Horsetail is a very thin herbaceous plant with a rizome like stem that gives it the appearance of the tail of a horse or a bird, that is why it is called horsetail. This herb is also called candock, bottle brush, field horsetail, giant horsetail, common horsetail, horsetail fern and paddock pipes. Horsetail has been used for its medicinal properties from the time of ancient Greeks. Apart from the medicinal properties, the leaves of horsetail are used to derive green colored dye. Horsetail is rich in many nutrients and minerals such as manganese, iron, saponins, alkaloids, phytosterols, phenolic acids, silica, calcium, flavonoids, tannins, fatty acids and glycosides. Just like alfalfa herb, horsetail can absorb unique minerals from the soil such as silica which is rarely found in any other plant.

The health benefits of Horsetail:

2. To improve the strength of the nails:
The minerals in horsetail herbs helps in making the fingernails strong, remove the white spots from it and reduce the brittleness. Soaking your fingernails everyday in horsetail infusion is extremely beneficial for the nails. For the infusion, boil one tablespoon of dried and crushed horsetail in a glass of water for ten minutes. Let the water cool down and then soak your fingers in it for fifteen minutes. Dry your nails and apply virgin olive oil on your nails. If possible then wear cotton gloves after the infusion. This treatment can be repeated four times in a week.

5. To stop excessive bleeding
Studies have indicated that horsetail has coagulant and hemostatic properties which may be helpful in curbing excessive bleeding, internal as well as external. Horsetail herb is also known to be useful in treating excessive bleeding during menstrual cycle. Having horsetail herbal tea is helpful in reducing excessive bleeding and it may also provide relief in discomfort caused due to excessive bleeding.

Horsetail has many more wonderful health benefits, about which we will continue in the post to come.