Horsetail (Equisetum arvense): Meaning, History & Uses

Horesetail is a common name for the Equisetum arvense fern, which gets its name from its distinctive tall, bushy shape that gives the plant the appearance of a horse's tail. The horsetail fern has a variety of uses in herbal medicine.

History

• The use of horsetail dates back to ancient Rome and Greece, where the plant was used to stop bleeding. The Latin word Equisetum in the scientific name for horsetail means "horse bristle."

Geography

• Horsetail grows in North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Types of Other Names

• Other names for the horsetail plant include bottle brush, cavalinha, Dutch rushes, horse herb, horse willow, paddock-pipes, pewterwort, prele, shavegrass and toadpipe.

Uses

• In herbal medicine, horsetail is taken internally as a diuretic or to treat urinary tract infections, kidney stones, gout, incontinence and osteoporosis. Externally, as a cream or paste, horsetail's uses include aiding the healing process of burns, fractures and sprains.

Risks

• Side effects of ingesting too much horsetail include fever, cold hands and feet, abnormal heart rate, difficulty walking, muscle weakness and sudden weight loss, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Horsetail contains a chemical known as thiaminase, which can cause vitamin B1 deficiencies with long-term use.