<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> >It has ocurred to me that silica (or silicon) may be beneficial in >healing the gut wall since it is essential for the maintainance of mucous >membrane linings in the body. Horsetail is an excellent source of natural >silica and I was wondering if it is gluten free? Thank you for all your >interesting and very informative postings. > -Portia Portia, I would say that the ancient plant, horsetail (Equisetum), is not likely to have the harmful protein amino acid sequences that cause damage in celiac disease. (As usual, I have to caution that this plant has not been tested in a scientific way, and I am making a guess based on taxonomy, but probably only wheat can be put in the scientifically tested category.) Horsetails were around long before any flowering plants, including the grasses, developed on the earth. However, I don't know whether or not horsetails are a good thing to eat. My guess is that they are not, but perhaps Joe Murray can help us on this. Many horsetails contain silica deposits that are very abrasive and might damage the digestive tract. In colonial times, horsetails were used for scouring pots. Horsetails are rather amazing plants; they plague me by pushing right up through my concrete driveway at times. They will not be denied and I have never found a way to get rid of them. Don Kasarda