Field horsetail: indications for use and instructions

Today people began to forget that it is possible to be treated not only by medicinal means. Well in this direction are working and a variety of herbs. Now I want to talk about a plant such as a field horsetail: indications for use and instructions for its use will be described below.

The main thing about the plant

Initially, we must understand what this herb is. So, this is a perennial herb. In our strip there are three types: forest, meadow, and also field horsetail. Only the latter is completely safe, since it does not have any poisonous substances in its composition. He can grow on meadows, along roads, on sandy slopes and embankments, on forest clearings, and also on crops and kitchen gardens.

What else can be said about such a plant as a horsetail? Its structure is varied depending on the time of year. So, initially before the eyes appear whitish-pink unbranched shoots with fairly large spikelets, which are flowering. Later, in May, when the stems die, the horsetail field seems to be quite different. Its structure changes to more habitual - plants with similar leaf-like needles.

I also have to say that the field horsetail has other names in the people: a pine, earthen cone, pusher, pig, pine, field tree, spicery, panicle, marionette and even a cat's tail. This plant can be called "horse tail" (if translated literally its Latin name - Equisetum).

Chemical composition of horsetail

What does the field horsetail have in its composition? The plant consists of organic substances that belong to the most diverse groups: alkaloids, flavonoids, vitamins, saponins, phytosterols, etc. If we talk about substances of an inorganic nature, then in the field tail can be found silicic acid, for which the plant is mainly valued . Also in the field of horsetail there are tannins, proteins, carotene, fatty oil, and also useful micro- and macroelements: copper, iron, zinc, calcium, potassium, magnesium, etc.

Action of the field horsetail

What are the useful properties of field horsetail? So, he has the following actions:

• Strengthening;
• Hemostatic;
• Astringent;
• Diuretic;
• Expectorant;
• Anthelmintic;
• Bactericidal.

Indications for the use of horsetail

What is so useful for plant horsetail? Indications for use are as follows:

1. Since ancient times, this plant was considered one of the best hemostatic means. So, fresh juice of this herb can stop even bleeding caused by polyps of the bladder, acute cystitis. Successfully he fights and with uterine bleeding.
2. Even in the far 16th century physicians established diuretic activity of field horsetail, i.e. This product perfectly removes excess fluid from the body, strengthening the outflow of urine.
3. If you combine the juice of field horsetail with the juice of the mother-and-stepmother's plant, you will get an excellent antitussive remedy. Helps even with catarrh of the bronchi and upper respiratory tract.
4. Used horsetail and as an antiemetic. Also it can be used for dysentery, diarrhea, liver and bladder diseases.
5. Apply horsetail hair for the hair: it helps fight against alopecia, dandruff, seborrhea.
6. You can make lotions from the juice of field horsetail with a disease such as conjunctivitis.
7. An excellent detoxifier is the field horsetail. Indications for use: poisoning with lead salts, alkali metals.

Using horsetail in cosmetology

It should also be noted that this plant is widely used in cosmetology. So, the horsetail field for hair is perfect. From it you can make broths and infusions, which are recommended to rinse your hair. And all thanks to such building material as silicon, which is in sufficient quantity in this grass. In addition, ready-made products, based on a field horsetail, can not only rinse your head after washing, but also massage, rubbing them into the scalp.

Special diseases in which the field horsetail is used

We further consider a plant such as a field horsetail. Indications for using it are the presence of certain diseases with which this herb helps to cope in the shortest possible time:

1. Osteoporosis (i.e., thinning of bones). In this case, the most useful is silicon - a special building material, which is part of the horsetail.
2. Widespread use of field horsetail for skin diseases: ulcers, wounds, furuncles, lichens and even eczema.
3. You can use this plant and with various heart diseases, for example, hypertension.
4. Other diseases: rheumatism, gout, sand in the bladder, atherosclerosis, etc.

The most useful are the baths of horsetail. In such a decoction often babies children, suffering from colds.

