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| Departments » Herbal Medicine » Materia Medica » Equisetum arvense |
Note - the monographs are provided for informational purposes only, and are not to be used for self-medication.
Equisetum arvense (Horsetail)
| Botanic Name | Equisetum arvense L. |
| Common Name | Horsetail, Shave-grass, Bottle-brush, Paddock-pipes, Dutch Rushes, Pewterwort. 1 |
| Family | Equisetaceae |
| Parts Used | Herb |
| Habitat | In moist waste places throughout temperate regions of the world 2 |
| Constituents | Silica (up
to 10%) 2
Saponin 2 Alkaloid (including nicotine & palustrene) 2 Bitter principle 2 Flavonoids 2 Many minerals in abundance 2 |
| Actions | Principle
action on the bladder: Connective tissue tone & resistance 9
Astringent 4 Diuretic 4 Vulnerary 4 Haemostyptic 3 Restorative to damaged pulmonary tissue 2 |
| Applications | Urinary and
prostatic disease 2
Managing enuresis 2 Managing irritable symptoms of the urinary system 2 Repair lung tissue after pulmonary tuberculosis and other disease 2 Metabolic or hormonal oedema 2 Haemorrhage 4 Wounds 4 Rheumatism 4 Chilblains 4 |
| Dosage | MEDIUM dose
herb
Dried Herb: 1 – 4 gm tds 2 Liquid Extract: 1:1 25 % 1 – 4 ml tds 3 Tincture: 1:5 25% 2 – 6 ml tds 3 |
| Combinations | Hydrangea
arborescens for prostrate troubles. 4
Zea mays or Triticum repens for demulcent support 9 |
| C/I Cautions | Contraindicated
in cardiac or renal dysfunction 5
Consumption of Equisetum is reported to have the potential to lead to thiamine deficiency and products sold in Canada are required to be certified as free from any thiaminase-like effect 5 Some sources state that daily use of the powdered extract of the herb should not exceed 2gm and that doses in excess of 5 gm a day of the herb powder should be taken during meals 5 The herb in powdered form is not recommended for children or for prolonged use due to the inorganic silica content though decoctions contain mainly organic silica in colloidal form so are not problematic in this reaged. Toxicity is reported to be similar to nicotene poisoning in children who have chewed the stem. 5 Some authors report that consumption of Equisetum in large amounts is poisonous to animals 5 |
| BHP S/I | Inflammation
and benign enlargement of prostate gland
Urinary incontinence; enuresis of children 6 |
References
- Grieve, M., A Modern Herbal, Tiger, Great Britain, 1994.
- Mills, S., The Complete Guide to Modern Herbalism, Thorsons, Great Britain, 1994.
- Bradley, P.R.(Ed.), British Herbal Compendium Volume I, British Herbal Medicine Association, 1992.
- Hoffmann, D., The New Holistic Herbal, Element, Dorset, 1990.
- McGuffin, M., Hobbs, C., Upton, R., Goldberg, A., American Herbal Products Association - Botanical Safety Handbook, CRC Press, 1997.
- British Herbal Medical Association, British Herbal Pharmacopoeia 1983, British Herbal Medical Association, 1989.
- Motram, L., Herbal Materia Medica Course Notes, 1983.
- Willard, T., The Wild Rose Scientific Herbal, Wild Rose College of Natural Healing Ltd, Alberta, Canada, 1991.
- Priest, A.W. and Priest, L.R. Herbal Medication. A Clinical and Dispensary Handbook. London: L.N. Fowler & Co. Ltd.
- Brockhampton Press, Guide to Herbal Remedies, Brockhampton Press, London, 1996.
- Lust, J., The Herb Book, Bantam Books, USA, 1974.
- Singh Y. N., Blumenthal, M., Kava culture, then & now, Herbs for Health, Vol 2, No 6: 56-60, 1998.
- McCaleb, R., Herbal Help for Prostate Problems, Herbs for Health, Spring/Summer 1996, pp 26- 28.