Herb Journal: Horsetail

Horsetail seems to be one of those more well known herbs to the public. It is widely publicized, along with saw palmetto and a few others, for it's impact on the health of hair, skin and nails. Plus as something that has miraculous effects for musculoskeletal issues: bone, joint & cartilage injuries. It has a mild, slightly nutty flavor. Can't say it's scrumptious, can't say its terrible. I wouldn't be drinking it for the fun of it. But it does have a lot of good traits. It helps with tissue repair, helping the body to rebuild damaged cartilage and joint structures, good for UTI's, and externally does the same for the skin as it does the internal, it helps wound healing externally, and taking baths with horsetail (make a strong tea and pour it in there) is good for sagging skin (must remember this, I'm tired of working out.. haha, joke), varicose veins, rashes, boils & abscesses. This is just a very healing herb. I'm leaving a lot of stuff out, but it seems to address practically every issue imaginable. People that it is indicated for are nervous, agitated people, the kinds who have twitches, and can't stop swinging their crossed leg up and down, or tapping the floor... we all know them, or are them. Horsetail tea or tincture can aid that kind of nervousness. A strange aftertaste is somewhat like vanilla. Interesting. Maybe I'll reconsider my drink it for pleasure stance. However, horsetail is not indicated as a daily for life kind of herb. It can rob your body of vitamin B1, and become an irritant to your urinary tract & intestinal mucosa. This is NOT something to concern yourself with if you are taking the tea in order to help recover from an acute condition. Just.. not forever. Also, be careful about harvesting this plant in the wild. Although it is easily identifiable, and looks really cool, like a tuft of beautiful long, albeit green, hair, it is very susceptible to absorbing contaminants from nearby soil that is tainted, it has a special capacity for this, and thus, the soil that it touches, if it is by a riverbed, the water that is flowing through, carrying contaminants, even plants that might be poisonous that are nearby.. makes it not worth working with. My advice is know your source, cultivate it yourself, or buy it from someone who can do the discerning for you (an herb store, or online distributor).