What are the main effects and functions of horsetail (Equisetum hyemale)?

Horsetail, also known as Qianfengcao, Bitongcao, Jiegucao, etc., is a perennial evergreen herbaceous plant of the genus Equisetum in the family Equisetaceae. Used as medicine, it has effects such as dispelling wind and dissipating heat, relieving muscles, and removing eye opacity. It has good therapeutic effects on conditions such as cloud-like eye opacity, tearing in the wind, intestinal wind with bloody stool, bloody dysentery, prolapsed liver, malaria, sore throat, and carbuncle swelling. Now let us take a look at the effects and functions of horsetail!

Medicinal Effects of Horsetail

[Nature and Flavor] Sweet, bitter in flavor, neutral in nature.

[Meridian Tropism] Lung, liver, and gallbladder meridians.

[Effects] Dispels wind and dissipates heat, relieves muscles, and removes eye opacity. Mainly treats cloud-like eye opacity, tearing in the wind, intestinal wind with bloody stool, bloody dysentery, prolapsed liver, malaria, sore throat, and carbuncle swelling.

Related Discussions on Horsetail

1. "Caomu Bianfang": Unblocks qi, brightens the eyes, benefits the nine orifices, treats traumatic injuries, eliminates accumulations and stagnation, stops cough, and transforms phlegm.

2. "Fenlei Caoyaoxing": For men, calms stomach fire; for women, supplements blood and qi.

3. "Tianbao Bencao": Treats red and white eye opacity, dispels wind, clears fire, removes dampness, and unblocks strangury.

Medicinal Contraindications of Horsetail

1. "Bencao Jingshu": Eye diseases caused by anger and summer heat damaging blood, with sudden red swelling and pain, are not within its indications.

2. "Bencao Huiyan": Taking too much damages the liver; it is not suitable for long-term use.

3. "Bencao Fengyuan": Excessive use causes eye swelling; it is not suitable for those with chronic eye opacity and blood deficiency.

Medicinal Selected Formulas of Horsetail

1. To treat blurred vision with frequent tearing: Horsetail herb (nodes removed) 1 liang, ground into powder, mixed with sheep liver and pounded into pills. Take 2 qian after meals in the morning and evening, taken with plain warm water.

2. To treat blurred vision with frequent tearing: Horsetail (nodes removed) and Atractylodes (soaked in rice water) 1 liang each. Grind into powder. Take 2 qian each time, taken with tea, or made into honey pills.

3. To treat wind-cold-dampness pathogen when sweating is desired: Horsetail herb (nodes removed) 1 liang, fresh ginger and scallion white 5 qian each. Decoct in water and drink hot; sweating will follow.

4. To treat intestinal wind with bloody stool: Horsetail (nodes removed, stir-fried) 1 liang, Mutou (stir-fried), bitter orange (prepared), Sophora fruit (stir-fried), Poria, and Schizonepeta 5 qian each. Grind the above into powder. Take 2 qian each time, mixed with thickly decocted jujube soup.

5. To treat incessant bloody dysentery: Horsetail 5 qian, decoct in water and take warm. One dose per day.

6. To treat rectal prolapse unhealed for years: Horsetail, any amount, burned to retain its nature, ground into powder, sprinkled onto the anus, and pressed back in.

7. To treat continuous menstruation: Horsetail (stir-fried) 3 qian, decoct in 1 cup of water down to 70 percent, take warm. One dose per day.

8. To treat restless fetus: Horsetail (nodes removed) and Ligusticum chuanxiong in equal parts. Grind into powder. Take 3 qian each time, with 1 cup of water, add 1 qian of honeysuckle and decoct.

9. To treat red and painful throat: Fresh horsetail herb pounded and squeezed for juice, mixed with honey and taken.

10. To treat edematous beriberi, dermatitic nephritis, and edema: Horsetail herb 4 qian 5 fen, duckweed 3 qian, adzuki bean 3 liang, red dates 6 pieces. Decoct in water and take in 3 divided doses per day.

11. To treat tongue stiffness with bleeding: Decoct horsetail in water and use as a gargle.

12. Blurred vision with frequent tearing: Use horsetail (nodes removed) and Atractylodes (soaked in rice washing water) 1 liang each, grind together into powder. Take 2 qian each time, taken with tea. It can also be made into pills with honey and swallowed.

13. Acute throat blockage: Burn horsetail over a cow-dung fire to retain its nature. Take 1 qian each time, taken with cold water; once bleeding occurs, relief follows.

14. Incessant bloody dysentery: Use horsetail 5 qian, decoct in water, take warm. One dose per day.

15. Intestinal hemorrhoids with bloody stool: Use horsetail and bitter orange 2 liang each, dried ginger 1 liang, and rhubarb 2 qian 5 fen. Stir-fry together in a pan until black and retaining their nature, then grind fine. Take 2 qian each time, taken with millet soup. Very effective.

16. Large intestine prolapse: Use horsetail (burned to retain its nature) ground into powder, apply to the anal area, and push it back inside. Adding fossil bone (dragon bone) to the medicine is also acceptable.

17. Irregular menstruation: Use horsetail (stir-fried) 3 qian, add 1 bowl of water and decoct down to 70 percent, take warm, once per day.

18. Restless fetus: Use horsetail (nodes removed) and Ligusticum chuanxiong in equal parts, grind into powder. Take 3 qian each time, with 1 bowl of water, add 1 qian of honeysuckle and decoct.

19. Small intestine hernia: Use horsetail filed fine, lightly stir-fried into powder. Take 2 qian with boiling water; effective. Taking it with hot wine is also acceptable.