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Horsetail is available as a dried herb to use in tea and other mixtures as well as a liquid form. Capsules and tinctures are also available.
Just as with all other herbal supplements and drugs, the dose of horsetail depends on many factors, including a person’s age, health status, and more. These factors have not been studied enough to come up with a safe and effective dose when taking horsetail. Be sure to follow the instructions of the naturopath, pharmacist, physician or other health care professional, and always read and follow the package insert/label regarding dosage.
Regardless of the reports of toxicity surrounding horsetail, some herbal experts still recommend its use. For example, James A Duke, Phd.
The average dose of horsetail depends on the condition that is being treated, average doses may include:
- • Brittle nails: A specific type of topical formulation (including horsetail and other chemical elements) applied every night for 29 days (or every other day for 14 days) in clinical trials.
- • Diuretic: A dry extract of horsetail containing 0.026% total flavonoids was given as a 300 mg dose, by mouth three times per day.
- • Wound healing: A 3% horsetail ointment was applied to the episiotomy site in postpartum mothers every 12 hours for 10 days.
Penn State Hershey dosages of horsetail include:
- • A capsule: The standard dose has 10 to 15% silica
- • An herbal infusion: 2 to 3 teaspoons of dried horsetail, three times per day
- • A tincture: Ratio should be 1-to-5 (dosage should be determined by a health care provider)
- • A compress (for wounds or skin treatment): 10 grams of herb per 1 liter (33.8 ounces) of water per day *
