Horsetail (Equisetum arvense)
Organic
Energy: Feminine
Planet: Saturn
Element: Earth
Powers: Fertility
 
Magical & Spiritual Uses
Horsetail carries the energy of endurance, structure, and ancient resilience. Spiritually, it is worked with for strengthening foundations, reinforcing boundaries, and supporting fertility—both literal and creative. Its high silica content and rigid form have long symbolized inner backbone, stability, and the ability to stand upright through pressure.
In folk practices, horsetail may be added to protection washes, boundary-setting rituals, or fertility workings centered on growth and sustainability. It may be incorporated into floor washes, altar offerings connected to land spirits, or ritual baths intended to strengthen resolve and reinforce energetic structure. These uses are shared as cultural and historical context only.
 
Indigenous & Diasporic Context
Equisetum species have been used by various Indigenous peoples of North America as both a practical and plant ally. Due to its natural silica content, horsetail was traditionally used as a scouring and polishing plant—cleaning tools, smoothing wood, and preparing materials for daily life. This practical role naturally translated into symbolic associations with cleansing and refinement.
In some Indigenous traditions, horsetail preparations were used externally as washes or poultices. Its association with strength and structure made it a plant connected to endurance and physical resilience. While not widely documented in African diasporic systems, its affinity with Earth and structural integrity aligns symbolically with ancestral grounding and stability.
 
Botanical & Herbal Context
Horsetail is an ancient, non-flowering plant that dates back approximately 350 million years. It belongs to the Equisetaceae family and reproduces by spores rather than seeds. Common names include scouring rush, shavegrass, and bottle brush.
Equisetum arvense is typically decocted (rather than simply infused) to extract its mineral content, particularly silica. It is often used in herbal vinegars, tonics, and topical preparations. Historically, it has also been incorporated into shampoos, skin care products, and mineral-rich formulations.
Horsetail is considered energetically cooling and drying in many herbal traditions.
 
Organic herb. Sold unprepared. Curio only.
 
As with all herbs, there may be slight variations in size, color, texture, cut, aroma, or appearance due to natural growing conditions, seasonal differences, and processing methods.
 
Precautions
Not for use in persons with kidney disease.
 
Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. We recommend that you consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.