There is a special place in Eastern Connecticut where I like to forage for both edible and medicinal plants. So far I have found mugwort, nettle, yarrow, Japanese knotweed, spicebush, ramps, bee balm, yellow trout lily, elderberry, raspberry, blueberry and the remarkable horsetail plant.
This area is not only my favorite foraging spot; it is an outdoor classroom where nature reveals its secrets season by season. Today, as I harvest horsetail, I would like to share with you the knowledge and insights I have gathered about this special plant.
Horsetail (Equisetum spp.), with its unique reed-like appearance and silica-rich stems, is a living fossil from the Paleozoic era (we’re talking almost 400 million years ago). It used to be 40 meters high! Could you imagine?
Horsetail has been traditionally used for its diuretic and wound healing properties by both ancient civilizations and indigenous tribes, and is cherished for strengthening hair, bones and nails. Today it finds applications in cosmetics and agriculture, underscoring its versatility and continued relevance.
As we learn to identify the different shoots of horsetail, discover its many uses, and discover the best ways to harvest and prepare it, this guide will equip you with all the knowledge you need to get the most out of this plant. Whether you are an experienced herbalist or a passionate collector like me, learning about horsetail will deepen your botanical knowledge and increase your appreciation for the wonders nature has to offer.