Equisetum arvenese
Common Name:- Field horsetail
Family:- Equisetaceae
General_Information
Equisetum arvenese herbaceous perennial plant growing from a running, subterranean stem, The erect, annual stems usual grow from 20 – 50cm tall but at higher, exposed, elevations they can be as small as 5cm. The plant is often gathered from the wild for local medicinal use and is sold in local markets of countries like Japan, Thailand & Korea etc.
It can be found in soil or among rocks, in wet open places like nearby terrace cultivation, including banks of creeks, rivers, and irrigation ditches in moist to wet seeps and clay road banks. It grown alongside crops as a weeds in terrace field. It is listed on the National Pest Plant Accord, prohibiting its sale, spread and cultivation.
Uses
The entire plant is diuretic. It is reputedly good for treating liver and kidney infection, colic, inflammations, and rheumatism; and is also used as a vaginal wash. It is made into a tea for treating waist-area ache. The young buds are eaten as vegetable in countries like Korea & Japan during spring season.
Poisonous_fact
Horsetail has a reported thiaminase activity. Thiaminase is an enzyme that breaks down thiamine, or vitamin B1. Thus, long-term horsetail intake, or its intake by those with low thiamine levels such as people with alcohol abuse disorder, may lead to vitamin B1 deficiencies.
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