Top 12 Reasons Why You Should Consume More Horsetail!

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Horsetail is an herb that looks exactly as the name implies: very much like a horsetail or perhaps the tail of a bird. In the past, horsetail has been referred to as pewterwort, since it was used to polish wood and pewter, or sometimes even scouring rush, since the abrasive coating on the stems made for a nice “brush” for scouring pots! A few other common names for this plant are bottle brush, shavegrass, paddock pipes, horsetail fern, and candock.

This is a very old herb that has been used as far back as the ancient Greeks and Romans, who used horsetail for its numerous health benefits. It was sometimes used as a dye for clothing and the stalks used to make whistles. Although horsetail can be used for many things, its main value is in its health benefits. Horsetail contains phenolic acids, fatty acids, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, calcium, iron and silica. Horsetail is similar to alfalfa in that it has deep roots that can absorb many minerals, such as silica, from the earth that other plants cannot reach.

Horsetail has numerous agents such as being antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, and astringent activity.

You may have heard that horsetail is good for growing hair and that is true, but it has so much more to offer! Keep reading and find out the top 12 ways that horsetail can benefit you and why you should add some to your supplement routine.

1. Super Memory Power

Studies done in Brazil using rats showed that horsetail extracts improved short term and long term memory as well as cognitive performance. A 2005 study found that its cognitive improving abilities are most likely due to its high antioxidant compounds. This study was published in the journal Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior.

2. Stops Osteoporosis

One study showed a connection between horsetail and osteoporosis. This herb contains a strong blend of calcium and is already used in Italy to improve bone strength and prevent stress fractures by improving bone density. This is most likely due to horsetail’s high ratio of silicon. Studies have shown that a daily intake of silicon, such as the type found in horsetail, is linked to greater bone density and mineral density in men and premenopausal women.

3. Super Antioxidant

Lab tests show that horsetail extract has such powerful antioxidants that it can even stop the development of cancer cells. This 2010 study, published in the Journal of Medicinal Food, showed that there was a link between the phytochemicals and antioxidants in horsetail and a lowered incidence of cancer in lab studies.

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