Equisetum arvense.   Field Horsetail, Pewterwort   Family:  Equisetaceae    
PART USED: Stems- Harvest horsetail when the leaves are bright green and are turned either upward (preferable) or outward. Towards the end of the season the leaves will droop more and the horsetail will lose its potency. Early through late Spring is the best time to forage horsetail.
ACTIONS
GROUP: The Urinary System-Tonics
1. Genito urinary astringent. Astringent.[5]
2. Hemostatic.[1,2,3,5]
3. Antiseptic.
4. Vulnerary.
5. Raises White blood cell count (mild leukocytosis).
INDICATIONS
1. Genitourinary complaints-[5] Incontinence. Enuresis,[5] in children.  Prostatitis.[5] Prostatic hypertrophy. Cystitis,[5] with haematuria. Urethritis.[5] Uterine or vaginal inflammation. Gravel and stones.
2. Hemoptysis. Supportive treatment in tuberculosis.
3. Muscular rheumatism osteo-arthritis. Gout.
4. Internal bleeding. Hemorrhoids, varicose veins. Hematemesis. Nosebleeds- due to its coagulant effect.
5. Diarrhea.
6. Eczema.
7. Externally on wounds, ulcers as styptic and vulnerary.[5]
8. To strengthen hairs nails and teeth. Some people believe that the silicic acid contend could be usefully applied to the re-knitting of bone fractures.
9. Nasal polyps- using juice.
10. Antitumoral activity.
COMBINATIONS
- Prostatic conditions, use with Hydrangea.
USES
Used as an abrasive by cabinet makers and to clean copper objects.
The fertile branches, without sporangia, can be eaten as a substitute for asparagus.
PREPARATIONS:   3X/day
Dried stems  1-4 g, or by infusion 1:20.
Fluid extract- stem  1:1 in 25% alcohol  1-4 ml. 2-4 ml.[5]
Fluid extract- stem 25% 1:1.[4]
    
ORIGIN: Europe, including Britain.
HABITAT: Common on wet ground and waste places. Moist, loamy or sandy soil.
DESCRIPTION: The genus is derived from the latin equi-setum, a horses mane. A perennial plant growing to 50 cm in height, that is cryptogamic and thus without true leaves or flowers. Rhizome-branched. Stem; browish yellow with membranous toothed sheaths with segmented branchlets in green verticels. Spores; ripen in sporangia held in an ovoid spike about 3.5 cm long.
References
Inner Path can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Constituents
Research
The hemostatic effect has been shown to act orally, and has no effect on blood presure and is not a vasoconstrictor.[1]
References
[1] Gibelli, C. (1931) Arch. Int. Pharmacodyn. 41, 419

Equisetum arvense (common horsetail) modulates the function of inflammatory immunocompetent cells
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 14(1):283 · August 2014
DOI: 10.1186/1472-6882-14-283 · Source: PubMed
Carsten Gründemann, Karin Lengen, Barbara Sauer, Manuel Garcia-Käufer
Abstract
In Europe, extracts of Equisetum arvense (common horsetail) have a long tradition in the treatment of inflammatory disorders. To understand the molecular basis for its use, we investigated the immunomodulatory capacity of a standardized commercially available common horsetail extract on human primary lymphocyte function in vitro. The standardized extract of Equisetum arvense was phytochemically characterized. Effects on proliferation, viability and activity of mitogen-activated human lymphocytes were assessed in comparison to cyclosporine A using annexin V/propidium iodide staining assays and flow cytometry-based surface receptor characterization, respectively. Intracellular levels of effector molecules (IL-2, IFN-? and TNF-a) were analyzed with cytokine assays. T cell proliferation was inhibited dose dependently by the Equisetum extract without induction of apoptosis or necrosis. This effect was mediated through inhibition of lymphocyte activation, specifically by diminishing CD69 and IL-2 surface receptor expression and intracellular IL-2 production. Furthermore, treatment with Equisetum arvense inhibited effector functions, as indicated by reduced production of IFN-? and TNF-a. The data indicate that the used extract of Equisetum arvense interferes with the polyfunctionality of immunocompetent cells thereby providing an anti-inflammatory mode-of-action. researchgate.net

Equisetum arvense L. Extract Induces Antibacterial Activity and Modulates Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Apoptosis in Endothelial Vascular Cells Exposed to Hyperosmotic Stress
Annamaria Pallag, Gabriela Adriana Filip, Diana Olteanu, Simona Clichici, Ioana Baldea, Tunde Jurca, Otilia Micle, Laura Vicas, Eleonora Marian, Olga Soritau, Mihai Cenariu, and Mariana Muresan
Abstract
Background
The antimicrobial activity of the Equisetum arvense L. extract and the mechanisms involved in the in vitro effects on endothelial vascular cells exposed to hyperosmotic stress were evaluated.
Methods
Antimicrobial activity was evaluated by disk diffusion method and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination, and oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis, in pretreatment with Equisetum arvense L., caffeic acid, and cathechin, were quantified.
Results
The results have shown that Equisetum arvense L. exhibited antibacterial effects only on pathogenic gram-positive cocci. The modulatory activity of Equisetum arvense L. on endothelial cells exposed to hypertonic medium was different and depended on the concentration used. Low concentrations of tested compounds exerted antioxidant effect and diminished the activity of caspase-8 and also increased I?B expression while in high doses, Equisetum arvense L. was prooxidant, induced apoptosis, and decreased IL-6 secretion.
Conclusions
These experimental findings suggest that Equisetum arvense L. has antibacterial effects on gram-positive cocci and, administered in low dose, may be a new therapeutic approach for diseases associated with hypertonic conditions or oxidative stress and apoptosis.
Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2018; 2018: 3060525.
Published online 2018 Feb 14. doi: 10.1155/2018/3060525
PMCID: PMC5832138
PMID: 29636839 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov