Medicine in your garden

I REMEMBER going to my brother and sister in law’s garden for bonfire night many years ago – just around the time I began my studies to become a herbalist and being amazed by a strange plant called equisetum arvense — commonly known as horsetail, pewterwort or bottlebrush.

My brother-in-law’s father told me that when he was younger, this plant was used for scouring any burnt pots which is probably where the common name of pewterwort came from.

Equisetum arvense or horsetail likes to grow in damp areas and it is more than a little ironic that the herb is used to treat damp conditions such as arthritis and urinary problems. Horsetail is an absolute gem for people who have joint problems. It has a high content of silica which is essential for the repair of ligaments, tendons and bones.