Field horsetail or common horsetail (Equisetum arvense L.) is a medicinal plant and it's SO useful that, had I known before, I would have managed to plant a huge pot my patio. It is called horsetail (or cola de caballo in Spanish) because its long branches resemble the tail of an equine and it is very prized in natural medicine, especially for the treatment of kidney disorders, as a wound healing agent and also to relieve varicose veins.
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I have to admit, the only person I heard talking about this plant was my paternal grandmother, who used to buy medicinal herbs in a little shop in Caracas where they also sold candles to light the saints.
Horsetail is said to have astringent, diuretic, anti-hemorrhagic, blood-purifying, dead-cells-regenerating and wound-healing properties.
For these reasons horsetail is used ingested to activate kidney function, or when there's fluid retention in the tissues, gout, rheumatism, sciatica, osteoarthritis, arthritis, lumbago, stomach ailments, excessive menstruation, bleeding hemorrhoids and blood vomiting.
In topical form is good for treating abscesses, varicose ulcers and purulent eczema and sties. In these cases compresses soaked in the tea resulting from boiling the plant in water are applied on the affected area, renewing them when they cool down.
A horsetail tisane is an effective remedy to treat conditions of the respiratory system (lungs, bronchi, pleura) as well as glandular conditions.
Since it is rich in silicic acid, horsetail is excellent for treating skin conditions, in which case it is recommended to take baths with this herb (previously boiled in the water that is put in the tub).
If you wash a wound with horsetail tea prepared with boiled water you will have the best wound healing agent.
For ulcers and internal bleeding, an infusion is prepared by boiling two tablespoons of dry horsetail in two cups of water. Boil and then let stand for 10 minutes.
To prevent and relieve varicose veins, in addition to drinking at least one cup of horsetail tea a day (but better if you drink three cups a day), submerge your legs in a tub of horsetail water.
To combat water retention, drink three cups of horsetail tea on an empty stomach for 21 days. Its diuretic power is magical.
For excessive menstruation, prepare and drink a tea made with two cups of water, a part of sage and two parts of horsetail and problem solved.
Image via hogarutil.com
