Origin, botanical description:

This is a perennial plant without flower, native to Europe, North-America, Asia and Africa. It grows up to 40 cm and prefers loamy, wet soil, shadow, where it can develop its sprouts under the soil.  Its rhizome goes 6 m deep into the soil, cannot be exterminated.  It has two different stems: at early spring appears a 10-25 cm high, brown, cone shaped stem already in March. It distributes the spores and disappears and another infertile stem for summer comes out, which is light grey, branching, thin and 20-40 cm high.

Traditionally it is called kettle-washer, since due to its silica content is good for rubbing dishes or objects made of precious metals.

Active substances:
It contains a significant quantity of  silica and several flavonoids, organic acids and a little nicotine. Its enzyme called thiamine processes vitamin B1 necessary to the function of heart-muscle and nerve cells, that is why its long-term consume is not recommended.

Legends:
They are much the same age with dinosaurs. Common horsetail is one of the most ancient plants of the earth’s history: its remains have been found while analyzing 350 million year old petroleum products.

According to traditional beliefs common horsetail is one of the components of fertility elixir. Women desiring a child need to sleep on a pillow stuffed with dried common horsetail in order to facilitate conception.

Collection:
Infertile stems growing above the ground are picked from June to September. It can be confused with other species. Avoid picking the poisonous marsh horsetail (Equisetum palustre), which grows on wet fields. The most important difference is that the letter grows higher, is silky and the branches are empty with five edges.

Curative effects:
It improves the function of the kidneys and its diuretic effect has also been proved. It is able to remove kidney stone and urinary sand, as well as to remedy any kind of urinary tract infection.
Due to its silica and organic mineral content it tones up and strengthens our organism. It is also good for strengthening bones and nails. Consume it as a powder in case of osteoporosis. Common horsetail works as a good hemostatic in case of nose-bleed, pneumorrhagia and intensive periods. It is a general purifier for the organism, helps dissolving the deposed fat, this way showing decreasing effects. It is also recommended in case of pulmonary diseases. It is applied for gout or rheumatic pains. It is able to avoid dental caries.

Use

Herb tea:
Boil 1 spoonful of dried drug in 2.5 dl water for 2-3 minutes in order to gain a herb tea.

It is a good remedy for kidney problems, getting rid of urinary sand. Drink 3 cups of common horsetail tea daily before meal in case of urinary tract inflammations.  It is not recommended longer than 6 weeks, but after a 6-week-break you may continue.

Do not use pure common horsetail for liver and gall-bladder diseases, but it might compose the ¼ part of the proper herb mixture. Drink 1-2 cups daily in case of bleedings, goat and rheumatic pains.

Horsetail powder:
Grind the dried herb to gain a powder. Consume a teaspoon of powder 2-3 timed daily for 3 weeks in order to strengthen bones, nails, teeth and hair. It can be mixed into salads, soups. It is also suitable for teeth washing. Plunge the wet toothbrush into the powder and wash your teeth. It strengthens the gums and heels bleeding gums.

Cosmetic use:

The infertile sprout of common horsetail is widely used in cosmetic industry thank to its emollient, tranquillizer, nourishing and astringent effects. Due to its silica content common horsetail is astringent and emollient, while the flavonoids make it a good regenerator, suitable for any skin types.