equisetum

[sorcha_1953]

Hi all,
Does anyone know if there is a prooving of equisetum?

[Lynn Cremona]

proving of Equisetum hyemale
By HUGH M. SMITH, M. II., New York.
August 24, 1875

At 04:58 PM 4/5/2008, you wrote:
Imagine Peace

[sorcha_1953]

Hi all,
Does anyone know about a prooving of equisetum?
Sorcha

[Lynn Cremona]

Hello Sorcha,

Proving of Equisetum hyemale.
By HUGH M. SMITH, M. II., New York.
August 24, 1875

Lynn
---------------------------------

At 11:22 AM 4/9/2008, you wrote:
Imagine Peace

[andyh]

> proving of Equisetum hyemale

More info from associates of Lynn:
http://lyghtforce.com/HomeopathyOnline/Issue4/bohle.htm

Equisetum: The Search for a Polycrest

by Maria T. Bohle
It is a strange sight, those sturdy blunt stems piggybacking one or more
slender young spikes, which adhere to the edge of the broken joint as if
they were spot-welded there.

...horsetail was used by hill folk for bone knitting, bone problems, joint
pains, muscle pains, and older women used it to keep their bones strong,
too.

Tyler doesn't even mention it; neither does Douglas Gibson nor C. Von
Boenninghausen.

...Equisetum was used as a poultice to promote wound healing...

Equisetum is made by tincture of the mashed stems, therefore the mother
tincture will be lacking all the minerals contained in the fresh plant.

I take Aphorism 271 to indicate that he felt all fresh plant substances
should be triturated.

...we often look towards the Doctrine of Signatures, which helps our
memory a bit and is a wonderful learning device.

The spikes look like sharp little spears, the touch is rough and gritty.
Many pains are sharp, sticking, piercing, cutting or burning.

Pressing and constriction are other kinds of pain Equisetum is noted for.
stuffed full of Equisetum hyemale, often called Horsetail in the herbal
literature. My friend Sandy Bierbrauer, a botany professor at Stockton
College, had a few pots growing in the greenhouse and gifted me with this
one. The plant is so firmly anchored that I will have to cut the pot away
to transplant it. A fibrous root system has crawled through the holes
near the bottom of the pot, dense and thick; several tiny slender shoots
affirm their will and tenacity.

The plant is leafless, and almost looks like a pot of those green bamboo
stakes florists use to hold up plants that have grown too tall. The spikes
are tall, horizontally segmented, and taper from a broad base to a point,
unless the tip has been damaged or broken. My plant is 29 inches high, but
there are spikes of many heights and diameters. The stems are jointed,
reminiscent of a leafless bamboo, and they come apart at the joints given
a bit of an effort, with a loud popping sound. Where the tips are missing
the stem ends bluntly in a broad, flat, circular depression with brown
edges. The stem seals itself off just under the break, leaving a bowl-like
ridge at the top of the stem. A white band highlighted with dark brown
edges accents each joint, giving the stem a snake-like appearance. Hence
one of the common names for the plant is "Snakeweed," as indeed, a stem
lying on the ground with the broad base hidden could easily be mistaken
for the tail of a snake.

It is not uncommon to see dark brown, dead tips atop a healthy green stem
base. These segments must be a fall-back protection for the plant as the
tips die back to one of the joints, possibly a safety valve for drought
conditions. When the environment is more favorable and water is more
abundant, the plant usually sends out shoots from the top edge of the
remaining stem. It is a strange sight, those sturdy blunt stems
piggybacking one or more slender young spikes, which adhere to the edge of
the broken joint as if they were spot-welded there.

The hyemale species has an insatiable desire to keep its roots wet, and is
one of the few plants I know that is happy sitting in a puddle of water. I
imagine that a hyemale prover will have a great thirst, while a prover for
its drier cousin, the Equisetum arvense, may even be thirstless, as this
species grows on dry, hard-packed soils. The arvense is a much smaller
plant and looks far more delicate, but it is just as tenaciously rooted to
the soil as its larger relative.

The Equisetum species are called "scouring rushes" because people once
scoured out cooking pans and used the rushes to polish brass and other
metals. I love gathering the stems gently in my hands, feeling the
abrasive qualities. The stems feel almost sandy, as if finely ground glass
formed tiny vertical ridges on the stem. The older, lower segments are so
rigid and gritty that I was able to file a snagged fingernail on the fresh
green tissue. My nail was smoothed and the stem unchanged. The spikes
rustle whenever they touch each other, making a scratchy sound that is
intensified by the presence of a few dry, brown tips. The dried stems look
like a dead grass, or the ghoulish back vertebrae of a long dead critter
that has not yet completely returned to the earth. A soothing musical
symphony must emanate as the breezes frolic through a large patch of these
wonderful plants.

