Horsetail Extract (Equisetum Arvense)
Benefits of Horsetail Extract
- Hair
- Where it's from: Northern Europe, Central and Northern America
- Form: Extract
What is Horsetail Extract?
Horsetail is a fern that grows wild in Northern Europe and Central and Northern America. It has been used for thousands of years, at least since the ancient Greeks, in traditional herbal practice for the natural beauty, sheen and glow of hair. Horsetail is a natural source of silica, and it also contains selenium and cysteine.
What does the research say about Horsetail Extract?
Silicon has been studied for its role in the structure of our hair, and researchers have looked at different forms of silicon for skin and hair, including hair strength and thickness. Two placebo-controlled trials of a supplement containing silica alongside other ingredients measured hair growth in men and hair in women. Researchers have also reviewed the role of vitamins and minerals in hair.
Horsetail also has antioxidant activity. Antioxidants work against 'free radicals', unstable molecules that hair is exposed to through sunlight and pollution.
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Iodine
Iodine is an important mineral needed for the production of thyroid hormones, helping maintain the body’s metabolic rate, healthy skin and hair, and is crucial during pregnancy.
L-Glycine
L-Glycine is an amino acid that has a calming and regenerative effect, reducing the time it takes to fall asleep, enhancing sleep quality, and reducing feelings of tiredness during the day.
MSM
MSM is a natural source of sulphur which is needed for strong and flexible hair through its role in the formation of amino acids that provide hair with moisture and strength.
Saw Palmetto
Saw palmetto is a small, rugged palm grown widely in the USA, and has been studied for its role in helping regulate hormones, supporting hair health, and men's health.
Selenium
Selenium is an important mineral for the immune system. It also helps maintain healthy hair and nails and is necessary for the use of Iodine in thyroid hormone function.
Zinc
Zinc is essential for the normal functioning of our immune system, and for the health of our hair and skin. Infections, hair loss and white marks on nails are among the signs of a deficiency.
Alfalfa
Alfalfa, a legume that has been cultivated for centuries, has become popular due its natural vitamins and antioxidants and their benefits for healthy hair.
AnaGain™
AnaGain™, sourced from pea sprouts which are rich in phytonutrients, is clinically shown to rebalance the hair life cycle, supporting hair growth and fuller, thicker hair.
