Page 183 - Lost Book Remedies

The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies

Treats Infections: Horsetail has anti-inflamma- valleys common in diabetes. Use horsetail as a tempo-
tory, anti-fungal, and antimicrobial properties that rary diabetes management when necessary. Not for
help to prevent and treat infections. Treat skin infec- long term use.
tions with a warm compress or poultice made of the Harvesting: For medicine, harvest the green vege-
crushed, dried herb. Use two to three times daily.
tative stalks spring through early summer when the
Foot Fungus and Infections: Soak the feet in leaves are still “up” and bright green. You can also snip
water infused with a generous portion of horsetail the tops off in summer.
powder. Soak the feet for 15 minutes daily to treat an Warning: Use horsetail moderately and for a limited
infection and every other day to prevent infections.
time only. Overuse can have side effects, which tend to
Nasal Congestion, Bronchitis, and Respir- occur after two or more months of use. Long-term use
atory Ailments: Boil horsetail tea and inhale the can cause side effects including: thiamine deficiency,
vapors or use horsetail tea in your steam humidifier. potassium deficiency, lowered blood sugar levels, nic-
Inhaling the herb vapors can help alleviate nasal and otine toxicity, and kidney irritation. Do not consume
bronchial congestion. It acts as an expectorant and horsetail if you are pregnant or lactating. Avoid using
strengthens the immune system while relieving the in- Equisetum palustre (Marsh Horsetail), as it has slight
flammation. toxicity. Be careful where you collect Horsetail as it col-
lects toxins, especially in agricultural areas.
Sore Throat: Make a gargle with salt water, horse-
tail powder, and lemon juice for a sore throat. Gargle
several times a day until symptoms disappear.
Bladder Problems, Urinary Tract Infec-
tions, and Frequent Urination: Take a capsule
of horsetail powder, up to 2 grams, three times daily to
relieve bladder problems and frequent urination
caused by urinary tract infections. It is also helpful to
soak in a bath containing horsetail powder. Soak for at
least 15 minutes, several times weekly.
Boosts Immunity and Relieves Inflamma-
tion: The antibacterial and antiseptic properties of
horsetail products boost the body’s immunity and pro-
tects against invasion by pathogens that can infect the
body. It also relieves inflammation throughout the
body. Take horsetail tea or horsetail powder in capsule
form regularly for best effects.

Increases Brain Function and Cognition:
The antioxidants in horsetail increase cognitive abili- Recipes: Horsetail Tea: Ingredients: 2 to 3 tea-
ties by increasing the neural pathways. It is said to in- spoons of horsetail, 1 cup spring water, raw honey (op-
crease cognitive abilities and is used for people with tional). Pour water over the herb bring to a boil. Boil
dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Try horsetail pow- for 5 minutes, then allow it to infuse for another 15
der in capsule form. minutes. For treating bone health problems, allow the
tea to boil longer to extract more silica. Strain and
Treats Diabetes: Horsetail supplements and sweeten to taste with raw honey.
Horsetail Tea act to balance insulin levels in the body,
lowering blood sugar and preventing the peaks and

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