A comparison of Equisetum's herbal and homeopathic qualities

Equisetum is a "small remedy" in our materia medica. Our own Eileen Nauman
brought up the "folk medical uses" of this plant on the Homeopathy Mailing
List. She was the first to indicate the plant's under-utilization and
wondered why.

"...I feel this is a very "small" remedy that has far greater
ramifications than is presently known about it... " She remembers her
father boiling the stems for a long time, and giving it to her for
"growing pains": "My Dad told me that his granny had used this when she
was starting to "droop in the back" (dowager's hump), and that horsetail
was used by hill folk for bone knitting, bone problems, joint pains,
muscle pains, and older women used it to keep their bones strong, too. He
also said it strengthened teeth."

Today, women are swallowing calcium pills by the hundreds in an attempt to
replace calcium in the system and stave off osteoporosis. Many doctors
prescribe estrogen replacement in an attempt to encourage the body to
absorb more calcium. Broken hip or thigh bones are a constant reminder of
our calcium needs that are not really being met. Calcium does not work
alone. It, like many other minerals needed in the body, must be balanced
with other substances—vitamins, magnesium, and some phosphorus to be
effectively utilized. Natural plant materials such as Equisetum tend to
contain these substances in easily assimilable forms that are already
balanced for organic uses.

The grit in Horsetail is Silica. Silicea, which is made from quartz, is a
polychrest in our materia medica with a huge number of cures to its
credit. There are lots of other minerals and substances inside Equisetum,
yet it is considered a "small" remedy. The picture doesn't fit!

What fascinated me about homeopathic remedies after 25 years of using
herbs was the ability of the potentised remedy to increase and enhance the
healing effects of a herb. What a revelation! But what has happened with
Equisetum? Why does the herbal information give us so much more than the
potentization? Science doesn't work that way—not without a reason.

Our materia medica say little about Equisetum hyemale. William Boericke
gives it less than a page, and his introduction, "Principal action on the
bladder. A remedy for enuresis and dysuria.", is disappointing. Margaret
L. Tyler doesn't even mention it; neither does Douglas Gibson nor C. Von
Boenninghausen. John Henry Clarke has a couple of pages, and Robin Murphy
concurs with the information listed there.

Eileen Nauman started the wheels in motion, her research indicated
calcium, phosphorus, iron, and vitamins. The herbal literature offered
some additional interesting information about Equisetum arvense.

The Iroquois Medical Botany by Dean Snow (1995, pp. 100-101, Syracuse
University Press, NY), says that the Iroquois used the plant for several
complaints. Uses Snow listed for the arvense variety were: possibly
diabetes; babies chewed the stems while teething; rheumatism, joint aches,
headaches, minor aches and pains. They used the hyemale variety for white
spot on the eye (stems were mashed and put in warm water and let stand,
water was then dropped in the eye); for kidney trouble, backache or too
infrequent urination; for summer complaints (boil 3 minutes and drink
warm); venereal disease; excessive urination in women who are ruptured
(boil up like tea).

The New Age Herbalist by Richard Mabey (1988, p. 57, Collier Books,
Macmillan Pub. Co., NY) claims that the arvense variety has up to 70%
silica, saponins, equisetonis, traces of alkaloids (nicotine, palustrine,
and palustrinine), flavonoids, manganese, potassium, sulfur, magnesium,
tannin. With all these dynamite contents, though, the only indication for
use medically was: "Urinary infections and stones; lung complaints and
arteriosclerosis." He goes on to indicate that folk-medical uses were for
tuberculosis, damaged lungs, anemia and general debility; broken nails and
lifeless hair; bed wetting in children; and to treat an inflamed or
enlarged prostate, cystitis and urinary stones. Mabey has documented the
above information and cited his sources of current studies done on the
plant.

Maude Grieve, in A Modern Herbal, (1931, pp. 419-421, Dover Pub. Co., NY)
identifies four different Equisetum varieties and gives the species a
little more than two pages. Under medicinal action she mentions diuretic
and astringent; beneficial in dropsy, gravel and kidney affections;
spitting of blood; the ashes used for stomach acidity and dyspepsia
(disturbed digestion or indigestion), a decoction for emmenagogue
(stimulates the menstrual flow), efficient for hemorrhage (massive
bleeding), and cystic ulceration (an abnormal sac containing gasses and
fluids that has ruptured).

