Horsetail

What is horsetail?

Horsetail is the above-ground herb of the plant Equisetum arvense, an old European plant that you recognise by its fine, thread-like stems that resemble small fir twigs. The plant grows in fields and along roadsides and is therefore also called field horsetail. The part of the plant that is used is the green, above-ground herb, which is dried and processed into tea, loose herb or as part of a herbal blend.

Horsetail is one of the oldest plant genera in the world and has a long history within the European herbal tradition. In tea blends it is often combined with herbs such as Nettle or Goldenrod within fluid-balance and caring routines. It is important, when collecting or choosing horsetail, to pay attention to the right species, because the plant resembles some related species that you do not want to use; in products, controlled herb is therefore used.

Horsetail can be part of a mindful routine, but it is not a medicine and not a substitute for medical care. Precisely because of a few points of attention, it is not a herb that you use without limit or over a long period. Therefore always read the label and the warnings before you use it.

Traditional use

Horsetail is traditionally used within routines to flush through the urinary tract and as part of a natural fluid-balance routine. In the European herbal tradition it has long been a familiar herb within daily herbal tea and caring routines.

These uses are traditional in nature and say nothing about any medicinal effect. It is important to keep that distinction sharp: a long tradition of use is something other than a proven effect against a condition. People often choose horsetail to fit it into a calm routine around fluid balance, for example as herbal tea throughout the day, with plenty of water alongside.

In older herbals horsetail was mentioned within caring and flushing routines, but the way herbs were described back then does not meet the standards we set for information today. We therefore look at it soberly: it is a traditional herb within fluid-balance routines, nothing more. Horsetail is usually combined with other herbs within a broader routine and not used as a standalone solution for complaints.

What people look to this herb for

• I am looking for support within a fluid-balance routine
• I want to flush through the urinary tract with plenty of water
• I am looking for a caring herbal routine for skin from within
• I am curious about a traditional European herb for daily tea

These are reasons why people search, not promises or diagnoses. Horsetail is not a treatment for complaints and is not intended to resolve anything in the urinary tract, kidneys or skin. With persistent, severe or worsening complaints, such as pain when urinating, blood in the urine or fever, consult a doctor rather than experimenting with a herb yourself.

How is horsetail used?

Horsetail mainly occurs in these forms, each with its own application:

• Tea: dried horsetail herb, infused with hot water, often as part of a fluid-balance routine with plenty of water alongside.
• Loose herb: dried herb to make your own tea or to add to a blend.
• Herbal blend: as part of a tea blend, combined with herbs such as Nettle or Goldenrod.

With horsetail, precisely within a flushing routine, drinking enough water belongs to it; that is part of the idea of flushing through. Always follow the usage advice on the label and do not exceed the recommended amount. We deliberately do not mention dosages: these are on the packaging of the specific product and can differ per product. Explicitly do not use horsetail over a long period and not daily over a longer time without expert advice.

Why lifestyle remains important

Herbs such as horsetail work best as part of a broader, healthy routine, not as a standalone solution. A herb can add something to your day, but the foundation remains a balanced lifestyle.

• A varied, fibre-rich diet
• Drinking enough water
• Enough sleep and rest
• Regular exercise
• Attention to stress balance

A food supplement is not a substitute for a varied diet, a healthy lifestyle or medical advice. Certainly with a herb such as horsetail, which is not intended for long-term use, that foundation remains important. Those who want to support their fluid balance often benefit more from enough water, exercise and good food than from a single herb.

When to be careful

Horsetail is not intended for long-term use and not suitable for everyone. There are clear situations in which caution is important. When in doubt, always consult a doctor or pharmacist first.

• Do not use long-term: horsetail is intended for short-term use. Do not use it daily over a longer time. With long-term use there is a point of attention around the absorption of thiamine (vitamin B1); therefore keep use short and consult when in doubt.
• Heart or kidney problems: do not use horsetail when fluid restriction is needed due to heart or kidney problems. This is an explicit point of attention; consult a doctor first.
• Alcohol use: with regular or heavy alcohol use extra restraint is sensible, partly because of the thiamine point of attention; consult a doctor first.
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding: do not use horsetail without consulting a doctor or midwife.
• Medication use: for example water tablets (diuretics) or heart and blood pressure medication. Horsetail can be a point of attention here; consult a doctor or pharmacist first.
• Children and medical conditions: do not use without advice.

If you develop complaints, stop and consult a doctor. A supplement is not a substitute for medical advice. If you doubt whether horsetail suits your situation, then do not use it and ask for expert advice first.

What horsetail does not do

It is important to keep realistic expectations. Horsetail is not a medicine, not a miracle cure and not a substitute for medical advice. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent diseases. The fact that it is an old and widely used herb says nothing about any medicinal effect.

Horsetail does not detoxify the body as a medical fact. The body has its own natural processes via the liver, kidneys and intestines, which do their work without a specific herb being needed for it. Herbs can at most fit within a mindful routine, but do not replace these processes and do not resolve complaints. Therefore hold on to a healthy lifestyle and seek medical advice with persistent or recurring complaints, instead of relying on a single herb.

Horsetail in supplements

In tea and herbal blends horsetail usually occurs as a supporting ingredient within a broader formula around fluid balance, for example combined with Nettle or Goldenrod. In these, horsetail mainly contributes its traditional place within flushing and caring routines. The exact composition and amount are always on the label of the product concerned.

Therefore always read the full ingredient list and the warnings before choosing a product, certainly because horsetail is not intended for long-term use and not suitable for everyone. Also look at the other herbs in the blend, because they have their own points of attention. When in doubt, with heart or kidney problems or with medication use, consult a doctor or pharmacist first. Through our Herbal Guide you can calmly compare which herbs are discussed within a fluid-balance routine.