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evidence · mechanism · dose
Supplements/Herb

Horsetail Extract

aka Equisetum arvense

Silica-rich herb traditionally used for hair, nail, and connective tissue support.

Hair SupportSkin, Hair & NailsBone Health

Overview

Silica-rich herb traditionally used for hair, nail, and connective tissue support.

Natural sources
    Common forms

      Mechanism of action

      High orthosilicic acid content may support collagen and keratin matrix.

      Pathways

        Effects on the body

        Organ system effects

        Evidence-based benefits

        Improved hair thickness in small trials with combined silica products

        Limited evidence

        Potential side effects

        Common
          Rare
          • · Thiamine depletion at high doses
          Serious

            Drug interactions

            No notable interactions reported.

            Safety & non-supplemental interactions

            Educational summary — always confirm with your clinician or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or combining with prescription therapy.

            Avoid if you are
            • ·Pregnant or breastfeeding (insufficient safety data)
            • ·Children under 18 (unless directed by a clinician)

            Supplement interactions

            Pairs well with

            None listed.

            Avoid combining with

            No specific avoidances listed.

            Dosing & bioavailability

            Typical dose
            300–900 mg standardized
            With food?
            With food

            Where to buy

            Affiliate-style search links to reputable retailers. We don't endorse specific brands — verify third-party testing (USP, NSF, Informed Sport) before purchase.

            Herb
            Horsetail Ex…
            Amazon
            Wide selection · fast shipping
            Herb
            Horsetail Ex…
            iHerb
            Global delivery · curated brands
            Herb
            Horsetail Ex…
            Thorne
            Practitioner-grade · NSF tested

            Scientific evidence (8)

            Systematic reviewPharmacogn Rev · 2016

            Equisetum arvense and hair/nail health

            Araújo LU, et al.

            Review of horsetail's silica content and clinical use.

            Key findings

            Limited evidence for hair/nail support; mechanistically plausible.

            Open study
            Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

            PubMed: Horsetail Extract — Improved hair thickness in small trials with combined silica products

            Live PubMed search

            Live results for "Horsetail Extract Improved hair thickness in small trials with combined silica products" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

            Key findings

            Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Horsetail Extract and "Improved hair thickness in small trials with combined silica products". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

            Open study
            Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

            PubMed: Horsetail Extract — randomized controlled trial

            Live PubMed search

            Live results for "Horsetail Extract randomized controlled trial" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

            Key findings

            Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Horsetail Extract and "randomized controlled trial". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

            Open study
            Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

            PubMed: Horsetail Extract — meta-analysis

            Live PubMed search

            Live results for "Horsetail Extract meta-analysis" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

            Key findings

            Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Horsetail Extract and "meta-analysis". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

            Open study
            Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

            PubMed: Horsetail Extract — pharmacokinetics

            Live PubMed search

            Live results for "Horsetail Extract pharmacokinetics" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

            Key findings

            Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Horsetail Extract and "pharmacokinetics". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

            Open study
            Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

            PubMed: Horsetail Extract — safety adverse events

            Live PubMed search

            Live results for "Horsetail Extract safety adverse events" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

            Key findings

            Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Horsetail Extract and "safety adverse events". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

            Open study
            Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

            PubMed: Horsetail Extract — dose response

            Live PubMed search

            Live results for "Horsetail Extract dose response" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

            Key findings

            Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Horsetail Extract and "dose response". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

            Open study
            Systematic reviewGoogle Scholar · 1970

            Google Scholar: Horsetail Extract — clinical evidence

            Live Scholar search

            Cross-database citation index for Horsetail Extract as it relates to "clinical evidence".

            Key findings

            Includes preprints, theses, and journal articles. Useful for tracking citation counts and follow-on work.

            Open study
            Educational use only. This profile is not medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any supplement, especially if you take prescription medication or have a chronic condition.