Horsetail

At a glance

Origin / distribution: Turkey, Germany, China, Canada(Kwakiutl), Austria

Cultural traditions: not documented

Recorded uses: Astringent, Cancer, Tuberculosis, Epiphora

Science studied: ACONITIC-ACID, ARSENIC, CAFFEIC-ACID, COPPER

Research volume: 0 indexed records · volume only · methodology ↗

Legal status: Varies by jurisdiction; not assessed in this record.

Names and identity

Family: Equisetaceae

Scientific name: Equisetum hyemale

Common names: Horsetail, Scouring Rush, Aanikawishkoons (Zhiishiibinashk), Caña carricillo, Cola de caballo, Common Scouring-Rush, Dutch Rush, Dutch rush, Equiseto Invernale, Equiseto invernale, Indian Legos, Kõʼŗ, Marchrawn y Gaeaf, Marchrawnen y Gaeaf, Prele d'hiver, Prêle d'hiver, Prêle d'hiver, Jonc hollandais

POWO: 92939-2 · WCVP June 2026 / POWO backbone

History

The source record documents this plant in Turkey, Elsewhere, Germany, China, Canada(Kwakiutl), Austria.

It records these historical or traditional applications:

• Astringent
• Cancer
• Tuberculosis
• Epiphora
• Hemostat
• Leucorrhea
• Lung
• Prolapse

This summary is limited to the cited source record.

Origins and distribution

• Turkey
• Elsewhere
• Germany
• China
• Canada(Kwakiutl)
• Austria

Documented cultural uses

• Astringent
• Cancer
• Tuberculosis
• Epiphora
• Hemostat
• Leucorrhea
• Lung
• Prolapse
• Rectum
• Sore
• Uterus
• Wound

Cultural record detail

These entries are transcribed from the cited ethnobotanical source; they do not represent current advice or a claim of efficacy.

• Astringent · Turkey · "
• Astringent · Elsewhere · "
• Cancer · Germany · "
• Tuberculosis · Turkey · "
• Epiphora · China · "
• Hemostat · Turkey · "
• Leucorrhea · China · "
• Lung · Turkey · "
• Prolapse · China · "
• Rectum · China · "
• Sore · Canada(Kwakiutl) · "
• Uterus · China · "
• Wound · Canada(Kwakiutl) · "
• Cancer · Austria · "
• Antidote(Copper) · China · "
• Flux · China · "
• Ophthalmia · China · "
• Diuretic · Turkey · "
• Hemorrhage · China · "
• Menorrhagia · China · "

Contemporary uses

Contemporary practice is not documented separately in this record.

Scientific research

Indexed records indicate research activity; they do not establish efficacy or safety.

Indexed research records

• Equisetum hyemale enhances local bone regeneration in murine maxillary defects: an in vivo study. · 2025 source ↗
• <i>Equisetum hyemale</i> L. Extracts: Phytochemistry, Biological Performance, ADMET Profiling, and Toxicity Predictions. · 2025 source ↗
• Impact of abiotic stressors on nutrient removal and rhizomicrobiome composition in floating treatment wetland with Equisetum hyemale. · 2024 source ↗

Scientific compounds

Chemical presence is not evidence of clinical efficacy.

• ACONITIC-ACID
• ARSENIC
• CAFFEIC-ACID
• COPPER
• DIMETHYLSULFON
• FERULIC-ACID
• HERBACETIN-3-BETA-D-...GLUCOPYRANOSIDE
• MAGNESIUM
• MANGANESE
• SILICON-DIOXIDE
• ZINC
• CALCIUM
• GOSSYPETIN-3-BETA-D-...GLUCOPYRANOSIDE
• MERCURY
• IRON
• POTASSIUM

Legality

No exact international trade listing was returned by the CITES checklist for this accepted name. Country-specific law is not assessed here.

Consult the CITES species checklist for current international and national requirements.

Reference images

Sources

Plants of the World Online (POWO) · Kew data terms; cite POWO/WCVP

World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) · CC BY 3.0

CC0 · Dr. Duke raw CSV archive

Contributions and revisions

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