What is Horsetail?

Horsetail is the dried aerial parts of Equisetum arvense, a primitive non-flowering plant and the only living family (Equisetaceae) in its order. It is notable for an unusually high natural silica content, roughly five to seven percent of its dry weight.

About the plant

Horsetail is a living fossil: its lineage has remained essentially unchanged for more than 300 million years, and giant relatives that grew during the Carboniferous period contributed to the coal beds we mine today. The silica gives the hollow, jointed stems a gritty texture, which is why the plant earned the folk names Scouring Rush and Shavegrass and was once used to scrub and polish pots, pans, and pewter. It is also known as Bottlebrush.

Related herbs

• Horsetail Powder — the same plant, ground for direct use.

Horsetail: form & sizes

We carry Horsetail as cut and sifted dried aerial parts, sold by weight in sizes from 1 oz to 1 lb. We make no health or therapeutic claims.

Storage

Store Horsetail in an airtight container, away from heat, light, and humidity, to preserve its color and aroma.

Horsetail at a glance

Botanical name

Equisetum arvense

Family

Equisetaceae

Native region

the temperate Northern Hemisphere

Plant part

aerial parts

Also known as

Shavegrass, Scouring Rush, Bottlebrush

Notable content

High silica (5 to 7 percent)

Form

cut and sifted dried aerial parts

Sizes

1 oz to 1 lb