Equisetum arvense

Equisetum arvense, better known as "horsetail", is a shrubby plant belonging to the family of the Equisetaceae and that we can easily find throughout Europe. It grows naturally in temperate zones of the northern hemisphere and in humid places next to water currents.

Equisetum arvense has long been known in the Organic and Biodynamic agriculture, having a preventive effect on fungal diseases of plants.

The sterile stems have the greatest medicinal and agricultural interest because they contain Silicon that helps to strengthen plant cell tissues.

It’s authorized in horticultural, fruit trees, red fruits (berries), grapevine and its effectiveness has been demonstrated in the prevention and control of Mildew, Alternaria and Rust diseases.

Its effectiveness is based on its stimulating action on defense mechanisms of plants thanks to the high content in organic Silicon (bound to proteins) and salts rich in Potassium and Magnesium, along with saponoids, flavonoids and tannins (equisetonine).

The application of Silicon has been shown to alleviate negative effects of numerous abiotic stresses including salinity, heat, cold, UV-B radiation, heavy metals and mechanical stresses.
It preventes diseases, strengthens cell walls in the plant and limits treatment with synthetic chemical products, reducing the level of toxic content in crops and harvests.

Its use as a basic substance has been approved as a stimulator of the natural defense mechanisms of plants since 2014, under article 23 of regulation (CE) number 1107/2009.