Equisetum hyemale

Volume I — Special Symptomatology

(Scouring Rush.)

Description. — This rush is sometimes called Horsetail. It is common to the northern and western parts of the United States, growing in wet grounds or river banks: maturing in June and July. The plant abounds in Silex, which it absorbs from the soil. The whole plant is medicinal.

Officinal Preparations. — Tincture of the fresh plant; infusion.

Analogues. — Cannabis, Galium, Epigea, etc.

(No Provings.)

0 Dysuria of women; symptoms, extreme and frequent urging to urinate, with severe pain, especially immediately after the urine is voided. (Dr. J. S. Marsden.)

0 Painful urination, with albuminous urine. (Ib.)

0 Dysuria after confinement and during pregnancy. (/J.) [Dr. M. says it is one of the most reliable remedies he has tried, in such

cases as the above. He uses it in infusion, pouring hot water on the

stalks. A tablespoonful every two or three hours.]

Diuretic and astringent. (King.)

° An infusion has been found useful in dropsy, suppression

of urine, gravel, hematuria, and hepatic affections; also gonorrhoea and gleet. {Ib.) 0 The ashes of this rush are very valuable in dyspepsia, connected with obstinate acidity of the stomach. (Tb.)

Volume II — Special Therapeutics

The scouring-hush has been used from time immemorial as a domestic remedy for dropsy, suppression of urine, gravel, haematuria, gonorrhoea , and gleet. An infusion of the stalk is made with hot water and drank ad libitum. It contains a large amount of mucilaginous fluid, and perhaps soluble Silica, both of which may aid in its diuretic effects.

Dr. J. S. Marsden, one of our best homoeopathic physicians, writes me that he has used an infusion of the stalks very successfully in the dysuria of women , with “ extreme and frequent urging to urinate, with severe pain, especially immediately after the urine is voided.” He has also used it in painful urination with albuminous urine.

It must possess some specific influence over the mucous membrane of the bladder. Dr. M. gives his infusion in tablespoonful doses.

I would suggest that you try it in the troublesome dysuria of children. I do not know that the dried stalks are efficient, and I would suggest that if you wanted to keep the remedy on hand, you should make a strong decoction and add one-tenth its bulk of good alcohol. This will make a permanent preparation, which will doubtless be efficacious in drop doses of the crude or first dilution.