Medicinal plant uses

What Are the Healing and Medicinal Properties of Horsetail

Max. D Gray
By Max. D Gray. Updated: September 15, 2017
What Are the Healing and Medicinal Properties of Horsetail

Horsetail is a plant that grows in damp conditions and has become one of the most commonly used medicinal herbs. This is because it contains a significant amount of therapeutic properties very beneficial to our health, among which is its potent diuretic and purifying action. If you want to know in more detail what the healing properties of horsetail are pay attention to the following oneHOWTO article.

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Contents

  1. Diuretic properties of horsetail
  2. Antioxidant properties
  3. Anti-inflammatory benefits
  4. Benefits for your hair and nails
  5. Healing properties of horsetail
  6. Benefits of horsetail for skin
  7. Contraindications of horsetail

Diuretic properties of horsetail

Thanks to the high content of potassium, horsetail is one of the most diuretic herbs available. It is notable for eliminating toxins that accumulate in the body, so it is recommended for weight loss plans that work against fluid retention and the treatment of kidney stones and oliguria (decreased urine production). This is also the reason it is one of the best teas for prostate health too.

Antioxidant properties

As you can see, horsetail acts as an excellent body cleanser and is also rich in minerals. That is why it is efficient to treat other diseases like excess uric acid, rheumatism, arthritis, gout, anemia, etc.

Horsetail helps fight the formation of oxides which cause premature aging by acting against free radicals. You will not feel miraculous effects but it will help to take care of your health, which is always beneficial. In addition, it makes it eases the re-building of tissues and heals wounds, so it can be beneficial for people who have problems while healing wounds. This is due to horsetail's content in pectic and gallic acids, which is good to stop bleeding and close bleeding wounds.

Horsetail is also commonly used to lose weight too.

Anti-inflammatory benefits

Horsetail has anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce tissue swelling and relieve pain. In addition, it also helps when you have tendon pain and works by improving your flexibility as well as contributing positively to vascular wall strength. A component of this plant known as the equisetum is commonly used by athletes to relieve pain in ligaments.

It is also a good remedy for bones because its silicon content helps strengthen and regenerate them in cases of injury. Furthermore, it is ideal to improve patients' condition when suffering from fractures, tendinitis, osteoporosis, strains, etc.

What Are the Healing and Medicinal Properties of Horsetail - Anti-inflammatory benefits

Benefits for your hair and nails

Another benefit of horsetail is its ability to strengthen hair and nail growth. This is explained due to its high level of silica, an essential element for the increase of tissues and prevention of gray hairs,. As we've mentioned above, it also contains equisteum, which works in a positive way to strengthen the nails. So if you want your hair to grow faster or avoid grey hairs, do not hesitate to try it.

Healing properties of horsetail

Among the many healing properties of horsetail, we also find that it is a good-inflammatory for external use and can help relieve certain vaginal infections, hemorrhoids and skin lesions such as herpes, eczema, dermatitis, etc.

As a mouthwash, horsetail can also be useful to combat diseases of the throat, gums or mouth ulcers.

Benefits of horsetail for skin

As we explained earlier, horsetail eases the removal of toxins. This factor helps prevent wrinkles and facilitates the regeneration of damaged tissues. Due to its high silicon content we can help keep our skin healthy. In addition, it is applied on the skin to heal burns, as explained above.

What Are the Healing and Medicinal Properties of Horsetail - Benefits of horsetail for skin

Contraindications of horsetail

Although horsetail has great health benefits, we must bear in mind that its consumption can have negative effects on people under certain conditions.

  • People who drink alcohol frequently should not consume horsetail. This is because the plant reduces the absorption of thiamine, a vitamin that helps the body transform food into energy, so combining both products can greatly reduce its content.
  • Those with low potassium levels. This is because the diuretic effect of horsetail reduces the potassium content in the food you intake.
  • If we have digestive problems, these can be intensified by the silicates of the plant.
  • If you are pregnant or if you are having period of breastfeeding, it is advisable not to take horsetail, since its effects can be transmitted to the baby and may affect its development.

This article is merely informative, oneHOWTO does not have the authority to prescribe any medical treatments or create a diagnosis. We invite you to visit your doctor if you have any type of condition or pain.

If you want to read similar articles to What Are the Healing and Medicinal Properties of Horsetail, we recommend you visit our Drugs & supplements category.

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Kathy Moore
When is it a good time to harvest horsetail and what other parts can be used
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What Are the Healing and Medicinal Properties of Horsetail