Evidence supporting the use of: Horsetail
For the body system: Nails

Links: Go back one page, Tool main page, Ingredients list, Health conditions list, Body systems list

Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Horsetail (Equisetum arvense) has a long history of traditional use in herbal medicine to support the health of hair, skin, and nails. This usage primarily comes from its high silica content, a mineral believed to play a role in the structural integrity of connective tissues, including nails. Silica is present in horsetail as silicic acid, and traditional herbalists have recommended horsetail preparations to help strengthen brittle nails and promote overall nail growth.

Despite its popularity in traditional medicine, there is limited scientific evidence directly linking horsetail supplementation to improved nail health in humans. Some small studies and anecdotal reports suggest that increased silica intake may benefit nail strength and reduce brittleness, but these findings are not robust or consistent. Most of the scientific research focuses on the general importance of silica for connective tissue health, rather than on horsetail specifically or on nail health outcomes.

Overall, while horsetail continues to be used in traditional and natural health practices for nail support, the quality and quantity of scientific evidence to validate its efficacy for this purpose is modest. Clinical trials directly assessing horsetail's effects on nail strength or growth are lacking, so its use in this context is best described as traditional rather than scientifically validated.

More about horsetail
More about Nails