🌲Russian & Siberian Folk Medicine🪻Slavic & Eastern European Folk Medicine

Horsetail (Khvoshch)

Equisetum arvense

About Horsetail (Khvoshch)

Horsetail (Khvoshch) (Equisetum arvense) is a herb used in the Russian & Siberian Folk Medicine and Slavic & Eastern European Folk Medicine traditions to help with Kidney Support, Hair Loss, Bone Health, and UTI, among 2 other conditions it addresses. The aerial parts and leaves are the parts traditionally used, taken internally.

Botanical background

Equisetum arvense, the field horsetail or common horsetail, is an herbaceous perennial horsetail native throughout the arctic and temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. It has separate sterile non-reproductive and fertile spore-bearing stems growing from a perennial underground rhizomatous stem system. The fertile stems are produced in early spring and are non-photosynthetic, while the green sterile stems start to grow after the fertile stems have wilted and persist through the summer until the first autumn frosts....

Source: Wikipedia, via iNaturalist

Parts used

Aerial Parts · internalLeaves · internal
🍵

Tea / Infusion

1–3 cups daily
  • Steep 1–2 tsp of dried Horsetail (Khvoshch) in freshly boiled water for 5–10 minutes.
  • Cover while steeping.
  • Strain and drink.
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Tincture

20–40 drops in water, 2–3× daily
  • Pack dried Horsetail (Khvoshch) into a jar and cover with 40–60% alcohol.
  • Seal and steep for 4–6 weeks, shaking daily.
  • Strain and store in a dark dropper bottle.
💊

Powder / Capsule

500 mg – 1 g, 1–3× daily
  • Grind dried Horsetail (Khvoshch) into a fine powder.
  • Fill size 00 capsules or stir into smoothies or honey.

Pregnancy, Breastfeeding & Children

No herb-specific pregnancy/child safety research is documented for Horsetail (Khvoshch) in our references — the guidance below is based on its general effect category, not research on Horsetail (Khvoshch) itself. Always confirm with a midwife, doctor, or pediatrician.

Pregnancy

Use Caution

This herb has a diuretic (fluid-eliminating) effect. Pregnancy already involves significant fluid/electrolyte shifts, so diuretic herbs are generally used cautiously and in moderation rather than as a routine remedy — this is a general, mechanism-based caution, not herb-specific research.

Breastfeeding

Use Caution

Diuretic herbs are traditionally thought to potentially reduce milk supply through fluid loss — generally used cautiously while establishing or maintaining supply.

Children

Use Caution

Children are more sensitive to fluid and electrolyte shifts — diuretic herbs are generally used cautiously and under guidance.

Contraindications

  • Significant kidney impairment — diuretic herbs may worsen renal function

Warnings

⚠️ Kidney Disease

Some diuretic herbs are contraindicated in those with kidney disease. Consult your doctor if you have impaired kidney function.

⚠️ Allergic Reactions

Discontinue immediately if you experience rash, itching, swelling, or difficulty breathing.

⚠️ Not Medical Advice

This information is for educational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using herbal remedies.

Drug & herb interactions

May have a diuretic effect

Watch for: Diuretic medications and lithium

Additive fluid loss can affect electrolyte balance and change how the body clears lithium.

Where to find in nature

Native region

Russia, Siberia, Central Asia

Climate

Continental subarctic to boreal

Habitat

Boreal forest (taiga), alpine meadows, and river valleys of Siberia and the Russian Far East

🌿 To see Horsetail (Khvoshch) growing, visit botanical gardens, university plant collections, or specialist herb nurseries near you. If foraging in the wild, always work with an expert identifier — never consume a plant you are not 100% certain of.

Where to buy

In store

  • Health food stores (Whole Foods, Natural Grocers, Holland & Barrett, GNC)
  • Naturopathic clinics and integrative medicine practices
  • Specialist herbal apothecaries and herbalist practices
  • Farmers markets with herb vendors

Online

iHerb

Wide selection of standardised extracts, capsules, and powders with lab testing

Mountain Rose Herbs

Premium bulk dried herbs — certified organic, ethically sourced

Starwest Botanicals

Large selection of certified organic bulk herbs and powders

Herb Pharm

High-quality liquid extracts and tinctures, rigorous quality standards

Amazon

Convenient — verify brand certifications and check third-party testing

Etsy

Small-batch artisan herbalists, hand-harvested and wildcrafted herbs

Quality tips

When buying Horsetail (Khvoshch), look for: certified organic labelling, clearly stated country of origin, third-party lab testing for heavy metals and pesticides, and a batch expiry date. Standardised extracts offer consistent dosing; bulk dried herbs are more economical for regular use. Avoid very cheap, unlabelled products — quality varies enormously.