Equisetum arvense, also known as cola de caballo, or horsetail, gets its name from its resemblance to a horse’s tail. Horsetail is a vascular plant with many medicinal and culinary properties. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC), horsetail has been used as a remedy for a variety of open wounds since the era of ancient Rome and Greece.
According to the Livestrong foundation, horsetail is often used as a diuretic to get rid of retained water in the body and to help alleviate urinary tract infections. The foundation, however, also warns against the prolonged use of horsetail, as it can cause side effects such as stomach discomfort, allergic reactions, and liver damage in extreme cases.
Today, in our health-crazed world, there is a great economy for herbal supplements. Health stores have readily picked up on this phenomenon and have done a great deal of promotion to indicate that supplements such as horsetail have all sorts of health benefits. Some of the claims made about horsetail are that due to its high amounts of silica, supplements made from horsetail are beneficial in preventing or treating osteoporosis. However, according to the UMMC, past studies on the effects of horsetail on bone density have not led to any significant conclusions. Studies about the possible benefits of incorporating horsetail into the human diet and its effects on the progression of osteoporosis are being performed in hopes of finding better treatments for the disease.
Horsetail, although mostly known for its medicinal properties, is also eaten as food! In Japan, there is a horsetail dish called Tsukushi. Tsukushi is eaten by itself as a side dish or added to salads. Next time you are out foraging for a salad, maybe you’ll find some wild horsetail and decide to add it to your meal.
Although speculations about the healing properties of horsetail have been around for hundreds of years, the true medicinal properties of horsetail are still being tested by researchers. Keep an eye out for horsetail, because it may very well be the key to a better treatment and prevention plan for many illnesses!
Feature Image Source: Lee Haywood
