What Is Dietary Horsetail?

Herbal remedies have been used for millennia to treat ailments and diseases. Much of what is known about them has been handed down through generations. Some of this knowledge has been documented by various healers and physicians. The beneficial effects of dietary horsetail have been documented and scientifically studied.

History

• Horsetail has been used as an herbal dietary supplement for centuries. Throughout its long history it has been used for purposes other than dietary or medicinal; it has been used to polish metals, especially pewter, as a scouring cleanser and in cosmetics. Its therapeutic use was first recorded by Greek physician Claudius Galenusin in Greco-Roman times. Nicholas Culpepper, a 17th-century English herbalist, treated ulcers, wounds, ruptures and skin inflammation with it.

Function

• Horsetail is high in silica and also contains calcium, which gives it healing properties for bones, joints, tendons and ligaments. It also contains 15 types of bioflavonoids, which are believed to be the source of its diuretic properties.

Uses

• Dietary horsetail is believed to be beneficial in the treatment of lung disorders such as bronchitis and tuberculosis, bleeding disorders including nosebleed, pulmonary and gastric bleeding as well as excess menstrual bleeding. Brittle fingernails, hair loss, water retention, rheumatic diseases, gout, swelling, fractures and frostbite may also be helped by dietary horsetail treatment.

Scientific Research

• Preliminary research has shown horsetail to be beneficial in the treatment of osteoporosis. A randomized double blind study reported in the October 1999 issue of Minerva Ortopedica e Traumatologica showed a significant increase in bone density in menopausal osteoporosis patients treated with horsetail extract plus calcium. The treated patients experienced an average bone mass recovery of around 2.3 percent after 1 year of treatment.

Types

• Dietary horsetail supplements are available in tea, capsule, pill and tincture form. Recommended uses and dosage are normally listed on the container label.

Warning

• Theoretically, the diuretic properties of horsetail could cause dehydration or electrolyte imbalances when used in conjunction with other herbs that cause increased urination. Taking horsetail with a laxative might result in dehydration or low potassium.

  Herbal supplements are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The purity and strength of a dietary horsetail product is not guaranteed by the FDA.

  Exercise caution when taking dietary horsetail along with other herbal remedies to avoid potentially harmful interactions. For example, licorice has potassium-depleting and stimulant effects similar to horsetail. Always consult a medical professional before using herbal remedies.