Equisetum arvense

Equisetum arvense. Stems: leafless fertile stems light brown in colour are about 0.3 metres tall with a spore-bearing cone (up to 4 cm) on top; fertile stems to 0.6 metres tall, produce whorls of green, four-angled leaf-like branches. Heterophyadic, the vegetative 2-100 cm tall (~ 32) with internodes 1.4-4.5 cm long (m 3.0) and 0.8 to 4.5 mm in diameter (m 1.9), having 4-14 (m 8) ridges. Internally, both carinal and vallecular collenchyma present, and chlorenchyma present under the ridges but interrupted under the valleys, the central canal 1/3-2/3 diameter of stem. Cones: 17-40 (m 24.8) mm long, on peduncles 22-55 (m 37.5) mm long. Rhizome: dark brown to black, dull, covered with hairs, occasionally bearing tubers. Spores: 33-48 µm in diameter (m 42). Gametophytes: Plate tips rounded to funnel-shaped, sparse or absent on males. Antheridia protuberant, 2-3 times longer than wide, with 2-4 (mostly 4) cap cells.

The pharmacological actions of Equisetum arvense are Astringent, Diuretic, Haemostyptic, Restorative to damaged pulmonary tissue, Vulnerary.

The indications of Equisetum arvense's Whole Herb are Tuberculosis, Osteoarthritis, Osteoporosis, Bladder Troubles, Arthritis, Kidney Troubles, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Bleeding Ulceration, Water retention, Brittle Nails.

The active constituents of Equisetum arvense are Aconitic acid, Alkaloid (including nicotine & palustrene), Bitter Principle, Calcium, Cis-geranyl acetone [13.74%], Fatty Acids, Flavone glycosides, Fluorine, Hexahydrofarnesyl acetone [18.34%], PABA, Saponin equisetonin [5%], Silica, Silicic acids [5-8%], Thymol [12.09%], Trans-phytol [10.06%], Vitamin B-5, Zinc.