I’ve been a nail biter for as long as I can remember. My parents did everything they could to make me stop, but it wasn’t until a few years ago that I started to get my biting under control. I haven’t kicked the habit completely,  but for the most part I now have long, brittle, and bendable nails. One of the methods I use to prevent chewing is weekly manicures (well, I try to do them once a week) so they look nice but that leaves my nails dry and brittle. Since one broken nail can lead to me destroying the rest, I started looking for a natural way to strengthen my nails. After a little research, I decided to try soaking them in a Horsetail Tea Infusion since I manicure regularly and it was an easy addition to my routine.

I found horsetail tea at one of my local health food stores.

It was a little hard for me to find which was surprising.  I decided to soak my hands directly into the tea instead of drinking it even though it will work that way too. The reason I’m not drinking it is that horsetail is a natural diuretic and I tend to avoid liquids that stimulate my tiny bladder. Some of the other benefits of horsetail tea are that it promotes urinary tract health and soothes sore throats, sore gums and eases pain mouth sores.

To Make an Infusion:

Pour a cup of boiling water over two tablespoons of dried tea (I just use two tea bags) and let steep for 15 minutes.

I use this instead of warm water at the beginning of my manicures and after three weeks I can say my nails are definitely stronger. They are breaking less often and they don’t bend or split as easily as they used to. They are still fragile, but I’m happy with how well it is working for me. I’m going to drink some when my PMS comes around and see how it helps with my bloating.

Photo: Tea Benefits