Horsetail tea can be used to combat fluid retention, help with weight loss and strengthen bones, and can also help eliminate kidney stones and treat urinary tract infections, as horsetail has anti-inflammatory and diuretic.
Horsetail tea, prepared with the dried stem, is the most commonly used way to consume the plant, which can be found in health food stores and some compounding pharmacies. Another way to use horsetail is in the form of capsules.
Although it has several health benefits, using horsetail can also cause several side effects, especially when the plant is consumed in excessive quantities or for more than a week, including severe headache or pancreatitis, for example. Therefore, its use should always be carried out under the guidance of a doctor or other healthcare professional with experience in the use of medicinal plants.
What is horsetail tea good for?
Horsetail has several benefits and is typically used for:
1. Combat fluid retention
Horsetail has a diuretic effect due to large amounts of flavonoids, such as quercetin and apigenin, phenolic compounds, such as caffeic and cinnamic acids, and mineral salts, which act by increasing the production and elimination of fluids through urine, combating swelling and liquid retention.
A study carried out shows that taking a daily dose of 900 mg of dried horsetail extract in capsule form has a more powerful diuretic effect than a pharmacy diuretic medicine, such as hydrochlorothiazide, for example. However, more studies are still needed to prove this effect. (1)
2. Help you lose weight
Mackerel helps you lose weight as it contains anti-inflammatory, detoxifying and diuretic antioxidant substances, such as flavonoids and caffeic acid, which increase the burning of localized fat and help eliminate liquids that can cause excess weight.
Furthermore, the caffeic acid in mackerel has a thermogenic effect, which helps to increase metabolism and burn fat, contributing to weight loss.
3. Fight urinary tract infection
Because it has a diuretic action, horsetail can be useful in combating urinary tract infections and other urinary problems such as cystitis or nephritis, for example. This is because by stimulating the elimination of urine, this plant also stimulates the elimination of bacteria from the urinary tract, which cause these diseases.
4. Lower blood pressure
Horsetail helps reduce blood pressure due to its diuretic action, which increases the elimination of fluids from the body. This causes the volume of fluid in the blood vessels to decrease, also reducing the effort that the heart needs to make to pump blood and, consequently, reducing blood pressure.
5. Maintain bone health
Mackerel is rich in minerals such as calcium, phosphorus and magnesium, which are essential minerals for strengthening, increasing resistance and maintaining bone health.
Furthermore, some laboratory studies show that horsetail can inhibit bone degradation and stimulate the formation and regeneration of bone cells, preventing the development of diseases such as osteoporosis, osteopenia or rickets, for example.
Other studies show that, due to the high silica content in its composition, horsetail helps to improve the formation, density and consistency of bones and cartilage, in addition to increasing collagen synthesis and improving the absorption of calcium by the bones.
However, studies in humans are still needed to prove these benefits.
6. Improve the appearance of nails and skin
The silica present in horsetail reduces brittleness and the formation of waves in the nails, in addition to improving hydration, hardening and strengthening, helping to improve the appearance and growth of nails.
Furthermore, horsetail has an astringent, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant action, helping to improve the quality of the skin, as it combats free radicals that cause damage to cells and can cause premature aging, in addition to reducing skin oiliness, combating and preventing aging. appearance of acne.
7. Eliminate fungi and bacteria
Some studies show that horsetail has essential oils, such as thymol and cineole, which are capable of eliminating fungi, especially skin fungi, such as Candida sp. and bacteria such as:
- Escherichia coli that causes urinary tract infections;
- Staphylococcus aureus that cause lung, skin and bone infections.
However, studies in humans are still needed to prove this benefit.
How to make horsetail tea
Horsetail tea is the main form of consumption of this plant, made with the dried stem, and can be used as a diuretic to help treat urinary infections, help lose weight or combat high blood pressure.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon of dry mackerel stem;
- 1 cup of boiling water.
Preparation mode
Place the dry mackerel stalk in a cup of boiling water and let it rest for about 5 to 10 minutes. Strain and drink up to 2 cups a day, preferably after the main meals of the day.
This tea should not be used for more than 1 week at a time, to avoid dehydration and elimination of some essential minerals for the body.
Other ways to use mackerel
In addition to tea, horsetail can be found in the form of a supplement, with the recommended dose being between 500 and 570 mg, 3 times a day, and should always be used under medical guidance or from a health professional with experience in medicinal plants.
Another way to use horsetail is to take a sitz bath, which can help treat urinary infections. To make a sitz bath, simply place 3 handfuls of dry stems in the bath water and remain immersed in the water for 5 to 10 minutes. Check out other sitz bath options for urinary infections.
Possible side effects
Mackerel is safe for most adults when consumed for a short period of time, up to a week, or as directed by a doctor, nutritionist or herbalist.
However, when consumed in large quantities and for a long time, it can cause loss of important minerals for the body, which can result in diarrhea, severe headache, dehydration, weight loss, pancreatitis, changes in heart rate and muscle weakness. , for example.
Who shouldn’t use
The consumption of mackerel is not recommended for pregnant and breastfeeding women, as well as for children under 12 years of age and people with heart failure, low blood pressure and kidney disease, for example, due to its ability to lower blood pressure and have a strong effect diuretic.
