Field horsetail

A purely natural product

As early as around 400 million years ago, the field horsetail – also known as horsetail or zinnkraut – was present in our flora. At that time, it was as tall as a tree and grew in European forests alongside other plants, such as giant ferns. As the plant has no flowers, it reproduces every year via spores. You can recognise field horsetail by looking out for light-brown, branchless shoots in spring, which resemble mushrooms. Towards summer, these shoots wither and make way for the green shoots, which contain the important and healthy nutrients. These remain until autumn. Due to their distinctive shape, these summer shoots are reminiscent of small conifers. Several small, green twigs grow from each stem. These replace the plant’s leaves and have a diameter of approximately 3 to 5 millimetres. Although they look slightly bushy, they feel very hard to the touch. It is a perennial plant that grows to a height of approximately 10 to 50 centimetres. It is odourless and grows in Europe and North Asia in fields, meadows or farmlands. An important detail is the lowest joint of the plant. This is longer than the sheath of the main shoot. Care should be taken to note this when picking, as there is a risk of confusing it with marsh horsetail, which is poisonous and commonly grows in damp areas.

Many beneficial compounds

Field horsetail is characterised by its high silica content. In the past, the herb was used to polish pots and was regarded as a kind of sandpaper. Pots used to be made of tin, which is how the name ‘tin herb’ came about. However, it also contains other beneficial compounds. Field horsetail was already being used as a herbal remedy as far back as the Middle Ages. It then, however, fell into obscurity. It was not until the Reverend Sebastian Kneipp – regarded as the founder of hydrotherapy – that the herb was deliberately reintroduced into use, and he recognised the value of its constituents. The green summer shoots, in particular, contain many beneficial compounds. They consist of around 10 per cent mineral components, comprising silicic acid and other water-soluble silicates. They also contain 0.2 to 0.9 per cent flavonoids, which consist primarily of kaempferol and quercetin. Carboxylic acid, glycosides and potassium are also present. Alkaloids, such as nicotine, make up the smallest proportion.

Suitable for internal and external use

Field horsetail is very versatile in its uses. However, as its silica content is very high, it has a rather woody taste. Nevertheless, the young shoots can be chopped or ground and used as an addition to sauces, soups or smoothies. Another way to use it internally is to make tea from field horsetail. To do this, the herb can either be used fresh or dried after harvesting. Then, pour 250 millilitres of cold water over one teaspoon of horsetail. This mixture is left to stand for several hours and then brought to the boil. Once the herbs have been strained out, the tea can be enjoyed warm. It is even easier to buy ready-packaged tea, such as VITALOVE. You can also make a field horsetail tincture. To do this, chop the herb finely and place it in a sealable container, then pour high-proof alcohol over it. Leave the liquid to infuse for four weeks. It then simply needs to be filtered through a coffee filter. The tincture can be used not only externally but also internally. Another option for external use is to add field horsetail to your bathwater. Just two teaspoons of the herb are sufficient for a full bath. Creams, ointments and compresses can also be made from the herb.
However, it is important to ensure that, when taking field horsetail, you do not consume it for too long without medical supervision. Even though there are no specific dosage guidelines, it is best to discuss your plans with a doctor before starting to take it. In particular, you should avoid taking it if you have heart or kidney problems.