Horsetail

Horsetail (Equisetum arvense) was used traditionally to stop bleeding, heal ulcers and wounds, and treat tuberculosis and kidney problems. The name Equisetum is derived from equus, meaning "horse," and seta, meaning "bristle."
Today, horsetail continues to have medicinal value. The plant's stems are rich in silica and silicic acids, which help form collagen, an important protein found in connective tissue, skin, bone, cartilage, and ligaments. Therefore, horsetail is used as a supplement to treat and prevent osteoporosis.
The aboveground parts of horsetail (fresh or dried) are used for medicinal purposes.
Horsetail has not been extensively studied in people, but professional herbalists recognize that the herb has diuretic properties that may be useful for urinary tract infections and kidney stones.
In one study in people in 1999, 122 Italian women took horsetail dry extract or Osteosil calcium (containing horsetail and calcium) 270mg twice daily. After a year of therapy, a significant improvement in bone density was reported in both the horsetail and Osteosil calcium groups, with an average improvement of 2.3 % in vertebral bone density in the Osteosil group. Horsetail is also used to treat infections of the urinary tract, kidney, and bladder stones; and as an antioxidant.
Some studies have found that horsetail also may help improve memory and cognitive function. It may also have anticonvulsant properties.
For fractures in children, adjust the recommended adult dose to account for the child's weight. Most herbal dosages for adults are calculated on the basis of a 150 lb (70 kg) adult. Therefore, if the child weighs 50 lb (20 - 25 kg), the appropriate dose of horsetail for this child would be 1/3 of the adult dosage.
Adequate fluid should be consumed when taking horsetail preparations by mouth.
Herbs contain components that can trigger side effects and interact with other herbs, supplements, or drugs. For these reasons, herbs should be taken with care, under the supervision of a qualified health care provider trained in the field of botanical medicine.
Horsetail remedies prepared from Equisetum arvense are generally considered safe, if not contaminated with the closely related species Equisetum palustre. Whenever possible, select products with guaranteed potency or standardized extracts.
Prolonged use of even the safe form of horsetail (E. arvense) is also not advised.
Taking horsetail by mouth may deplete B vitamins from the body. It is recommended that if you take horsetail on a regular basis, you should also take a quality multivitamin or at least a B complex supplement daily.
People with heart or kidney disorders should not use horsetail. If you drink alcohol on a regular basis, it is not advised to take horsetail due to vitamin B1 (thiamine) depletion by the herb.
The diuretic effects of horsetail may enhance the toxic effects of certain medications, such as digoxin (used to treat congestive heart failure), phenytoin (for seizures), anticoagulants, and others. For this reason, people taking prescription drugs should not take horsetail without first consulting a health care provider.