Infusion of field horsetail

Apply this plant can be in many different forms. One of them, most often used, is infusion for oral administration. To make it, you need to brew 20 grams of the plant in a glass of boiling water, insist for 60 seconds, then necessarily strain. This drug is taken in ready form approximately one and a half tablespoons three times a day. Widely used infusions for the treatment of female diseases, kidney pathologies, bladder, as well as hypertension and atherosclerosis.

But this is not a complete list of indications for the use of a field horsetail. So, they can wash the wounds and damage to the skin. Often this means rinses the throat with various diseases, in particular, during a sore throat. You can also make an infusion of compresses on the aching joints.

Decoction of field horsetail

How else can you use horsetail? The instruction for its use says that you can cook broths from this plant. To do this, you need in a glass of boiling water to brew about 25 grams of the plant, all to protrude over low heat for half an hour. After cooling, the medicine is ready for use. It can be used for edema of various origin, inflammation of the bladder and kidneys.

Decoction, as well as infusion, you can rinse the sore throat, rinse wounds and bedsores, prepare compresses on the aching joints.

Juice from field horsetail

Excellent helps to cope with various problems and juice of horsetail. To get it, the plant needs to be thoroughly rinsed under warm running water. Then it is crushed, juice is squeezed out of it. Take this medicine in smaller doses: two teaspoons three times a day. This is an excellent diuretic that will help to cope with swelling. Also, juice from this plant is washed with various kinds of wounds (including festering or bleeding), as well as ulcers. If a person has a problem with frequent nasal bleeding, you can drip a few drops of horsetail juice into each nostril twice per day.

Contraindications for use

We continue to consider such a plant as horsetail field (medicinal properties). Contraindications - that's what else you need to stop your attention. Like any other plant, it should be used with extreme caution. Initially, it should be noted that long-term use of drugs from field horsetail is not necessary (the maximum rate is 21 days). It can be detrimental to health: a leaching from the body of vitamin B1 can occur. To avoid this, along with taking medicines from this plant, you must take a complex of vitamins, which contain substances of group B.

You can not take horsetail to field people who have kidney, heart, and diseases such as gout or diabetes.

During the use of drugs based on horsetail should avoid drinking alcohol.

The horsetail removes potassium from the body. This, too, do not forget.

You can not take this plant in any form to pregnant women, as well as mothers during lactation.

But to avoid various problems, before taking horsetail it is best to consult a doctor. After all, so you can protect your health from negative consequences.

Collection and storage of plants

How to collect the horsetail? The testimonies of people who know this matter show that it is necessary to collect fruitless vegetative shoots of horsetail, which will have to be cut off at the very base. The grass dries in well-ventilated, cool rooms, but not in the open sun. The storage time for blanks is a maximum of 4 years.

It is worth remembering that you only need to gather field horsetails. Collection of other species of this plant is inadmissible. How to identify different types of horsetail?

1. Meadow. A distinctive feature - bent towards the branches.
2. Forest. Branches thin, secondary branching.
3. Soft stucco. His stem is thin, and the branches are short.
4. Swamp green. Its teeth are soldered, framed by a white border.

Interaction of field horsetail with other drugs

Initially, it should be noted that the use of field horsetail can provoke an increase in the effect of certain medications. That's why you should not start taking this plant without consulting a doctor.

1. Interaction with alcohol. If a person drinks a lot of alcoholic beverages, the level of vitamin B1 can decrease in his body. The same makes the horsetail field. In this case, serious avitaminosis may occur.

2. Field horsetail and nicotine. The field horsetail contains a certain amount of nicotine. So it should not be used if a person uses an antinicotin patch or chewing gum to help overcome this bad habit.

3. Field horsetail and digoxin. This plant reduces the level of potassium in the body. That is why people who take a drug such as "Digoxin" ("Lanoxin") to combat cardiac arrhythmia, should completely abandon the use of field horsetail.

4. Field horsetail and diuretics. This plant is an excellent diuretic. If it is used in combination with synthetic diuretics, dehydration or hypokalemia (low potassium content) may occur.