Horsetail

Horsetail is a common water plant that is native to North America, Europe, northern Asia and North Africa. Also known as shave grass and the “Common Mare’s Tail” Horsetail (Hippuris vulgaris) comes from the Equistetaceae family and the only type of Horsetail alive today is that of the Equisetum variety. The scientific name for Horsetail is Equisetum arvense. Horsetail has been found in fossils that are 300 million years old and it was used by the ancient Greeks for its astringent properties.

Horsetail is one of the oldest herbs that is known to mankind and has its share of nicknames, such as joint grass, bottle brush, bull pipes, paddock guts, devil’s guts and pewterwort. Horsetail is also sometimes referred to as scouring rush or Dutch rushes.

In appearance horsetails have jointed stems and have a ring of long and pointed leaves as well as branches that can be seen at each joint. Horsetail is very rich in minerals that help to maintain healthy tissues in the human body. Horsetail helps with the absorption of calcium, which in turn nourishes the skin, hair, bones, and nails as well as the connective tissue. Horsetail is also commonly used to stop Bleeding, to heal cuts and to soothe a variety of wounds. Horsetail is particularly beneficial for the health of skin and hair. For example, Horsetail is rich in a substance called cysteine, which is beneficial in conditioning the hair and making it stronger. Horsetail is very good at eliminating an excess build up of oil from both the hair and the skin.

Horsetail is recommended for the skin as it helps to firm the skin and give it a more youthful and smoother appearance. Horsetail is also instrumental in improving the elasticity of skin that is sagging and allowing it to spring back into shape when it is getting out of shape. Horsetail is believed to be beneficial for fingernails and toenails because it is very rich in minerals and in particular selenium and organic silica.

Besides its many benefits to health, horsetail is believed to improve the functioning of the respiratory system and the urinary tract. Horsetail also helps blood to clot when a person has been injured.