Ayurvedic Herb

Horsetail (has a safety note)

BotanicalEquisetum arvenseAlso calledShavegrass, Field horsetail, Scouring rush, Bottlebrush

Jointed, gritty green stems rich in silica, brewed into a grassy mineral tea for hair and nails. A herb for short courses, not daily use.

* Safety note: Contains thiaminase and may lower potassium; read the cautions before use. Read the cautions

Horsetail, aerial stems

Horsetail is a living fossil, a relative of plants that grew as tall as trees long before the dinosaurs. Its hollow, jointed green stems have no flowers or true leaves and are so full of silica that they were once used to scour pots and polish pewter, hence the name shavegrass. The tea is pale green and tastes grassy, a little like hay with a mineral edge.

Horsetail is not part of classical Ayurveda. Modern Ayurvedic writers describe it as bitter, astringent and cooling, a herb for pitta and kapha that can dry out vata. In Europe it has long been a tea for hair, nails and the urinary system, but it also carries some real cautions, so it is best used in short courses.

Ayurvedic Properties

Not described in classical Ayurveda; modern Ayurvedic writers describe it as bitter, astringent and slightly sweet with a cooling energy and pungent vipaka, settling pitta and kapha but drying for vata in excess (Satyori herb guide).

RasaTastes
  • Bitter
  • Astringent
  • Sweet
ViryaHeating or cooling
Cooling
VipakaPost-digestive effect
Pungent
AgniEffect on digestion
Neutral for agni

Cooling and drying, it has little direct effect on appetite.

GunaQualities
  • Dry
  • Light
TridoshaEffect on Vata, Pitta and Kapha
  • Vata: increases in excess
  • Pitta: decreases
  • Kapha: decreases
  • decreases (calms that dosha)
  • increases (can aggravate it)
  • neutral or balancing
  • not known
  • V Vata · P Pitta · K Kapha

Cool and astringent, horsetail suits pitta's heat and kapha's dampness. Vata types are better off with weaker cups for short periods, taken warm and alongside something nourishing.

Traditional Uses

  • Traditionally used to support strong hair and nails as a mineral-rich tea.
  • Traditionally used to support healthy urine flow in European herbal practice.
  • Traditionally used to support the skin as a cooled wash for minor scrapes.

How People Use It

  • TeaSimmer 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried horsetail in a cup of water for 10 minutes, then strain. Drink up to 2 cups a day for a few weeks at most, then take a break of several weeks.
  • WaterA strong, cooled infusion makes a traditional final rinse for the hair after washing.
  • TopicalA cooled, strained infusion can be used as a simple skin wash or compress. Patch-test first.
Try This

Horsetail and Nettle Mineral Tea

A green, grassy cup for a short spring course.

  • 1 teaspoon dried horsetail
  • 1 teaspoon dried nettle leaf
  • A few fresh mint leaves or 1/2 teaspoon dried peppermint
  • 2 cups water
  1. Simmer the horsetail in the water for 10 minutes.
  2. Turn off the heat, add the nettle and mint, cover and steep for another 10 minutes.
  3. Strain and drink warm or at room temperature.
  4. Enjoy it for a few weeks at a time, then take a break.

Pairs Well With

Cautions

  • Avoid horsetail during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. It is not recommended for children under 12.
  • Horsetail contains thiaminase, an enzyme that breaks down vitamin B1 (thiamine). Long-term use can lower thiamine levels, especially if you drink alcohol regularly or have a poor diet. Use it in short courses only.
  • Horsetail acts as a mild water pill and may lower potassium. Avoid it if you take diuretics, heart medicines such as digoxin, or lithium, unless your doctor approves.
  • Do not use horsetail if you have been told to limit fluids, for example because of severe heart or kidney disease, or if you have kidney disease or a history of kidney stones.
  • Horsetail contains small amounts of nicotine. Avoid it if you are sensitive to nicotine or are using nicotine patches or gum to quit smoking.
  • It may lower blood sugar; check with your doctor if you take diabetes medicine.
  • Only field horsetail (Equisetum arvense) should be used. Marsh horsetail (Equisetum palustre) is toxic. Buy from a trusted supplier.
  • Allergic reactions and mild stomach upset have been reported. Please consult a qualified practitioner or your doctor before using horsetail.

In Our Shop

Organic Horsetail (Shavegrass)

Organic Horsetail (Shavegrass), from $4.75. Weighed and packed by hand at our Rockville Centre studio.

Shop Horsetail →

Sources and Further Reading

This page shares how herbs are traditionally used in Ayurveda and other herbal traditions. It is for general education only and is not medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, and herbs are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Please talk with your doctor or a qualified practitioner before using herbs, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or managing a health condition.