Equisetum is the dried aerial part of the plant Equisetum arvense of the Equisetaceae family. It is neutral in nature, sweet and bitter in taste, and enters the lung, liver, and gallbladder meridians. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that it has the effects of dispersing wind-heat, improving eyesight, removing cataracts, and stopping bleeding. Modern research has also found that it contains silicates, flavonoids and other ingredients, which have certain pharmacological effects.

1. Traditional effects and applications
2. Dispersing wind-heat: It is used for headaches, red and swollen eyes caused by wind-heat colds, and is often used in combination with mulberry leaves, chrysanthemums, etc.
3. Improving eyesight and removing cataracts: For eye cataracts (such as conjunctivitis and keratitis), it can be decocted for external washing or taken orally with Coix lacryma-jobi and Cassia seed.
4. Astringent and hemostatic: It is suitable for blood in stool, hemorrhoid bleeding or traumatic bleeding. It can be used alone for external application of the powder, or in combination with Sanguisorba officinalis, Sophora japonica, etc.
5. Modern pharmacological research
6. Cardiovascular protection: Silicate components may assist in regulating vascular elasticity, and flavonoids have antioxidant effects.
7. Bone health: Silicon may promote calcium absorption and have a certain auxiliary improvement effect on osteoporosis.
8. Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory: In vitro experiments show that it has an inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella dysenteriae, etc.