Diuretic and astringent. Horsetail has been found beneficial in dropsy, gravel and kidney affections.Besides being useful in kidney and bladder trouble, a strong decoction acts as an emmenagogue; being cooling and astringent, it is of efficacy for haemorrhage, cystic ulceration and ulcers in the urinary passages.
The decoction applied externally will stop the bleeding of wounds and quickly heal them, and will also reduce the swelling of eyelids.
Horsetail is a storehouse of minerals and vitamins. A tea can be taken to enrich the blood, hardens the fingernails and revitalizes lifeless hair. It also is good for those white spots that occur on the finger nails, which indicate a calcium imbalance in the body.
Horsetail is an excellent astringent for the genito-urinary system, reducing hemorrhage and healing wounds thanks to the high silica content.
Whilst it acts as a mild diuretic, its toning and astringent actions make it invaluable in the treatment of incontinence and bed wetting in children.
It is considered a specific in cases of inflammation or benign enlargement of the prostate gland. In some cases it has been found to ease the pain of rheumatism and stimulate the healing of chilblains.
