THE horsetail tea has great medicinal potential. This article provides information about your health benefits as well as on how to use it correctly without run the risk of consuming it inappropriately and, thus, no in order to enjoy its healing power.
Old use of ponytail
Since ancient times, the horsetail ( arvense equisetum ) has been used as a medicine. This plant was already known to the ancient Greeks and Romans.
It was and still is widely used for the following medicinal purposes :
- finish the bleeding it’s him bleeding
- cure ulcers s wounds
- treat the tuberculosis
- problems kidney
- strengthen the bones
plant description
The ponytail is closely related to the fern , found in parts of Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and North America.
This plant has hollow rods s sprouts that look like asparagus .
As the plant dries, the silica crystals that form in the stems and branches seem feather tails, hence the name.
Chemical composition
THE chemical composition consisting of:
- nutrients -> mineral silica (65%) in the form of silicic acid and silicates
- flavonoids -> quercitin and kaempferol glycosides
- saponins -> equisitonins
- alkaloids
- phenols -> caffeic acid esters
- phytosterols
- Tannin
- Mucilage
healing properties
It has several medicinal properties, such as:
- anti-hemorrhagic
- hemostatic (stop bleeding)
- immunostimulant
- anti-inflammatory
- Vulneraria (wound healing)
- connective tissue tonic (affecting the skin, organs, bones and cartilage)
- astringent (compresses tissues and controls mucous secretions)
- diuretic
- antirheumatic
Science-proven medical benefits
Now let’s dive into the scientifically proven health benefits:
anti-inflammatory activity
Horsetail has anti-inflammatory power, so it protects immunity. This property was evidenced by this studio which demonstrated the beneficial effect of this plant on fights inflammatory immune diseases.
It has antibacterial action.
this studio showed that arvense equisetum has antibacterial effects on gram-positive cocci.
antimicrobial activity
Inside this studio action was demonstrated of essential oil against microorganisms harmful to health , What Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Aspergillus niger s Candida albicans .
Antioxidant activity
This investigation showed that it is rich in phenolic compounds, which are powerful antioxidants at that have the ability to inhibit oxidative damage to cell membranes . In this way, it helps to fight aging and the action of free radicals.
It should be added that the ponytail is rich in silicon, a mineral that is a component that participates in the formation and development of collagen, which in turn is necessary for maintain the elasticity, smoothness and youthfulness of the skin and connective tissues .
liver health
Inside this studio The hepatoprotective power of horsetail, whose results support the use of this plant for the treatment of hepatitis .
antidiabetic effect
Has an antidiabetic effect . this is what it says this studio , performed on 11 patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, in whom a single oral dose of horsetail extract reduced their glucose by 1.5 hours.
anticancer action
Inside this studio The anticancer effect, who investigated the molecular mechanism of the ethanolic extract of Equisetum arvense that It acts in the death of pancreatic cancer cells.
THE anticancer action of the ponytail is due to its antioxidant properties.
Fight against osteoporosis
As already mentioned, the ponytail is rich in silicon , which is also important for bone health . Based on that, this to study and this search that pointed to the potential of this plant in favor of bone regeneration .
This other scientific work showed that horsetail can help in the treatment of osteoporosis .
diuretic action
in this studio and also in this investigation, stood out the powerful diuretic effect, which can help fight fluid retention and promote urinary tract health.
hair strengthening
Because it contains silicon and has antioxidant action, horsetail promotes hair health and strength.
In this study, showed that horsetail antioxidants help reduce micro-inflammation and hair fiber aging caused by free radicals, as well as strengthen strands.
nail regeneration
this studio and search found that using a mixture of horsetail extract and other nail hardening agents decreased signs of nail psoriasis , a disease that deforms them.
Wound healing and pain relief.
This scientific investigation of 10 days, performed on 108 puerperal women who underwent a surgical cut to facilitate labor, showed that with the application of an ointment containing 3% horsetail extract, I know produced the wound healing and also helped ease the pain .
- Foods That Help Healing (and Those That Hurt)
Forms of medicinal uses of horsetail.
THE medicinal use The ponytail can be done in several ways:
- dye
- to extract
- capsule
- ointment
- plant parts (sterile stems and leaves) for making tea
which can be found at natural products stores s herbal pharmacies , physical and virtual.
Horsetail tea recipe
- To make the tea, just put 1 spoon of coke from dry horse inside 1 cup of boiling water.
- Cover and let rest 10 minutes.
- Strain and drink until 2 cups (tea) of horsetail tea per day
This tea can also be used as a sitz bath, eye rinse, or in compresses.
consumer attention
Despite the important benefits of this plant, it is necessary to have Warning from no exaggerate in its use and consumption, from the prolonged use or also of this plant, can cause vitamin B1 (thiamine) levels to drop.
If the use of horsetail is necessary for any treatment, it is recommends take a quality multivitamin or at least one B complex supplement .
Another recommendation is no drinking alcohol while consuming horsetail, as this can cause thiamine levels to drop even further.
contraindications
The consumption of horsetail for medicinal treatment is contraindicated in the following cases:
- people with severe heart problems (using controller medications)
- people with severe kidney or liver disease (who are taking medications to help these organs work)
- sick gout
- pregnant or lactating women
- people low in potassium
Drug interactions
Before using the ponytail, recommends consulting a doctor to evaluate possible drug interactions or health problems.
THE action of this plant can increase the effects of certain medicines , What :
- Nicotine replacement patches or gums: because horsetail contains nicotine
- Digoxin (Lanoxin) : Because horsetail can reduce potassium levels in the body, therefore, people who tend to have it cardiac arrhythmia and take digoxin no should be treated with this plant.
- diuretics : those taking diuretic medication no horsetail should be used, due to the risk of dehydration or decreased potassium content (hypokalemia).
- Lithium Horsetail interferes with the body’s ability to remove lithium. Therefore, ingestion of horsetail with lithium can result in an accumulation of this substance in the body, which can be very harmful to the body.
Horsetail: the plant to restore the body.
For its multiples restorative properties , horsetail is that plant that is recommended to have at home and that can even be taken with other herbs.
Using the ponytail correctly, you can enjoy its benefits for the vital functions of the body .
By Deise Aur. Article in Portuguese
