Horsetail

Description

The perennial herbaceous rhizomatous spore plant. Summer stems are green, erect, ribbed, jointed, with branches arranged in whorls. A Green shoot that die off for the winter are replaced in spring by flesh-colored shoots that end in spore-bearing spikelets. Height 15 – 30 cm.

Distribution. Found in Russia almost everywhere and especially in the forest zone.

Habitat. Grows in wet places, near lakes, swamps, rivers and in floodplain meadows.

Applied part. Green summer shoots.

Collection time. June-August.

Chemical composition

The Plant contains saponins, alkaloids (nicotine), soluble silicic acid, oxalic, malic and tannic acids, proteins, fatty oil, bitterness, mineral salts, resin, carotene and vitamin C. The Plant is poisonous.

Application

A Horsetail as a medicinal plant was known in ancient times, it is widely used in folk medicine. The plant increases the excretion of urine, reduces the amount of protein in it, improves the overall metabolism in the body, reduces edema of various origins, stops inflammatory processes, heals wounds and has a hemostatic, astringent, antiseptic and disinfecting effect. Decoction and infusion of herbs are taken for diseases of the lungs and respiratory tract, bladder diseases, internal bleeding, malaria, inflammation of the sciatic nerve. An infusion of the herb is also used for cholelithiasis, gout and rheumatism, and as a diuretic for various edemas, especially of cardiac origin.

In German folk medicine, herbal infusion is used internally for diseases of the respiratory organs and as a hemostatic, and externally for washing long-healing purulent wounds, ulcers and rinses for inflammatory processes of the mouth and pharynx. Dry crushed grass is sprinkled over purulent wounds for their healing. In scientific medicine, herbal infusion is used as a diuretic for edema due to circulatory insufficiency, as well as for inflammatory processes of the bladder and urinary tract, pleurisy with a large amount of exudate and as a hemostatic agent, especially for uterine and hemorrhoidal bleeding. The successful use of horsetail infusion in dysentery is also noted. In France, good results were obtained in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis with silicic acid, which is part of horsetail. Internal use of horsetail field, as a poisonous plant, requires caution.

Method of application

1. 4 teaspoons of dry herb infuse in 2 cups of hot boiled water, strain. Infusion (warm) to drink sips repeatedly throughout the day.

2. 1 tablespoon of herbs boiled for 30 minutes in 1 cup water, drain. Use for rinsing.

3. 50 g of herb infuse 1 day in 3 glasses of cold water, strain. Use for baths, washings and compresses.