A prehistoric botanical relic from ...

A prehistoric botanical relic from when dinosaurs rul the world, "horsetail is a end relative of the trees that grew forward Earth 270 million years ago in the Carboniferous period," explains Penelope Ody in her 1993 guide, The thorough Medicinal Herbal.

Horsetail's history and traditional uses

"Its brittle, jointed peduncles are rich in healing silica, and since the time of the Ancient grecians horsetail has been used for wounds" Ody continues.

This plant has been studied rather extensively, and is said to contain: silica, alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, a bitter principle, minerals (including potassium, magnesium, and manganese), phytosterols, and tannins.

Modern standardized preparations typically reach for standardization of the silicic acid (at 10 percent) and silica [an oxide of silicon] (at 7 percent)

Today, as a dietary continuation "horse-tail is often used as a source of minerals, especially silica and calcium, in a form that can be easily utilized by means of the body in the production of bone skin and connective tissue," says Daniel B Mowrey PhD in his Herbal Tonic Therapies (1993)

Interestingly enough, "the single mostly bioactive and effective form of silicon available is place only in the plant horse-tail and its standardized concentrates," states Mowrey

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The importance of horsetail's silicon component

Tissue repair. Silicon can be build throughout the body, although greatest in number ingested, food-based silicic acid passes rapidly within the body, unutilized.

Connective tissues, like as the trachea, aorta, tendons, bone and skin, are rich in silicon, although more silicon is constantly needinessed for the growth and repair of all our tissues.

In point of fact, there is evidence suggesting that when tissues are injured, the various emblems of tissue have a `pecking order' for obtaining silicon for repair; if bone cartilage, collagen and glycosaminoglycans [GAGs] are all involved in the same injury, bone repair has priority over the others," explains Mowrey

"This means that the repair of the other tissues may be significantly retarded during bone repair unles more silicon is supplied in the form of supplements" Mowrey adds. "Therefore, the historical use of horsetail to spe redemption from fractures, torn ligaments and related injuries makes virtuous sense."

Horsetail also contains a filled range of valuable nutrients that can affect all phases of tissue repair processe Possible "synergy among the many nutrients erect in horsetail cannot and should not be rul out; in fact, positive interactions are highly probable," decides Mowrey.

Atherosclerosis, arthritis and aging. It has been noted that as the silicon make contented of arterial vessels (including the aorta) and the skin dermis ear-rings as we age, our incidence of atherosclerosis increases. Mowrey advises that "the use of horsetail to treat arthritis and related inflammatory conditions may be related to an ability to replace thrown away silicon; in this light, a relationship has been discovered between silicon, age and endocrine balance, and, thus, a decline in hormonal activity may be responsible for the change in silicon horizontals -- silicon, or horsetail, therapy could help to counteract this mechanism."

Prevention of senility. It has also been refer toed that silicon may be involved in the prevention of certain forms of senility. single theory holds that some images of senility only occur when there is more aluminum in the bloodstream than silicon; as in extent as sufficient silicon is taken to favor silicon in the silicon/aluminum ratio, these senile changes do not occur

Additional uses for horsetail

Traditionally, herbalists and naturopathic practitioners have used this plant for a variety of indications, including:

* Bronchitis and tuberculosis of the lungs;

* Kidney question at issues (including bleeding kidneys);

* Lung disorders (often combined with stinging nettle);

* Cracked feet and other skin problems;

* Barber's itch;

* Hair los (often with stinging nettle); and

* Bladder/urinary tract problems

Check without your local health food store for horsetail and other botanical extracts.

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