Horsetails are often described as living fossils, as they are apparent surviving relatives of flora which dominated – both in terms of species number and size – forests which Dinosaurs inhabited in the carboniferous period over 300 million years ago. Horsetails reproduce through spores rather than seeds, as well as underground rhizomes, so they do not flower, but instead have both ‘fruiting’ stems and ‘barren’ stems which do not produce spores, the latter are sometimes preferentially collected for medicine.

One unusual feature of Horsetail spores is that they have four ‘legs’ which allow them to walk and jump when atmospheric moisture levels change (for a fascinating watch search for “The walk and jump of Equisetum spores” by The Royal Society Journals on YouTube).

A high mineral content provides many essential nutrients for healthy nails and hair by encouraging growth, so Horsetail is often used alongside rosemary and nettle as a topical application for brittle or thinning hair, for maximum benefit it should be applied at the roots and left to work overnight, rather than being used simply as a rinse.

You will also find Horsetail in remedies for urinary tract infections, due to a mild diuretic, astringent, anti-inflammatory and also anti-bacterial property (specifically against Staphylococcus aureus, a common cause of UTIs). Less well known however is the effect of Horsetail on the formation of bone, encouraging osteoblasts whilst inhibiting bone-reabsorbing osteoclasts – making it a great possible candidate for osteoporosis management. It can however reduce vitamin B1 (Thiamine) in the body, so is not recommended for deficient individuals.

It is easily mixed up with other horsetail species, some of which contain toxic alkaloids, but can be identified through the differences in width and shape of the stem hollows among other identifying features, so always use a reliable ID guide or ask a local herbalist or other expert when collecting.

 

Written by Jenny Carden-Porrett, MNIMH.