Horsetail: A Herb that Improves your Health and Appearance
No one is sure exactly how some plant-based medicines work, but horsetail can have a wide range of health properties. It is a perennial plant that forms the basis of lots of natural remedies.
Horsetail has multiple health-promoting properties. You may start to see health benefits if you take an infusion, take it in a capsule, or apply the herb directly to your skin everyday.
Before starting to delve into this beneficial plant, it is important to note that its consumption is not recommended for pregnant women. This is because it can damage the fetus and facilitate miscarriage.
In this article, we will tell you about the benefits of horsetail and when to take it.
Reasons to include horsetail in your diet
Most people who want to include this herb in their diet, drink infusions. To make an infusion, boil a liter of water with two tablespoons of horsetail. Let it boil for 10 minutes and then let the infusion sit for 15 minutes. Strain the herbs from the infusion, and sip the water throughout the day.
If you do not like infusions, you can always find horsetail capsules in health stores. Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions, as you should not exceed the recommended daily dose.
Horsetail as a diet aid
Horsetail infusions are widely used by people who want to lose weight. It is useful in helping your body eliminate liquids and for making you feel full more quickly. Of course, herbal infusions are never a meal substitute and only intended as a supplement to help you achieve your weight loss goals.
You should not take more than three herbal infusions each day. Ingesting too much horsetail results in a loss of potassium and a drop in blood pressure, which can be very dangerous. So make sure to listen to your body and regularly check in with how you are feeling, to prevent any serious health issues.
Benefits to your hair
Whether you drink it through an infusion or apply it to the hair directly, this herb helps to strengthen your hair and prevents dandruff. If you often get dandruff, make sure you drink several herb infusions per day, during the times when you experience dandruff.
In addition, horsetail stimulates hair growth and prevents hair loss. To apply it directly on your hair, make an infusion of horsetail and let it rest for 15 minutes. Gently massage the concoction into your scalp, and let it sit for half an hour so it thoroughly nourishes the hair. Then rinse and dry your hair.
Naturally strengthen your nails
Horsetail contains high levels of silicon. This component is very beneficial for nails, and is especially helpful for people who have brittle nails that break easily.
If you want to harden your nails the natural way, make a concentrated infusion of horsetail. You will have to add twice as much to an infusion for your body, as to an infusion that you drink. Once the infusion has cooled, let the infusion sit on your nails for around 15 minutes. If you repeat this routine twice a month, you will notice that your nails are getting harder and stop breaking as easily as before.
Great for elder health
Horsetail infusions are especially recommended for the elderly. A herbal infusion a day will contribute to your physical well-being in all these areas:
- Promote greater skin elasticity, which reduces the appearance of wrinkles. This is because the herb promotes the production of collagen in the body.
- Strengthen the immune system, which can prevent colds in the winter months.
- Improve bone strength, due to its high silicon content. This is important both for the recovery of fractures and to prevent diseases such as osteoporosis.