014:

http://www.raysahelian.com/horsetail.html

Sigma-Aldrich has a horsetail article:

http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/life-science/nutrition-research/learning-center/plant-profiler/equisetum-arvense.html

Homeremediesweb talks about horsetail at length here:

http://www.homeremediesweb.com/horsetail-health-benefits.php

The pharmacology of horsetail is discussed at drugs.com:

http://www.drugs.com/npp/horsetail.html

Native American Ethnobotany - Smooth Horsetail (Equisetum laevigatum)

Below is a link to a blog that has a lot of information about Smooth Horsetail (Equisetum laevigatum), with photos:

http://sagebud.com/smooth-horsetail-equisetum-laevigatum

Equisetum laevigatum (Smooth Horsetail)

Equisetum laevigatum A. Braun

Smooth Horsetail; Equisetaceae

Navajo & Kayenta

Analgesic, Orthopaedic Remedy - Infusion of plant taken or cold infusion used as a lotion for backaches.

Navajo & Ramah

Disinfectant - Compound decoction of plant used for "lightning infection."

Keres

Hemorrhoid Remedy - Plant chewed before meals for piles.

Costanoan

Hypotensive - Infusion of stems taken for high blood pressure.

Hoh

Ceremonial Medicine - Rootstocks eaten during medicinal ceremonies.

Dried Food - Rootstocks dried & used for food.

Special Food - Rootstocks eaten as a delicacy & also eootstocks eaten during puberty ceremonies.

Hopi

Ceremonial Medicine - Dried, ground plant used for ceremonial bread.

Ceremonial Items - Dried, ground with corn meal & used to make a ceremonial bread.

Okanagan-Colville

Antirheumatic (Internal) - Infusion of stems taken for lumbago.
Cold Remedy - Decoction of plant & chokecherry twigs given to children for colds.
Dermatological Remedy - Plant pounded, mixed with water & used to wash areas of body affected by poison ivy.
Diuretic - Infusion of stems taken as a diuretic to stimulate kidneys.

Orthopedic Remedy - Infusion of stems taken for backaches.

Pediatric Remedy - Decoction of plant & chokecherry twigs given to children for colds.

Stimulant - Infusion of stems taken for sluggishness due to a cold.

Venereal Remedy - Decoction of plant & false box taken or used as a bath for syphilis & gonorrhea.

Veterinary Remedy - Given to thin, old horses with diarrhea after eating fresh grass in spring.

Burn Dressing - Poultice of plant ash & grease applied to burns.

Fodder - Used in winter for fodder during hay shortage.

Food - Heads used for food.

Fiber (Scouring Material) - Stems used as sandpaper to polish bone tools & soapstone pipes & Fiber used to polish fingernails & Fiber used for sharpening & polishing bone tools.

Containers - Hollow stems used to administer medicines to babies.

Pomo & Kashaya

Kidney Remedy - Decoction of whole plant taken for kidney trouble & associated back trouble.

Quileute

Ceremonial Medicine - Rootstocks eaten during medicinal ceremonies.

Dried Food - Rootstocks dried & used for food.

Special Food - Rootstocks eaten as a delicacy & Rootstocks eaten during puberty ceremonies.

Isleta

Fodder - Plant used for horse feed.

San Felipe

Food (Porridge) - Plant dried & ground to make mush.

Karok

Fiber (Scouring Material) - Stems used to sandpaper madrone spoons.

Thompson

Fiber (Scouring Material) - Used for sharpening & polishing bone tools & the rough, silicon impregnated stems used to smooth & polish implements of wood, bone & steatite.

Burn Dressing - Poultice of plant ash & grease applied to burns.

Eye Medicine - Stem liquid used for sore eyes or decoction of stems used for sore, itchy eyes or blindness.

Gynecological Remedy - Decoction of roots taken to accelerate a difficult childbirth & also Decoction or infusion of stems taken after childbirth to expel afterbirth more quickly.

Urinary Remedy - Decoction of new growths taken for bladder problems.

Fertilizer - Stem liquid used to kill any type of weed.

Ute

Toys - Used by children as whistles.

