
One clinical trail combined horsetail with a sulfur donor in a water-alcohol solution and applied it nightly for 28 days to the nails of 36 women with nail plate alterations. Scientific research confirms that Equisetum arvense is definitely rich in organic silica, including a report published in the Journal of Plastic Dermatology that encompassed two clinical trials. This is due to its high content of silicic acid and silicates, which provide about two percent to three percent elemental silicon, a nutrient known for boosting skin, hair and nail health. Numerous anecdotal reports tell of this herb’s ability to help improve brittle nails. One of horsetail’s most well-known uses is its employment for brittle nails - topically, internally or both.

The mature horsetail herb comes out in the summer with branched, thin, green stems that look like a feathery tail.

The first stem grows in early spring and looks similar to asparagus, but it’s brown rather than green and has spore-containing cones on top. These plants have two distinctive types of stems. The reeds often grow wild near wetlands and other low-lying areas throughout the world. Horsetail grass or horsetail reed ( Equisetum hyemale) is often used as an ornamental plant in gardens or in contained ponds. This herb can be found growing in moist, rich soil throughout the temperate climate zones of the Northern Hemisphere, including Asia, North America and Europe.

In general, the above-ground parts of the horsetail plant are used to make medicine. The common horsetail plant ( Equisetum arvense) is the variety most often used medicinally. There are at least 15 different species of Equisetum around the world, and “horsetail” is often used to describe the entire group. Horsetail is a perennial plant belonging to the genus Equisetum. What a list, right? With all that, it’s no wonder that horsetail is used for such a large variety of health problems, including urinary tract infections, edema, joint diseases, hair loss, brittle nails, skin health, diabetes, osteoporosis and more! ( 2, 3) What Is Horsetail? In fact, research shows the vast array of beneficial components horsetail holds, including: ( 1) When you hear the term horsetail, you probably envision the backside of an equine, but did you know there is a powerful natural herb of the same name? It’s true, and it’s one of the hidden natural treasures for health.