Herbs that Heal, Weiner, M & J., (1994., pp. 197-198, A Quantum Book, Mill
Valley, CA) supplies further information: Equisetum was used as a poultice
to promote wound healing; ashes of burnt stems to burns; promotes
urination in dropsical complaints and kidney dysfunction; useful in sitz
baths due to silica content which aids in treating peripheral vascular
disorders (disorders affecting the blood supply to the extremities),
chilblains (frostbite, or a condition characterized by destruction of skin
tissue due to exposure to cold), swellings, as well as affections of
ligaments and tendons; used in menopausal women to promote growth and
collagen formation.

Remedies from tinctures vs. trituration

Eileen and I burned up the Internet e-mail for a few days. Why didn't we
have more information about this plant's abilities in the provings? A
plant that contains silica, phosphorus, manganese, potassium, sulfur, and
magnesium. With this kind of rich medicinal history horsetail enjoys, it
should have "proven out" to be far more useful than is presently indicated
by our homeopathic forbears. Jonathan Treasure, a herbalist on the
homeo-list, supplied the missing element. Silica is not soluble in
alcohol. Minerals are not readily soluble in alcohol. The keys to the
kingdom! Equisetum is made by tincture of the mashed stems, therefore the
mother tincture will be lacking all the minerals contained in the fresh
plant. It took a few days to do what would normally have taken months or
years to accomplish.

A quick check of J. H. Clarke's Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica,
page 707, reveals, "Tincture of fresh plant chopped and pounded to a
pulp." He indicates the hyemale variety is the one to use. Robin Murphy's
Lotus Materia Medica concurs. The herbal information speaks of the arvense
variety.

Now let's check out the Organon, 6th edition (English Translation, Cooper,
Pub Co. 1982.) Aphorism 271 reads:

If the physician prepares his homeopathic medicines himself, which is
what he should do if he is to liberate mankind from disease, (a), he
can use fresh plants themselves, since only a small amount of crude
substance is required—unless he happens to need the extracted juice
for purposes of treatment. He will put a few grains of the fresh plant
in the mortar and bring it to the one-one-millionth attenuation [third
centesimal trituration] (Aphorism 270) with three times 100 grains of
milk sugar, and then proceed to further potentization by dissolving a
small part of their triturate and succussing it. One also proceeds in
this manner with all other crude medicinal substances of a dry or oily
nature.

We had several discussions on the Homeopathy Mailing List regarding
Hahnemann's new methods of potency preparations described in the 6th
edition of the Organon. Did Hahnemann indeed change his procedure with
vegetable materials also in the 6th edition? I take Aphorism 271 to
indicate that he felt all fresh plant substances should be triturated.
[Hahnemann indeed suggests trituration as the superior method of preparing
homeopathic medicines in general. - Ed.]

Trituration of Equisetum would insure that silica, sulfur, phosphorus,
manganese, potassium, and magnesium would wind up in the remedy. A
discussion with Joe Lillard from Washington Homeopathics secured the
information that indeed triturated Equisetum potencies are available, and
no, they were not usually made that way. But they "were around," he said.
He had some triturated Equisetum that someone had given him and he had
used it for a "failure to thrive" in an infant with much success.

Plant materials are excellent medicinal substances. I have always called
them building blocks or bridge substances because they contain the
nutrients in nature's balance, which makes them easier for the body to
assimilate and use.

Expectations for a re-proving of Equisetum from trituration

We are presently trying to secure some superior samples of two vareities
of Equisetum, the hyemale and the arvense, and to have some potencies made
by trituration. We will keep you posted as to its availability, and
provers are welcome!

Knowledge of materia medica is essential for a true study of our
medicines. The information gleaned from the materia medica are the proving
symptoms, the symptoms found in healthy people once they had taken this
remedy. Remembering "proving symptoms" can be a very difficult task,
therefore we often look towards the Doctrine of Signatures, which helps
our memory a bit and is a wonderful learning device. The Doctrine of
Signatures is an ancient idea which predates Paracelsus. It is the belief
that each element and plant carries a signature which signifies the
plant's use in medicine. A heart-shaped leaf may signify a potential
application for heart disease. A yellow plant root may point toward
jaundice.

While the Doctrine of Signatures cannot solely be relied upon to fathom
the medicinal properties of a plant, it is a valuable mnemonic technique,
as we shall see by comparing the physical characteristics of Equisetum
varieties to the symptoms listed in the materia medica.

But first, we must stick close to the provings. Let's look at what
Clarke's and Murphy's Materia Medica tell us of the tincture-derived
potencies and how they are used.