Horsetail herb to be used as a pad / mat to sleep on - survival

A fellow blogger  who has a survival blog has a nice article with photos about horsetail.  He harvests it to make a pad to sleep on in a primitive shelter.

http://www.alipac.us/f31/basic-list-suggested-items-long-term-survival-154825/index194.html

Horsetail for the Hair, Skin and Nails

Horsetail for the hair, skin and nails
 
Horsetail stems have a lot of silica & silicic acids; this plant contains the most silica known in the plant kingdom. Silica forms collagen, a protein found in skin, bones, cartilage, ligaments & connective tissues. Silica also helps bind protein molecules to many tissues in body. The silica content helps strengthen weak, brittle, damaged hair, giving it vitality & shine with regular use.

There is a high mineral level as well including potassium, selenium & manganese. The saponins & flavonoids it contains help skin regenerate, improving elasticity of skin & hair, promoting hair growth. Since bone, hair & fingernails require high mineral levels, horsetail is taken as a tea, tincture or applied topically as shampoo, conditioner, soak or healing balm. As a healing balm, its used in many treatments for pattern balding.

Those with very dry hair should take note: Horsetail has a powerful antiseptic property which means excessive use could further dry out your hair. On other hand, astringent herb helps eliminate excessive oiliness for those with oily scalps, & also aids in removing styling product build up. Used in shampoo & conditioner horsetail is a useful
remedy for dandruff, eczema, psoriasis & other troubling skin ailments. Because it promotes circulation, horsetail assists in nourishing & strengthening hair follicles.

Using Horsetail

Many shampoos, conditioners and hair growth aids contain horsetail extract. To create your own hair rinse:

2-4 teaspoons dried horsetail
Cup of boiled water

Add horsetail to 1 cup boiled water (still hot but not boiling). Let steep 15-20 minutes; strain; cool. Rinse through hair & leave on for 15-20 minutes. Rinse & style as usual. You can also strain & drink this tea warm 2-3 times per day with honey. Taking tea internally is believed to help hair, skin & nails same way as applying topically.

Horsetail and Diabetes

I found the information below about how horsetail may help the condition of diabetes.

Diabetes: A single oral administration of a water extract of Equisetum myriochaetum at doses of 7 & 13 mg/kg, of butanol extract (BE) at doses of 8 & 16 mg/kg, significantly lowered plasma glucose levels in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats within 3 hours of administration. Three kaempferol glucosides & 1 caffeoyl glucoside were isolated from drug & were shown to be main constituents in both extracts.

A single dose of a water extract of Equisetum myriochaetum was administered orally in 11 recently diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients. Glucose & insulin were measured at 0, 30, 60, 90, 120 & 180 min after administration. The same patients served as the control group  received only colored water as placebo.

The administration of extract was shown to significantly reduce blood glucose levels of type 2 diabetic patients within 90, 120 & 180 min. There were no significant changes in insulin levels.

High Cholesterol and Horsetail

Silica in horsetail acts on lipid metabolism, resulting in an anti-atheromatous action -- it helps protect against fatty deposits in arteries. In Europe, horsetail has been used for years for atherosclerosis.

One that consumes a high cholesterol (fatty) diet could develop dermatitis (inflammatory skin conditions). Raw horsetail contains thiaminase, an enzyme that breaks down thiamine, a B vitamin. One should therefore supplement their diet with thiamine to eliminate this risk.

Also, alcohol, high temperatures and alkalinity all destroy this enzyme. Therefore, boiled tinctures and teas and most preparations are free of this enzyme.

Medicinal Benefits of the Horsetail Herb

Medicinal Properties of the Horsetail Herb: 

Anti-hemorrhagic / Haemostatic / styptic properties: clots blood -- stops uncontrolled external & internal bleeding (hemorrhage) of wounds, nose, lung, bowel & stomach (ulcers). 

Anti-inflammatory - Acute & chronic edema (swelling/inflammation) of legs & in skin conditions 

Astringent 

Anti-bacterial / anti-microbial / anti-septic / disinfectant

Anti-oxidant (Free radical scavenging ability)

Anodyne – relieves & eliminates pain

Anaemia - contributes to building of healthy blood cells; increases number of phagocytes in blood. 

Bones, Skeletal System; Tissue Repair: No other herb in entire plant kingdom is so rich in silicon as is horsetail. Arthritis, osteoarthritis, rheumatism, Osteoporosis (thinning bones) – increases bone density, Eases pain, rebuilds injured tissue i.e. sprains; strains of ligaments. Facilitates absorption; retention of calcium by body, which nourishes nails, skin, hair, bones, body's connective tissue. Repairs tissue, blood vessels, strengthens & stabilizes bones, ligaments, tendons, cartilage, lungs, muscles & joints; strengthens enamel of teeth. Tendonitis, fractures, pulled hamstrings, muscle cramps. Horsetail absorbs gold dissolved in water better than most plants. Gold is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis.

