Precious medicine to cure many diseases from wild horsetail plant

Not only has many effects in traditional medicine, modern medicine also confirms many biological activities of Xanthium latifolium, especially its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antioxidant properties.

Fruit and leaves of the horsetail plant - Photo: BSCC

Many unique medicinal compounds

Doctor Quach Tuan Vinh, Vietnam Oriental Medicine Association , said that Xanthium has other names such as Xanthium fruit, Xanthium bone, Xanthium..., is a plant of the Asteraceae family, has a bitter and spicy taste, warm properties, and is slightly toxic.

This is a wild herbaceous plant that grows in many places around the world , including Vietnam, China, India, Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand, often growing in wastelands, roadsides, lawns, and river banks.

The stem is 50 cm to 1.5 m high, with stiff hairs. The leaves grow alternately, are triangular or heart-shaped, and have serrated edges. The inflorescence has female flowers below and male flowers above. The fruit has thorns that easily stick to animal fur or human clothing.

Xanthium is a precious medicinal herb with many uses in traditional and modern medicine. Scientific studies have confirmed many biological activities of Xanthium, especially its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial properties and high flavonoid antioxidant content.

Research at the Vietnam Institute of Medicinal Materials in 2018 on "chemical composition and biological activity of Xanthus spp" showed that compounds such as xanthumin, isoxanthumin, atractylenolide, with anti-inflammatory activity, were isolated. Applied in supporting the treatment of sinusitis and allergic rhinitis.

Zhang's 2019 study in China showed that Xanthium has chemical components and pharmacological effects: Isolation of more than 170 compounds, including sesquiterpenoids, phenylpropanoids, flavonoids, coumarins, with anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, antibacterial, antioxidant biological activities...

Sahoo's 2020 study on the chemical composition of Xanthium strumarium fruits and in vitro antimalarial activity, published in the Indian Journal of Botany on antimalarial and antibacterial activities showed that the compound xanthinosine exhibited significant antimalarial activity.

It also has antibacterial effects, as the methanol extract has antibacterial activity against some Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

In Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand, Xanthium is used to treat fever and arthritis (Malaysia); Myanmar uses it to treat skin diseases. Thailand uses it as an antidote and diuretic, however some compounds in Xanthium can be toxic if used in high doses.

And when dried - Illustration photo

Effective remedies to cure diseases

Doctor Quach Tuan Vinh said that in oriental medicine, the stem, leaves, and fruit of the horsetail plant are used to treat diseases. The horsetail plant is warm, sweet, bitter, and slightly toxic.

Folk medicine often uses horsetail to treat diseases:

- Respiratory diseases: Allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, rhinitis.

- Skin diseases: Eczema, atopic dermatitis, hives...

- Rheumatism: Has the effect of reducing pain, treating joint diseases...

- Kidney tonic: Treats back pain, weak knees, tinnitus...

How to use: Decoction, use 6-12g of the stem and leaves of the horsetail fruit, decoct and drink every day. External use: Grind into powder or boil water to wash the affected skin area.

In particular, there are some effective medicinal recipes using horsetail to treat diseases such as:

Treatment of kidney stones: 10g of Xanthium fruit, 16g of sugarcane, 16g of Desmodium styracifolium, 6g of Licorice. Boil and drink 1 dose per day. How to use: Boil with 600ml of water until about 250ml remains, drink 2 times per day.

Treatment of rhinitis: 10g of Xanthium fruit, 6g of Chinese clematis, 4g of mint, 6g of Angelica dahurica, 3g of licorice. How to use: Boil with 600ml of water until about 250ml remains, drink twice a day. Uses: Clears the nose, reduces headaches, and treats scars.

Treating boils : 10g of Xanthium fruit, 12g of honeysuckle, 10g of dandelion, 8g of licorice. How to use: Boil to get water to drink daily. Can combine with the residue to apply on the skin with boils. Uses: Cooling, detoxifying, reducing inflammation.

Treatment of osteoarthritis : 12g of horsetail fruit, 15g of scratch grass, 8g of Ligusticum wallichii. How to use: Boil with 700ml of water, take 300ml of juice, divide into 2 doses/day. Uses: Promotes blood circulation, clears meridians, reduces joint pain.

Hair loss treatment: 10g of horsetail fruit, 15g of red polygonum multiflorum, 12g of Indian pennywort. How to use: Boil water and rinse hair 2-3 times/week. Uses: Stimulates hair growth, reduces hair loss.

Headache treatment : 10g of Xanthium fruit, 10g of Angelica dahurica, 4g of licorice. How to use: Boil to get water to drink, drink 2 times/day. Uses: Disperses wind, clears meridians, reduces headache.

Treatment of atopic dermatitis, scabies, and sores: 15g of Xanthium fruit, 12g of Dandelion, 15g of Gotu Kola. Boil the water and wash the affected skin area daily. Uses: Antiseptic, reduces inflammation, and reduces inflammation.

Notes on use

Dosage: Do not use more than 20g of horsetail/day to avoid toxicity.

Caution: Children, pregnant women, people with allergies.

Preparation: Burn the thorns of the fruit before use.

Effect: The effect of the medicine depends on each person's constitution, so you must be persistent when using the above medicines.

HA TUONG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/thuoc-quy-chua-nhieu-benh-tu-cay-ke-dau-ngua-moc-hoang-20250921093339996.htm