Horsetail and Bone Health
Many of our modern-day uses of medicinal foods such as garlic and oregano date back to ancient Roman and Greek times as does the use of many other of today’s herbs and plants found in our cupboards and used in many supplements today.
Horsetail (Equisteum arvense) is a medicinal plant that was used at those times as a wound healer, a diuretic and an agent to stop bleeding.[i] A family of ferns, horsetail is also known as the field horsetail, common horsetail and bottle brush.
Horsetail is rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, it stands out due to its significant levels of the mineral silica which has been shown to play roles in the structural integrity of joints, nails, hair, skin, collagen synthesis, bone mineralisation and bone health. [ii] Silica is the 2nd most abundant element on earth and the third most abundant trace element in the human body[iii]
Bone Health
Whilst the benefits of horsetail have been known since ancient times, it is not until recently that research has really been able to demonstrate its mode of action in particular on bone health, therefore it is an ingredient often used in bone support supplement formulas. Bone is a dynamic living tissue that is continuously being broken down and rebuilt in a process known as bone remodelling [iv]
Bone remodelling continues throughout life and involves cells called osteoclasts and osteoblasts, the osteoclasts digest old bone and osteoblasts are involved in the laying down of new bone. Horsetail has been shown to inhibit osteoclasts whilst stimulating the osteoblasts which suggest it is useful for conditions such as osteoporosis[v] .
The mineral calcium and vitamin D are well known for their ability to accelerate the mineralisation of bone matrix and bone formation, but the addition of horsetail has also been shown in studies to be a helpful botanical for the prevention of osteoporosis[vi]
Horsetail also contains secondary metabolites such as quercetin, kaempferol, luteolin, apigenin, and others which have been shown to affect the anabolic activity of osteoblasts [vii], and therefore suggest further promising effects on bone health and regeneration.
Menopause Support
Many women at their perimenopause and menopause stages of life with the subsequent hormonal changes find that using horsetail with its generous levels of silica has helped to strengthen their hair skin and nails. Silica is important for the optimal synthesis of collagen and for activating hydroxylation enzymes which are important in the formation of collagen network which in turn improves the skin’s strength and elasticity[viii] Silica has also been found to help strengthen hair and prevent breakages as it has been found that a higher silica content in the hair, results in a lower rate of hair loss and increased brightness.
Women find that incorporating a menopause supplement formula into a healthy diet rich in leafy greens, healthy fats and proteins can offer further support not only for bone health but for hair skin and nail strength at this transitional time in their life.
Horsetail has also historically been used as an anti-inflammatory remedy, in human clinical studies the beneficial effects showed that the decrease in the TNF-α was one of the contributing mechanisms.[ix]
One of the active phytochemicals found in the plant called Kynurenic acid possesses anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and pain-relieving properties (analgesic) and therefore has been used to support those with joint pain and degenerative conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis and that a good supplement that includes horsetail may help contribute to healthy joint function.
Today, this incredible plant that has been used for thousands of years showcases many potential health benefits that we can include in our diet in the form of herbal tinctures, teas and supplements specific for joints, bones, hair and skin health.
References
[i] https://www.encyclopedia.com/plants-and-animals/plants/plants/horsetail
[ii] Martin KR. Silicon: the health benefits of a metalloid. Met Ions Life Sci. 2013;13:451-73. doi: 10.1007/978-94-007-7500-8_14. PMID: 24470100.
[iii] Araújo LA, Addor F, Campos PM. Use of silicon for skin and hair care: an approach of chemical forms available and efficacy. An Bras Dermatol. 2016 May-Jun;91(3):331-5. doi: 10.1590/abd1806-4841.20163986. PMID: 27438201; PMCID: PMC4938278.
[iv] Hadjidakis DJ, Androulakis II. Bone remodeling. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2006 Dec;1092:385-96. doi: 10.1196/annals.1365.035. PMID: 17308163.
[v] https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/horsetail#benefits
[vi] Kotwal SD, Badole SR. Anabolic therapy with Equisetum arvense along with bone mineralising nutrients in ovariectomized rat model of osteoporosis. Indian J Pharmacol. 2016 May-Jun;48(3):312-5. doi: 10.4103/0253-7613.182880. PMID: 27298503; PMCID: PMC4900006.
[vii] Arbabzadegan N, Moghadamnia AA, Kazemi S, Nozari F, Moudi E, Haghanifar S. Effect of equisetum arvense extract on bone mineral density in Wistar rats via digital radiography. Caspian J Intern Med. 2019 Spring;10(2):176-182. doi: 10.22088/cjim.10.2.176. PMID: 31363396; PMCID: PMC6619477.
[viii] Araújo LA, Addor F, Campos PM. Use of silicon for skin and hair care: an approach of chemical forms available and efficacy. An Bras Dermatol. 2016 May-Jun;91(3):331-5. doi: 10.1590/abd1806-4841.20163986. PMID: 27438201; PMCID: PMC4938278.
[ix] Dragos D, Gilca M, Gaman L, Vlad A, Iosif L, Stoian I, Lupescu O. Phytomedicine in Joint Disorders. Nutrients. 2017 Jan 16;9(1):70. doi: 10.3390/nu9010070. PMID: 28275210; PMCID: PMC5295114.
