Horsetail
|
Botanical Name |
Equisetum arvense |
|
Family |
Equisetaceae |
|
Other Names |
Bottlebrush, pewterwort, sharegrass, shave grass |
|
Habitat |
Wet places, wastelands |
|
Description |
Perennial up to 90cm/3ft Cone bearing, hollow, grooved stems March-April |
|
Native to |
Europe, Asia, N America |
|
Parts Used |
Aerial parts |
|
Harvesting |
Summer |
|
Preserving |
Hang in bundles in airy place and dry |
|
Classification |
Bitter |
|
Actions |
Astringent, carminative, diuretic, emmenagogue, tonic, vulnerary |
|
Constituents |
Saponin-equisetrin, equisetonin, articulatin Alkaloids –nicotine, palustrine, palustrinine, equisetine Flavonoids –apigenin, genkwanin, kaempferol, luteolin, quercetin glycosides, galuteolin, gossypitrin, herbacetrin, isoquercitrin, kaempferol Sterols –cholesterol, isofucosterol, campesterol, beta sitosterol Silicic acid (up to 8%) Caffeic acid derivatives Ioliolide, equistumpyrone, dimethylsulphone, thiaminase and aconitic acid |
|
Combines with |
Bearberry |
|
Skin |
Chilblains |
|
Genito-urinary |
Bladder, kidneys |
|
Other Uses |
Cleaning metal and wood, nail polish, cosmetics |
|
Other Notes |
It is named horsetail because of its appearance Equisetum is derived from the Latin “equus” meaning horse and “seta” meaning tail |
|
Caution |
Care needed if taken internally |