Clinical symptoms: (from Clarke) cystitis, dropsy (edema or an abnormal
accumulation of fluids in tissues or body cavity), enuresis (involuntary
urination or bed wetting), general paralysis, gleet (a chronic discharge
from the urethra), gonorrhea, sand or gravel like stones in the gall
bladder, kidneys, or urinary bladder, hematuria (blood in the urine),
retention of urine. And from Murphy's: weak kidneys and polyuria (passing
large amounts of urine).

Doctrine of Signatures characteristics: (The Materia Medica symptoms that
follow, unless otherwise noted, are contained in both Clarke's and
Murphy's, Clarke having been a major source of Murphy's information.)

Equisetum is a strong plant, I would almost say "headstrong" but
"irritable" would also fit. The spikes shoot out in all directions. Some
lie flat; strong stems mingle with weak ones; old, thick stems with young,
thin ones; some bend right, some left, other arch randomly everywhere.
With insufficient water, the plant dies back. With enough water it grows
rapidly. If bent over, the stem will stay bent; once "fatigued" it cannot
right itself.

Mind: Very irritable and easily fatigued after mental effort.

The spikes look like sharp little spears, the touch is rough and gritty.
Many pains are sharp, sticking, piercing, cutting or burning.

Head pain: sticking, darting, changing localities.

Eye pain: Sharp in outer angle of right eye outer canthi (the outer
corner of the eye). Severe pain in roof of right orbit.

Throat pain: Sharp and sticking.

Abdominal pain: Sharp in hypogastrium with stitching pains in the
arms, sharp pains extending to the middle line. Sticking pains in anus
at 11:00 am (Clarke).

Urinary organs (one of the major spheres of this tinctured remedy):
Sharp cutting pains in urethra and sharp pain at root of penis
(Murphy). Sharp, burning, cutting pains in urethra.

Chest and heart: Sharp stitching in left breast, and sharp pains in
the region of the heart worse by inspiration.

But these are not the only pains Equisetum can cause. Remember the fibrous
root system described in the beginning? It pressed itself so tightly into
the pot that I had to take pruning shears to cut the pot away from the
roots. The roots were such a dense, pressing mass, there is no way fingers
could ever penetrate it. Pressing and constriction are other kinds of pain
Equisetum is noted for. Back to Clarke's and to Murphy's Materia Medica we
find:

Head: Constricting feeling across forehead. Constriction of the whole
scalp as if drawn tightly over the whole scull. Continual desire to
wrinkle up forehead. Skin over frontal bones is very tight with
feeling of skin continuing to contract.

Kidneys: Feeling of fullness in bladder, not relieved by urinating
(Murphy).

Equisetum hyemale, the only variety mentioned in Clarke or Murphy, has
insatiable thirst. It is a swamp plant that wants and needs large
quantities of water. It doesn't store the water in the stem, so it must be
contained in the fibrous roots. The urinary system, i.e., water processing
system, is the main organotropic focal point of the plant tincture.

Stomach: Excessive hunger (we hunger for food, the plant for water?).

Abdomen: Distended feeling; dull; heavy pains with frequent desire to
urinate (Clarke).

Kidneys: Slight pain in right kidney, then in left. Pain extends down
the left side of the sacrum. Dull pain in right kidney, with urgent
desire to urinate. Profuse urination of light color (Clarke). Pain in
bladder from distention (Clarke). (Does the plant's desire to hold
fluids cause us to do the same?) Severe dull pain in bladder, not
better for urination. Tenderness in bladder and right side of the
lower abdomen (Clarke). Pain in urinary organs (possibly from fluid
absorption and retention causing pain and tenderness, distended
feeling?). Pains run up the spermatic cords. Burning in urethra,
prickling, biting, itching. Great desire to urinate but only a small
quantity passes. Frequent nocturnal urination, passes small amounts
yet desire to urinate is greater. Pain in back especially while
sitting, worse lying or walking. Heavy sensation in lumbar region.
Rheumatic pains in sacroiliac joint and through the left hip,
extending to outer side of leg, ending three inches from the knee.

This, of course, is an abbreviated list. It is my hope that the next time
I write of this plant I will have the combined results of thorough
provings to give us many, many more uses for the triturated homeopathic
remedy.

For those who would like to participate as a homeopathic prover, please
contact me. The project will be overseen by Eileen Nauman. This is an
excellent way not only to learn homeopathy, but to give back to it and to
add to our knowledge in order to help our patients. We hope that Horsetail
proves to be a valuable ally in the fight against osteoporosis in
menopausal women. You may contact me by e-mail at: mbohle@ix.netcom.com or
contact Homeopathy Online and they will forward your name to me.