Field horsetail is a valuable medicinal plant against many ailments. However, the plant can only be harvested in May and June. With the right drying process, you preserve the active ingredients of the plant and can use them all year round.
How can I make field horsetail powder myself?
To make field horsetail powder yourself, collect the plant shoots in May or June, dry them gently, crush them in a grinder or mortar and store the resulting powder in a dry place. This is how you get the valuable ingredients of the plant.
How is field horsetail powder made?
The field horsetail powder is obtainedfrom the shoots of the plant in the months of May and June. It is important to dry the plant parts gently. It is best to tie several stems together into a bouquet and hang them upside down in a dry and warm place. If you want to dry horsetail in the oven, the temperature should be 30 °C. Once the stems are completely dry, they are crushed into powder using a mortar or grinder. The powder can then be stored dry for about a year.
How is field horsetail powder used?
Field horsetail powder can be used in the same way,as fresh stems of the medicinal plant The effect of horsetail is based on mineral silica, potassium and flavonoids. These valuable ingredients do not lose their effectiveness even when stored for a long time at room temperature. Since field horsetail can only be picked in the months of May to June, it makes sense to dry the herb of the plant so that it can be used later. As a tea, the powder helps in medicine as well as as a decoction or manure for plant diseases.
What do I have to pay attention to with field horsetail?
Lignified field horsetail stems contain fewer of the valuable ingredients. You should therefore harvest the plants before July, as the shoots will then begin to become woody. When collecting field horsetail, pay attention to theDanger of confusion with the poisonous swamp horsetail Only look for field horsetail in fields and not in swampy areas. If you can't tell the difference between the two horsetail plants, it's best to take part in a herb hike first.
Tip
Wild herb mixture for the winter
In addition to field horsetail, nettle, groundweed, yarrow and ribwort plantain can also be dried very well. Mix the dried and chopped herbs in the same proportions and keep them dry. The mixture is very suitable as a herbal s alt. With a little olive oil you can also quickly make a herb paste for salad or as a spread.
