Horsetail (Equisetum arvense): Ancient Living Fossil, Bioavailable Plant Silica (Orthosilicic Acid), and Bone Mineralization

The 350-Million-Year-Old Living Fossil of the Meadows

Dating back to the Carboniferous era when its prehistoric ancestors grew as towering 30-meter trees, Horsetail (Equisetum arvense) is a primitive, non-flowering vascular plant that reproduces via spores.

1. High-Density Bioavailable Orthosilicic Acid ($Si(OH)_4$)

• Up to 10–15% Silica in Ash: Concentrates water-soluble Orthosilicic Acid, an essential trace mineral required by prolyl hydroxylase enzymes to synthesize collagen and bind calcium into bone matrix.
• Keratin & Connective Tissue Support: Promotes nail thickness, hair tensile strength, and arterial wall elasticity.

2. References & Clinical Citations

• Jugdaohsingh, R. (2007). Silicon and bone health. Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging, 11(2), 99-110. [PubMed: 17435952]
• Barel, A., et al. (2005). Effect of oral intake of choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid on skin, nails and hair in women. Archives of Dermatological Research, 297(4), 147-153. [PubMed: 16205932]

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