Horsetail (equisetum)
Synopsis
Horsetail (Equisetum arvense) is a prehistoric, non-flowering plant native to North America, Europe, and Asia, known for its tall, brush-like stems and high mineral content—especially silica. It is one of the oldest surviving plant species on Earth, dating back over 350 million years, and is traditionally valued for its diuretic, astringent, wound-healing, and connective tissue-supporting properties. The aerial parts are used medicinally and contain silicic acid, flavonoids, alkaloids (including nicotine), saponins, and potassium salts.
In modern herbalism, horsetail is best known for supporting the health of skin, hair, nails, bones, and connective tissue, primarily due to its rich silica content, which plays a role in collagen synthesis, tissue strength, and elasticity. It also acts as a gentle diuretic, helping relieve fluid retention, urinary tract infections, and bladder inflammation. It may also assist in healing fractures, strengthening bones, and improving osteoporosis prevention efforts when used alongside calcium and other minerals.
Horsetail is commonly used in capsules, teas, tinctures, and topical preparations, and is often included in hair, skin, and nail support blends, or in herbal formulas for urinary tract health.
Historical Use
Horsetail has a long tradition of use in Western herbalism, Native American medicine, and European folk remedies. Ancient Roman and Greek physicians used it to stop bleeding, treat ulcers, and promote wound healing, particularly in bleeding disorders and traumatic injuries.
In medieval Europe, it was used both internally and externally for kidney and bladder conditions, as well as for slow-healing wounds, skin conditions, and brittle nails. Traditional herbalists also valued it for hematuria (blood in the urine), bedwetting, and arthritis, thanks to its astringent and mineral-replenishing qualities.
Native American tribes used horsetail as a diuretic, wound wash, and tooth scrub, and recognized it as a strengthening herb for bones and joints.
Today, horsetail remains a popular herb in both cosmetic and therapeutic applications, praised for its silica-driven benefits for structural tissues, its gentle diuretic action, and its historical role as a natural mineral tonic supporting the skeletal and urinary systems.
Uses: Health Conditions
Bedwetting (Traditional)
Cellulite (Traditional)
Incontinence (Traditional)
Body Systems
Uterus (Traditional)
Bladder (Traditional)
Eyes (Traditional)
Hair (Traditional)
Intestinal System (Traditional)
Joints (Traditional)
Kidneys (Traditional)
Lungs (Traditional)
Nails (Traditional)
Parathyroid Glands (Traditional)
Parotids (Salivary Glands) (Traditional)
Pineal Gland (Traditional)
Skeletal System (Bones) (Traditional)
Skin (Traditional)