Equisetum hyemale. E. hiemale 木 贼 Mù zéi   Scouring rush horsetail   Family: Equisetaceae     
PART USED: Whole plant- harvested in Summer or early Autumn.
Nature: Neutral   FLAVOR: Slightly bitter, sweet. CHANNEL: Lung, Liver, Gall bladder
FUNCTIONS
GROUP: Exterior clearing- Cooling
1. Disperse Wind and Heat.[4] Disperses Wind and fever.[1]
2. Benefit eyesight:[3] Clears redness caused by Wind Heat. Reduce opacity of the cornea.[4] Calms the Liver and reduces pterygium formation.[1] Clears infections of eyes.[3] Stops lachrimation.[3]
3. Promotes diuresis.[1] Clearing puss and toxins.[3]
4. Styptic.[1] Clears Heat and stops bleeding.[4]
ACTIONS INDICATIONS- Mainly used for eye disease.[3]
1. Red eyes with swelling and pain.[4] Redness swelling, cloudiness, blurred vision, pterygium.[4] Excessive watering.[4] Keratitis, opacity of the cornea.  Conjunctivitis, inflammation of the lacrimal ducts, pterygium.[1] Dull vision.[3]
2. Influenza and colds.[1]
3. Dysentery, edema.[1]
4. Hematuria, blood in stools,[4] and metrorrhagia.[1] Treats digestive wind, stops diarrhea.[3] Benefits prolapse of rectum.[3] Disperse hernia pain caused by Wind Damp.[3] Long menstruation.[3] Hemorrhoids.[4]
CONTRAINDICATIONS: When the eyes are constantly bloodshot and there is a Blood deficiency. Too much causes the eyes to swell.[3] Use with caution in cases of urinary frquency, depleted fluids, Qi deficiency or pregnancy.[4]
COMBINATIONS
PREPARATIONS: Decoction. Whole plant  9-15 g.[1] Above ground 3-9 g.[2,3,4]Used as an auxillary herb for blood in the stool or hemorrhoids.[4] Used externally as a powder.[4]
Good quality has nodes, is long with a thick stem, and is green in color.

NOTES: Short stiff grass used for polishing wood.
HABITAT: Grows wild along hillsides and sandy areas.
DESCRIPTION: Perennial herb. Subterranean root tuber, blackish brown, creeping horizontally. Stem: multi-branched at base, resembling a cluster, and showing in midair obvious longitudinal grooves on surface, node separation obvious. Sporangium spike appears terminally in summer, long and elliptical in shape, erect, slightly acute at apex, dull brown.
References
Inner Path can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.