Urinary Health Support

Horsetail Background and Benefits

Horsetail is the common name for vascular plants of the genus Equisetum, which includes about 16 species. Unless otherwise noted, the common name "horsetail" refers specifically to Equisetum arvense, also known as common horsetail and field horsetail. Horsetails grow in temperate to warm climates in the northern hemisphere.
Horsetails reproduce by spores rather than seeds, a reproductive method more common during the late Paleozoic era when horsetails dominated forests. Horsetails have fertile and sterile stems, both growing from underground rhizomes. The fertile stems begin to grow in early spring, releasing spores instead of photosynthesizing. These stems die shortly thereafter, after which the plant begins to produce photosynthesizing sterile stems.
 
The fertile stems reach a height of about 10 inches and are covered with brown scales. The spore cones at the top of the stems are about 1.5 inches long. The sterile stems can be up to three feet tall and have up to 20 segmented limbs.
 
The young buds of the fertile stems can be eaten as a vegetable, especially in Japan and Korea. In water areas, it is also grown near other plants because horsetails can absorb excess water. This effect is mainly due to the high mineral content of horsetail, especially silicon. The horsetail also contains a lot of calcium and potassium.
 

Use of horsetail

The main health benefits of horsetail extract are generally due to its high content of silica, a compound based on silicon. These benefits primarily include urinary tract health and bone, lung and bleeding support.

Signs of need for horsetail

Fluid retention or edema is the number one reason for taking horsetail extract. Common signs of edema include bladder and kidney stones, urinary tract infections, and urinary incontinence. You may also benefit from horsetail if you suffer from bone problems such as low bone density and brittle fingernails. Common signs that you may need horsetail extract include jaundice, joint discomfort, unexplained weight loss, heavy menstrual bleeding, and internal bleeding.