Cardiac: Helps prevent arosclerosis; guards against fatty deposits in arteries, Improves circulation, treats congestive heart failure (“CHF”). Heart tonic, influences lipid metabolism which benefits cardiovascular problems. Encourages absorption & retention of calcium by body. 

Cancer, Bone Cancer; Tumors – dissolves tumors
 

Cough medicine for horses 

Detoxification: Removes toxins & heavy metals from body

Diaphoretic – induces perspiration

Diabetes Type II – lowers blood sugar

Diuretic - Horsetail is one of most diuretic species of all plants. Edema (swelling/fluid retention). Eliminates water from body; increases urination up to 30% (useful in treatment of heart; kidney conditions & for weight loss). Dropsy - Accumulation of excess water / swelling of tissues.

Eye Disease; Eyes: swelling of eyelids, eye inflammations; corneal disorders, conjunctivitis with external oculopathy; nebula due to deficiency of liver, bloodshot eyes. 

Fever – reduces fever

Flu

Gastrointestina; Digestive: bleeding stomach ulcers, diarrhea, dyspepsia (stomach upset/heartburn), stomach acidity. Carminative – Induces expelling gas from stomach or intestines to relieve flatulence or abdominal pain or distension. 

Dysentery - infection of intestines marked by severe diarrhea

Galactogogue - help breast feeding mothers increasee flow of mothers milk

Gout 

Gonorrhoea; gleet (mucous discharge from urethra due to gonorrhoea)

Hemopoietic – contributes to formation of blood or blood cells

haemorrhoids 

Hair: Balding, hair loss, Restores luster (shine) to hair, Eliminates excess oil from hair, Keeps hair from turning prematurely grey. Helps promote circulation to scalp, Strengthens hair, very good for split ends. 

Eliminates dandruff.

Itch; chronic itching 

Immune System Booster 

Liver: jaundice, Hepatoprotective (protects liver; protects against hepatitis) 

Menses; Menopause: Emmenagogue: menorrhagia (heavy menstrual bleeding; pain), vaginal discharge, edema (menopausal) 

Malaria 

Nervine: (calms nervousness)

Nails, Hair; Skin: Treats most skin conditions. Nail inflammations, brittle nails –improves nail texture; strengthens & tones hair, nails & skin. Creates beautiful, elastic-like skin. Prepares skin for better absorption of a moisturizer. Refreshes & smooths complexion. Eliminates excess oil from skin. Removes soap residue; cellular debris without drying out complexion. Psoriasis, eczema, acne, scars, gangrene. Horsetail is a vulnerary – thus heals sores, wounds, skin ulcers, chilblains. Used topically in cosmetics & shampoos. Beautifies body from inside rather than just altering external appearances. 

Oral: Teeth, Gum inflammations, bleeding gums, Mouth ulcers, sore throats. In one case, a woman in her 70s took silicon-rich herb horsetail in a tea for several months. When she went to her dentist, he was amazed to find that a number of small cavities had filled in. 

Parasites: head lice, fleas, mites, parasites; parasite eggs 

Prostate: prostate problems; disease - prostate inflammation, benign prostate hyperplasia (enlarged prostate). 

Respiratory Disorders; Lung Disease: lungs, emphysema, fluid in lungs, 
Consumption - progressive wasting away of body -- especially from pulmonary TB, treats Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), cough, restores damaged pulmonary tissue, bronchitis, inflammation, ulcers; similar problems of respiratory tract. 
Hemoptysis - coughing up blood from respiratory tract from severe infections of bronchi or lungs

Reiter's syndrome 

Glandular disorders – including thyroid disorders 

Urinary System: treats all conditions; diseases of urinary system (kidneys, bladder, etc.): Dysuria with tenesmic urging to urinate, tonifiess urinary mucous membranes, Albuminuria, urethritis, haemorrhage; Hematuria (blood in urine), cystic ulceration; ulcers in urinary passages. Urinary Tract Infections (“UTIs”); inflammation, Cystitis; Cystic irritation, Calculi - urolithiasis (urinary tract stones of bladder), kidney stones (nephrolithiasis), urinary incontinence; enuresis (nocturnal urinal incontinence or bed-wetting).

Bladder cramps, Xlbuminuria. 

Weight Loss