Horsetail (7% Silica)

History and Uses:
Horsetail is widely distributed throughout the temperate climate zones of the northern hemisphere, including Asia, North America and Europe. During the Carboniferous Period, Horsetail was a predominant plant, growing up to forty feet tall or more. It reproduces by spores, rather than pollen. Cut off just above the root, the stems are used in their entirety, and only the barren stems of the plant are used medicinally, appearing after the fruiting stems have died down. Horsetail's botanical name, Equisetum, is derived from two Latin words, equus, meaning "horse" and setum, meaning "bristle," an obvious reference to the plant's brush-like appearance. The folk names, Scouring Rush, Bottle Brush and Shave Grass, allude to this plant's utility as a very fine grade of sandpaper, and it has been used to file stone projectile points, polish wood and scour cookware. Since it was first recommended by the ancient physician, Galen, several cultures have employed Horsetail as a folk remedy for kidney and bladder troubles, arthritis, bleeding ulcers and tuberculosis. Horsetail has been used for centuries in both Chinese and European herbology to treat external wounds. Because of its high tannin content, Horsetail helps halt bleeding, making it a popular treatment for nosebleeds and hemorrhoids. Horsetail is also said to alleviate painful urination, reduce inflammation of the prostate gland, and it helps to eliminate some cases of adolescent bed wetting. Primary chemical constituents of Horsetail include flavonoids, bitter principle, alkaloids (equisetin, nicotine, palustrine, palustrinine), silica, calcium, manganese, magnesium, sulphur, potassium, phytosterols and tannin. Horsetail is very rich in silicic acid and silicates, which provide approximately two-to-three percent elemental silicon. The presence of bioflavonoids are believed to cause a diuretic action, while the silica content is said to exert a connective tissue-strengthening and anti-arthritic action. Some experts have suggested that the element, silica, is a vital component for bone and cartilage formations. This would indicate that Horsetail may be beneficial in preventing osteoporosis.