Date: 12:48 am  Thu Apr 11, 1996       Number : 102 of 137
From: Song Bird                        Base   : [PODS] Herbal Tips & Tricks
To  : Shadowolf                        Refer #: None
Subj: Horsetail                        Replies: None
Stat: Sent                             Origin : 09 Apr 96  11:10:52

> Horsetail
 
Equisetum spp.  Equisetaceae (there are several different forms of this one)
 
Here, we use horsetail primarily as a male herb.  It contains an element
called silica that has several uses in folk medicine.  I am not any sort of
doctor but I can tell you it works for us.  It is said that the silica in
horsetail strengthens the veins and so is used for conditions where veins are
a problem.  I use horsetail myself in a tea of ginger to help warm me up and
get the blood pumping since my feet and hands are often cold.
 
In this house, we used it in a male tea of saw palmetto, corn silk, and uva
ursi specifically for a prostate condition that none of the doctors drugs were
helping.  It worked.
 
Ground finely, the powder makes a good bleeding wound staunch, though you'll
need to have it *on hand* in order to do any good.  The time it would take to
grind it from stem could be too long.
 
The stalks of horsetail in the wild are like nothing else you'll see. They are
a straight, slightly less than pencil thick, jointed hollow stalk. The
distance between joints is about a finger length.  At the top of the stalk is
an elongated egg-shaped piece with tiny spore dots all around it. Once mature,
in the fall, the stalks can be picked and dried for use - though if you
wildcraft it you need to be careful to do it in an area that is as pollution
free as possible.  Horsetail, like gumweed and watercress, will pick up
nitrates and selenium from the soil or water and store it at toxic levels. I
should probably also mention that horsetail itself can be toxic if taken at
high enough doses.  I don't know what those doses are but a teaspoon to a cup
of water appears to be acceptable in the British texts I have.  It works well
enough at that level.
 
When I look for horsetail I look for low areas beside streams and ponds - it
seems to like that best.
 
More practically, I've read that horsetail stalks bundled together have been
used to scrub pots with, since the silica content of the stalk is quite
abrasive. I haven't actually done this but I can easily see the use of it.
 
I've read the literature regarding it's past medicinal uses - which were to
steep the fresh plant in alcohol for several days and use the tincture for
internal conditions.  I'm not personally in favor of the tincture since I
think it's too strong.  I've read some rather negative things regarding it's
side-effects and toxicity levels in alcohol.  Urinary-tract bleeding, lower
bowel gripping, pain in the testes and penis, etc. etc.
 
There is a largely accepted type of theory in medicinal thought that basically
says that a little of something bad will help the body create defenses against
the very thing itself.  Homeopathic medicine and common day vaccination both
work on these very principles.  I can only surmise that horsetail was used in
just such a way in the late 18th century and early 19th century. Today -
though I'm certainly no expert here - I don't see any of the tincture form
being used.  Personally, I'd stay away from it, though the dry form in small
quantity seems to work well.
 
Song Bird

--- DB 1.58/003113
 * Origin: Song Bird's Eyrie (93:9902/0)