Botanical Index No. 523

Horsetail

equisetum arvense

Medicinal Actions

Antibacterial, Antiedemic, Antiinflammatory, Antispasmodic, Aquaretic, Astringent, Carminative, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Emmenagogue, Hemolytic, Immunostimulant, Leukocytogenic, Nephrotonic, Tonic

Primary Conditions Treated

Bitter Cooling Hemostat Vulnerary Alopecia Arthrosis Bacteria Bladder Bladder Stone Bleeding BPH Brittle Nails Burn Cancer abdomen bone breast colon intestine kidney lip liver oral stomach tongue Childbirth Cholecystosis Conjunctivosis Constipation Cramp Cystosis Dentition Dermatosis Dropsy Dyspepsia Dysuria Edema Enuresis Epistaxis Fever Fracture Frostbite Gas Gastrosis Gonorrhea Gout Gravel Headache Hemopoietic Ailment Hematuria Hemoptysis Hemorrhoid Immunodepression Incontinence Infection Inflammation Kidney Stone Lumbago Metrorrhagia Mycobacteria Nephrosis Obesity Osteoarthrosis Osteoporosis Pain Poison Ivy Polyp Poor Bone Development pation Poor Hair Prostatosis Pulmonosis Respirosis Rheumatism Rhinosis Rupture Sore Sprain Staphylococcus Stone Strangury Streptococcus Swelling Tuberculosis Ulcer Urethrosis UTI Water Retention Wound posttraumatic and static edema irrigation therapy for bacterial and inflammatory diseases of the lower urinary tract and renal gravel burns kidney and bladder stones

General Dosage

2–4 tbsp fresh herb; 1–4 g herb/cup water; 3–6 g dry herb; 4.5 g dry herb:22 ml alcohol/23 ml water; 1.5 g/cup tea; 6 g/day; 2–4 ml liquid extract; 2–6 ml tincture/day; 3 capsules 3 ×/day; 3 capsules 3 ×/day; 1 StX 2 ×/day.

Safety & Contraindications

Class 2d. Contraindicated in cardiopathy or nephrosis. Powdered herb not recommended for children or long-term use. Toxicity is reportedly similar to nicotine poisoning in children who have chewed the stem. “Hazards and/or side effects not recorded for proper therapeutic dosages”. Despite reported benefits of silicon, it seems prudent that infants, young children, and pregnant women not ingest horsetail for extended periods, unless its thiaminase enzyme has been deactivated. Not for use during pregnancy, or with kidney or heart disease. Raw use depletes thiamine. Should not be used more than 7 days. Said to induce seborrheic dermatosis. There’s an inconsistency in an AHP quote, “daily use of the herb should not exceed 2.0 grams ... doses in excess of 5.0 grams of the herb powder should be taken during meals.” Commission E lists no known contraindications, drug interactions, or side effects at least for oral dosage. The Herbal PDR says a physician should be consulted when used as a bath additive in cases of major skin lesions, major feverish and infectious diseases, cardiac insufficiency, and hyperotonia. Beware of related species with toxic alkaloids. The hemostatic substance is active orally, but neither hypertensive, nor hypotensive, nor a vasoconstrictor. Bioflavonoids may cause diuresis. “Silicon content is said to exert a connective tissue-strengthening and antiarthritic action”. Surprising to me, it has been approved by Commission E for treatment of posttraumatic and static edema, irrigation therapy for bacterial and inflammatory diseases of the lower urinary tract and renal gravel, and for burns, kidney and bladder stones, UTIs, and wounds. Equisetonine is weakly hemolytic. EO bactericidal against Mycobacteria, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus. Silica strengthens bones, hair, and nails.

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