Horsetail: properties and when to take the infusion

Few medicinal plants are as powerful to detoxify and remineralize the body as horsetail (Equisetum arvense L.). In fact, to this purifying and remineralizing plant a great variety of properties and health benefits that are beyond doubt. You can make cleansing and restorative horsetail infusions, and also baths and washes for many different purposes.

The horsetail is a plant next to ferns, which develops a fertile stem and later a sterile one, with a feathery appearance. It is this stem that we use for medicinal purposes. It grows, sometimes abundantly, on the banks of rivers and streams, swamps and wetlands. Traditionally, horsetail had been used -and is still used- in decoction as a diuretic remedy, to increase urination, and also to stop bleeding.

As an astringent, antihemorrhagic, diuretic and remineralizing plant, it is intended to treat Menstrual disordersnosebleeds, urine retention, hypertension, asthenia and anemia. It is applied in the form of a decoction orally or in compresses, baths and washes.

Horsetail properties

The horse tail is very rich in mineral salts, especially silica, but also iron, potassium, magnesium and aluminum. In its composition we also find caffeic and equisetolic acids, flavonoids, saponosides, tannins, vitamin C and traces of alkaloids.

All these compounds give horsetail a wide range of healing properties. Among its main properties are its astringent effect, antihemorrhagicantidiarrheal, remineralizing, antianemic, diuretic, depurative, antihypertensive and healing.

What is horsetail used for?

Horsetail remedies are used to alleviate widespread conditions, although these are the most prominent:

Anemic states, weakness, asthenia and convalescence from a disease, mainly due to its remineralizing properties. Genitourinary conditions such as cystitis, arterial hypertension, gout, edema and overweight.

It is also a support for the young woman, to treat heavy periods and to help overcome states of atony and lack of strength.

And its remineralizing properties mean that it continues to be a good support for women later, in mature age, as it helps to treat osteoporosis naturally and stop its progress. It not only helps strengthen bones, but also makes it easier for fractures to heal. It also serves for relieve rheumatic pain.

externally It is applied on nosebleeds, minor bleeding wounds, mouth bleeds, eye irritations, dermatitis and for strengthen hair from the roots.

How to use horsetail

The most common home remedies with horsetail with which we can benefit from its properties are infusion and the decoctionto take drinks internally, and also decoction applied externally as a wash or bath.

In herbalists you can also find horsetail in the form of liquid extract and in capsules and tablets.

Another way to use it is by extracting the fresh plant juice.

Does horsetail lose weight?

The horse tail is one of the main assets of herbalist to promote weight loss. Its powerful diuretic and cleansing effect helps to eliminate toxins with urine and reduce fluid retention.

Eating horsetail is a good natural option to combat obesity and swelling due to excess fluids, since it has the capacity to increase urine output by up to 30%.

The best way to take it as a slimming method it is like a cleansing infusion.

Horsetail infusion

We can prepare a horsetail infusion in different ways to take advantage of its properties, depending on the benefit we want to enhance.

Horsetail tea to lose weight

This infusion combines horsetail with other cleansing and diuretic plants. You can take it during the day, even cold from the fridge.

Horsetail infusion for anemia and asthenia

In this infusion, horsetail is combined with other mineral-rich tonic plants. You can have two cups a day, or drink during the day, hot or cold from the fridge.

Other home remedies with horsetail

You can also take horsetail in other ways:

Fresh horsetail, recently harvested, in the form of a decoction: about 50 grams per liter of water, two cups a day. The juice of the fresh plant, obtained with a mortar or blender. One tablespoon a day is enough. Horsetail drops, alone or combined with other herbs, in the form of a liquid extract, to be taken between 30 and 50 drops daily, mixed in water or fruit juice. In capsules and tablets, on sale in herbalists and some pharmacies.

Externally, the horsetail decoction is applied:

In the form of washes, baths and to soak compresses as an astringent and healing. Horsetail decoction applied in massage to strengthen the hair roots. In the form of horsetail lotion for hair. In the form of lipolytic creams, to eliminate localized adiposities. Horsetail is normally combined with glycolic extracts of fucus, ginkgo, butcher’s broom and garcinia, plus an emulsifier.

Horsetail bath for joint pain

To take advantage of the benefits of horsetail against joint pain, you can take a partial bath of the arms, legs or the area where the pain is located. You should keep the area submerged until the water cools. The operation is repeated every day for a couple of weeks.

As an alternative, compresses can be soaked with this same formula and applied to the painful area.

Horsetail contraindications

don’t take horsetail if you are pregnant or lactating. The presence of alkaloids and tannins discourages it.

as a diuretichorsetail should not be taken for long periods. Treatments of 15 days and another 15 days of not taking it are recommended.

if you take ponytail before going to sleepremember that it is a powerful diuretic, which can force you to get out of bed more than once.

Horsetail can irritate the gastric mucosa, especially if it is taken continuously. Avoid it in case of gastritis.