Horsetail Tea
Horsetail is a plant with the common name of Equisetum, which is the last remaining species of the genus of that name. It is also known as puzzlegrass. The remaining members of that genus have gone extinct, so this is truly a blast from the past, and has some unique characteristics to go with that great backstory! They are defined by a singular vascular shoot that forms the main stem and the leaves are largely non-photosynthetic. Furthermore, they reproduce via spores, not seeds – a very unusual quality for a plant. Historical records include mentions of horsetail being used for myriad health issues dating back to Greek and Roman times.
When horsetail is consumed, minerals and unique organic compounds are passed on to us, resulting in a wide variety of health benefits. Some of the active ingredients that make horsetail potent include antioxidant compounds, silica, and other phytochemicals that can have dramatic effects on the body.
Health benefits: Horsetail tea, due to the presence of flavonoids, increases the volume of urine excreted and removes excess urate, therefore decoctions from this plant are used as a weak diuretic in low-intensity urinary tract diseases. It also has a mild diastolic effect on the bile and urinary tract, and also seals the walls of blood vessels. Horsetail has a calming and anticonvulsant effect. Modern phytotherapy recommends their use also in bleeding from varicose veins, colon ulcers and gastric and duodenal ulcers, as well as in nose and lung bleeding. The field chestnut can be used for skin damage, burns, inflammation of the skin in the form of compresses. In addition, it is used in some skin diseases caused by the accumulation of harmful metabolism in the blood, including in psoriasis. Horsetail can also be used by people struggling with capillary skin. It will strengthen the capillaries and reduce the risk of their breakage. Externally, decoctions are used to rinse mouth inflammation. Thanks to the silicon contained in the horsetail, the hair is shiny and strong, the nails do not split and the skin aging process is inhibited.
How to make a Horsetail tea?
Put 2 teaspoons of Horsetail into 200 ml of hot water, cover and leave for 15 minutes. You can add some sugar or honey.