MMH: From the Lab ~ Horsetail

Horsetail is also known as Equisetum, snake grass, puzzlegrass, shavegrass, bottlebrush, field horsetail, horsetail grass, pewterwort, scouring rush, springtime horsetail and tsukushi. Botanical Information Horsetail is considered a "living fossil" as it is the only living genus left in the Equisetaceae family and even the entire Equisetopsida class. Equisetaceae is a family of vascular plants that reproduce by spores rather than seeds. The Equisetopsida class of plants was much more diverse for over one hundred millions years, dominating much of the undergrowth of late Paleozoic forests. Historical Uses As you can imagine, this plant has a long history of uses - including but not limited to: supporting the kidneys, hair growth, the nervous system, and the female reproductive system.		Did You Know? Horsetail, when harvested at the correct time, has been found to be the most bio-available source of silica or silicon, which is now recognized as very important in maintaining strong, healthy joints and bones. All Equisetum species that had crude cell extracts tested were found to contain a enzyme (MXE) that is not known to occur in any other plants.
Notes: Horsetail is not suggested for use by those with cardiac or renal dysfunction without the supervision of your health care provider. *Copyright 2010 Mountain Meadow Herbs, Inc.. This article may be reproduced provided it stays completely in tact, with no information added or removed. The FDA has not given approval of this information. The information provided is to help with product selection only, it is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any disease or other complication.