Horsetail Naturally Grown Tea Or Tisane Very Healthy Lovely Unusual Drink Rich In Silicon
The Field Horsetail or Common Horsetail or Equisetum arvense, to give it its correct name, is a common native plant also found throughout the northern hemisphere. The family it is from, Equisetaceae, has been around for millions of years, and were the main plant of the Carboniferous period, where they grew to the size of modern trees and were the food source of herbivorous dinosaurs. Although almost impossible to get rid of as a garden weed, it is extremely valuable as an Herbal tea, being very rich in silicon. It can improve the appearance of hair, nails, and skin. The silica present in Horsetails can reduce fragility and the appearance of waves in the fingernails. (I shall let you know). This tea has also been taken to treat fluid retention, help with weight loss, treat urinary infections, decrease blood pressure, maintain bone heath, and work against fungi and bacterial infections. Although toxic to farm stock, particularly horses, the newly emerged fertile (non-photosynthetic) buds are eaten in both Japan and Korea in the early Spring. I steeped for 5 minutes at 100oC. and really enjoyed this drink, however, use this as a guideline and adjust according to your taste.
It goes without saying that if you're pregnant (or are under the doctor for anything) caution should be exercised with herbal decoctions.