Horsetail
Extracting horsetail (Equisetum arvense) into oil can provide several beneficial properties, making it a valuable ingredient in salves, balms, and other skincare products. Here are some key benefits:
Rich in Silica: Horsetail is known for its high silica content, which is crucial for maintaining healthy skin, hair, and nails. Silica helps strengthen connective tissues and promotes skin elasticity.
Anti-inflammatory: Horsetail has anti-inflammatory properties that can help soothe irritated skin and reduce redness and swelling.
Antioxidant: The plant contains antioxidants that help combat oxidative stress and protect skin cells from damage caused by free radicals.
Wound Healing: Horsetail has been traditionally used to support wound healing and tissue repair. Its astringent properties can help in reducing bleeding and promoting faster recovery of minor cuts and abrasions.
Firming and Toning: The astringent properties of horsetail can help tighten and tone the skin, which may improve the appearance of sagging or loose skin.
Mineral-Rich: Besides silica, horsetail contains other beneficial minerals like potassium and calcium that contribute to overall skin health.
When infused into oil, horsetail's beneficial compounds are transferred into the oil, making it a versatile ingredient for various skin and hair care products. The resulting horsetail oil can be used in formulations to leverage these properties for enhancing skin health, promoting wound healing, and supporting the strength and elasticity of skin and hair.
Horsetail is an abundant herb here in Boulder Colorado, found mainly (pretty much exclusively) by riversides! This plant is a water lover, so if you’re hiking around Boulder and you’re by a river there is a good chance you’ll meet this amazing plant ally. Not only is horsetail great for oil infusions, one can also drink a tea of horsetail, traditionally used for creating healthy hair, skin and nails by filling you up with nutrients such as silica.
Horsetail (Equisetum spp.) is an ancient plant with a lineage that dates back over 300 million years. Its evolutionary history traces back to the Carboniferous period, making it one of the oldest surviving plant species. During this era, horsetail was a dominant species, growing up to 30 feet tall in swampy, tropical forests. Fossils of horsetail from this period reveal a towering, tree-like plant that has since evolved into the more modest forms we see today.
