Women don’t like to be seen as flat-chested, while the opposite goes for men. Men don’t want to have big chests, or else they will be teased about their ‘man boobs’.
Yes, man boobs really exist, and its medical term is gynecomastia.
There are a lot of methods studied to address man boobs, and horsetail is one of them. What is horsetail, and is it really capable of treating man boobs?
What is Horsetail?
Horsetail (with scientific name Equisetum arvense) is an herbal plant that’s traditionally used to heal wounds and ulcers, stop bleeding, and treat kidney problems and tuberculosis. Horsetail got its name because of its appearance; as its name suggests, it looks like a horse’s tail.
Its stems grow in early spring. The plants that belong to this species are the only edible ones; the rest are toxic. It’s commonly called the common horsetail or the field horsetail, in relation to its specific name ‘arvense’ that means from the field, meadow or grassland.
What is Horsetail Used for?
Horsetail is used for edema i.e. fluid retention and other bladder and kidney disturbances. It’s also used for nail and skin care, osteoporosis, bone repair and wound healing.
Research shows that these benefits are caused by silica; this helps the body keep the calcium it requires to build bones and strengthen hair and fingernails.
Aside from helping improve bone health, the silica also makes horsetail a good cleaning component due to its coarse texture. This makes silica a useful ingredient of shampoos and facial cleansers.
How Horsetail Fights Gynecomastia?
One theory behind gynecomastia is that it’s caused by obesity. It’s not about having fat tissue but breast tissue. However, losing weight is said to help contribute to getting rid of gynecomastia.
Horsetail, on the other hand, is diuretic. It helps get rid of excess liquids and salt inside the body and makes you urinate more often that you should.
It also leads to weight loss (because of the water loss), which is one of the ways on how to get rid of man boobs or gynecomastia.
How Horsetail is Taken?
Horsetail is often taken in pill form, but you can also drink it as a tea, which you can make by boiling dried horsetail then adding sugar. If your area grows horsetail, you can just cut the herb then dry the horsetail yourself.
People with diabetes, low potassium and thiamine levels as well as alcoholics must exercise caution in taking horsetail. Horsetail is said to remove potassium from your body, as well as worsen thiamine deficiency. Pregnant and breastfeeding mothers should avoid this as well to ensure their own and their child’s safety.
Always consult with a medical professional before taking herbs such as horsetail to make sure it won’t compromise your safety. There aren’t a lot of studies regarding horsetail so no specific amount of dosage can be stated. It’s best to verify the amount with your pharmacist or doctor to ensure you won’t get harmed upon taking the herb for gynecomastia.
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