Horsetail ( Equisetum arvense ) is a plant of the Equisetaceae family. Known for its capilloprotettrici and diuretic properties, it is useful for hair, skin and nails. Let's find out better.
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Equisetum properties
The active ingredients present in the horsetail are: silica (10% passes as silicic acid in herbal teas), calcium, magnesium, potassium, saponin (equisetonin), flavonic glycosides, small amounts of alkaloids and tannins. Due to the presence of these mineral salts, in a highly available molecular form for our body, horsetail contributes to "bone metabolism" and promotes remineralization of the osteo-articular system and hard tissues such as nails and hair.
Its intake is therefore indicated in case of nail fragility, hair loss, alopecia, osteoporosis, skeletal growth of adolescents, sequelae of fractures, arthrosis (thanks to the action it has on both articular cartilage and bone tissue) and tendinitis (improves tendon elasticity).
Horsetail, or horsetail, is also a diuretic and is therefore recommended in the treatment of the elimination of metabolic waste . It is also a capilloprotector due to its astringent action on blood vessels, useful against capillary fragility. The healing property makes it an excellent tissue repairer and therefore is used in the cosmetic field in the preparation of products against stretch marks, wrinkles and cellulite.
Method of use
INFUSION: 1 spoon of top equisetum, 1 cup of water
Pour the plant into cold water, light the fire and bring to a boil. Boil a few minutes and turn off the heat. Cover and leave to infuse for 10 min. Filter the infusion and drink it away from meals to take advantage of its remineralizing and diuretic action.
Contraindications of horsetail
Horsetail intake is contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation . May interact with medicines for hypertension and diuretics.
The horsetail among the natural remedies for brittle nails
Description of the plant
Curious fern with stem (50 cm) sterile (without flowers and seeds), with green, striped chloroplasts, with verticillated stamens. The multiplication is ensured by the spores emitted by a second type of stem (20 cm), gray because it has no chlorophyll, which appears at the base of the plant in spring, and is free of chloroplasts, with a strobilus at the top. When the spores fall, the strobilus disappears and the fertile stem becomes similar to the sterile one.
The habitat of horsetail
It is among the oldest organisms on earth, the name "arvense" denotes its presence in rural areas, and it is actually not uncommon to find it on wet uncultivated lands or along ditches; but also along the escarpments, ruderal environments, and sandy and clayey soils.
Background
The name equisetum means properly "horse's tail" and has been used for therapeutic purposes, since Roman and Greek antiquity. Horsetail is also known as "vegetable clay" because of its mineral composition and properties.
