Ingredient Horsetail

Horsetail is remarkable for its evolutionary history — it is a living fossil whose ancestors grew over 30 metres tall during the Carboniferous period. The plant’s hollow, jointed stems accumulate silica so effectively that they were historically used for scouring and polishing (giving it the common name “shavegrass”). The silica in horsetail is deposited as amorphous opaline structures within the plant tissue — a form that is more accessible than crystalline silica. This natural plant-bound silica has been valued in European herbalism for centuries.

Our Skin Hair & Nails formula contains 90 mg of whole horsetail herb powder per daily serving. Unlike the extracts used for bamboo, millet, and nettle in the formula, horsetail is included as a whole herb powder. This preserves the full spectrum of naturally occurring compounds in the plant, including the silica and cofactors in their original plant matrix. It is a traditional approach that reflects horsetail’s centuries-old use as a whole herb preparation.

Horsetail is generally well tolerated at supplement levels. However, it is important to use the correct species — Equisetum arvense (field horsetail) — as some other Equisetum species contain different compound profiles. Horsetail has mild diuretic properties and may interact with diuretic medications or lithium. Because horsetail contains thiaminase (an enzyme that can break down vitamin B1), it should not be consumed in very large amounts over extended periods. Our 90 mg dose per serving is well within safe ranges, but as always, consult your doctor if you have concerns.

Different botanical ingredients lend themselves to different processing methods. For bamboo and millet, the 10:1 extracts allow us to concentrate the silica content significantly, delivering more in a smaller capsule. For horsetail, the whole herb powder form preserves the complete plant matrix as used in traditional European herbalism. This variety of forms — both extracts and whole powders — reflects a balanced approach to botanical formulation, using each plant in the way that best delivers its nutritional value.