Wild Horsetail

Horsetail is a perennial found in North America, Europe, Asia and Middle East.  The kind in Saskatchewan is  Equisetum arvense (Saskatchewan Forage Council).  This species is also most often used medicinally.  Horsetail is related to ferns.  It doesn't have any flowers or leaves. (Encyclopedia.com, 2020)

Horsetail dates back to the time of the dinosaurs.  This jointed-looking plant used to grow as tall as trees.  It prefers moist environments, wetlands, or sandy soils. (Killebrew, 2016)

 

A grown Wild Horsetail stalk is up to 0.5 m (1.5 ft) tall.  Horsetail grows in 2 stages. The main stalk grows and establishes the top cone, and following this the leaves spur out from the nodules. The plant is best gathered in spring and early summer.  (Encyclopedia.com, 2020)  

Some types of Horsetail can live as long as 100 years.  (Killebrew, 2016) 

Horsetail is rich in silica which strengthens connective tissues because it helps you to aborb calcicum, and can treat broken bones, fractures, and osteoporosis (Encyclopedia.com, 2020).  Horsetail's silica content also helps your body to form collagen which is found in skin, bone, cartilage, and ligaments (Gray, p. 104).  A traditional Indigenous use is a horsetail wash for hair, skin, and nails.  Health shops also have horsetail in capsules and in shampoo (Gray, p. 103-4).

Horsetail is used for kidney and bladder ailments like stones and urinary tract infections, and to stem heavy menstrual bleeding.  Its ashes are used as a disinfectant. Caution, it can be poisonous in high doses. (Belacourt, p. 29).  It can promote urination to remedy bladder and urinary-tract infections, stomach ulcers, and kidney stones (Gray, p. 104).

To treat wounds, Horsertail juice can stop blood flow because it promotes coagulation of the blood.  (Gray, p. 104)

Asthma can be treated with Horsetail tree because it reduces inflammation and strengthens your lung tissue.  It's an anti-inflammatory and can stabilize cells that become inflamed during allergic ractions.  It has also been used to treat bronchitis and tuberculosis.  (Killebrew, 2016)  It's important to boil the horsetail because it breaks down the thiaminase which causes thiamin deficiency (Gray, p. 105).

It can also be used as a foot bath for aching feet.  (Belacourt, p. 30)

It is sometimes used in short-term use wound medications. It is advised that people with high blood pressure, and heart problems should avoid using horsetail and children should avoid ingesting the plant or its derivatives. High doses should not be used for long periods of time.  (Encyclopedia.com, 2020)

Its name "scouring rush" comes from the use of this plant to scour pots and pans.  It is also used by Indigenous people traditionally in woodworking to create a silky finish. (Killebrew, 2016)