Horsetail

Horsetail, Equisetum arvense, is a long stem like plant that is common in North America, Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. It is a relatively small green plant that pre-flowering resembles Asparagus. It is an extremely old line of plant, that dates back the to the Paleozoic era as a huge tree like plant. Horsetail is a perennial plat that does not flower, but spreads into a feathery stemmed plant. These stems will give the plant a scratchy texture that has been used for cleaning. Many campers will clean their dishes with it, while it has been known to clean metals in the past, such as pewter. The most notable and popular thing about horsetail is its medicinal uses. It can work as an internal and an external herb. It is used to help with urinal tract issues and other fluid issues, such as hemorrhoids. The silica that is consistent in this plant is good to help with bone and cartilage breaks or regrowth. Externally it is good for wounds that are struggling to heal, inflammation, and burns. It has been used to assist with heath for hundreds and hundreds of years, and scientists are still studying its uses. Quite a cool little plant.




Reference:
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/horsetail-000257.htm
http://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-horsetail.html
http://www.nutrasanus.com/horsetail.html