Recipe
Field horsetail vinegar
- Herb:
- Field horsetail Equisetum arvense
- Method:
- Herbal vinegar
- Plant part:
- Leaf
About 30 minBeginnerRecipe science profile
Procedure
- Fill a jar about one third with dried tops and cover with apple vinegar.
- Macerate 2–3 weeks, then strain — typically as an occasional diluted final hair rinse.
- Use only occasionally; harvest from clean sites.
Extraction
- Herb:
- dried aerial parts, about 1/3 of a jar according to the recipe
- Solvent:
- Apple cider vinegar; macerate for 2–3 weeks, then strain.
- Shelf life:
- Store cool; do not use if cloudy or foul-smelling.
- Target compounds:
- Acidic extraction of polar substances and some organic acids from the plant.
Notes
Not a substitute for medical care; if you have kidney disease, discuss with your doctor.
Why it works
Acidic vinegar maceration shifts the extract profile compared with water or honey — minerals and some polar metabolites partition into the solution differently. Vinegar preparations are often more stable long term than purely aqueous ones, but pH and maceration time influence flavour and safety for occasional external use such as a diluted hair rinse.
Related
Field horsetail — Herb card
Herbal vinegar — Processing method detail