Interactions on record — worth a quick check against your medications. Check your meds →
Dietary supplement

Herbal Silica Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Alta Health Products

Tablet Or Pill Category: Botanical With Nutrients
Most serious interaction: Moderate
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Herbal Silica is a dietary supplement by Alta Health Products with 2 active ingredients. Its ingredients are commonly taken for fluid retention (mild diuretic), urinary and bladder concerns, hair, skin, and nail support.Based on those ingredients, 188 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Horsetail extract. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Herbal Silica by Alta Health Products

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

What’s inside

Full disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Full

Every active ingredient lists its own amount on the label.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 2 of its 2 active ingredients.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

Herbal Silica contains 2 active ingredients: horsetail extract and silica (a form of silicon). Horsetail has been traditionally used to support urinary and bone health, though evidence for specific conditions is limited.

Silica is thought to play a role in bone strength and has some research backing for bone health. The product also contains several inactive ingredients — whey, microcrystalline cellulose, stearic acid, croscarmellose sodium, calcium silicate, and magnesium stearate — which are used as binders, fillers, and flow agents in the tablet.

Does it work?

Moderate evidence
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed
Moderate

Some clinical evidence supports this product's ingredients for its stated purpose, but it isn't conclusive.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: strengthen and support healthy skin, hair, bones, nails.
  • We looked for evidence on: Osteoporosis, Androgenic alopecia, Aging skin, bone density, hair loss, nail strength.
  • The strongest evidence on file: Silicon is rated "Possibly Effective" for Osteoporosis (Natural Medicines).
  • Also on file: Horsetail is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Androgenic alopecia, Osteoporosis.
  • Also on file: Silicon is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Aging skin, Androgenic alopecia.

The evidence for horsetail itself isn't well established. We hold insufficient data to rate it for urinary incontinence, weight management, sore throat (tonsillitis), or hair loss.

Silica shows more promise — it's rated possibly effective for osteoporosis — but the data is still limited. For hair loss and other conditions, silica also lacks enough reliable evidence to rate.

If you're considering this product for a specific health goal, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about what the current evidence actually supports.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Horsetail Silicon

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 2 of the 2 matched ingredients.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 2 of 2.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 2 of 2.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Horsetail is generally well tolerated short-term in healthy adults, but long-term safety isn't well studied, and unverified products carry real risks. The most common side effects are abdominal bloating, increased bowel movements, and nausea.

One concern: crude horsetail contains thiaminase, an enzyme that can deplete thiamine (vitamin B1) with prolonged use — though Canadian products are required to be thiaminase-free. There's also one report of a skin reaction (seborrheic dermatitis) from topical horsetail.

Silica from food and standard supplements is generally well tolerated, though high-dose or long-term safety isn't well studied. Neither ingredient should be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding — the safety data is insufficient for both, and you should talk with your doctor or pharmacist for personalized advice.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Horsetail Silicon

Meds to double-check

Moderate interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Moderate identified

The most serious documented interaction for these ingredients is Moderate. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 2 matched ingredients can interact with medications — Horsetail.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: diabetes medications; lithium.
  • For scale: 188 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

Before taking this product, check your medications — especially if you take antiretroviral therapy (like NRTIs or efavirenz), antidiabetes drugs, diuretics, or lithium. Horsetail may reduce how well antiretroviral drugs work, increase the risk of low blood sugar, worsen potassium loss from water pills, or raise lithium levels.

Use the interaction checker on this page to see if your exact medications are affected.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with some supporting evidence for its stated purpose. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

This product combines two ingredients with limited evidence for most claims, and horsetail brings real drug interactions you need to know about — especially if you take antiretroviral drugs, blood-sugar medication, diuretics, or lithium. If you take any prescription medications, check them against the interaction tool before starting.

Horsetail is generally well tolerated short-term, but long-term use and pregnancy or breastfeeding are best avoided. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about whether this product is right for your specific situation.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 2 of 2 active ingredients matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Mar 24, 2020.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Herbal Silica, straight from the product label.

Brand Alta Health Products
Barcode (UPC) 076920000185
Net contents 60 Tablet(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Mar 24, 2020
DSLD ID 216696
Product type Botanical With Nutrients
Supplement form Tablet Or Pill
Dietary claims / uses Nutrient, All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Gluten Free, Sugar Free
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Herbal Silica by Alta Health Products, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
1 Tablet(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
3 Tablet(s)
Servings per container
20
UPC/BARCODE
076920000185
IngredientAmount% DV
Horsetail extract1500 mg--
Silica33 mg--

Other ingredients: Whey, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Stearic Acid, Croscarmellose Sodium, Calcium Silicate, Magnesium Stearate

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
Formulation

Silica strengthens and supports healthy skin, hair, bones and nails. Using the finest quality horsetail extract with bioflavonoids, Alta Health Silica provides the pure ortho form of soluble/collodial Silica by means of special extraction process. Silica is an essential trace mineral that plays a biological role in the processes by which bone, cartilage, connective tissue and skin are formed, and is a component of collagen. Alta's Herbal Silica provides the best absorption and assimilation.

The natural nutrient for hair, bones and nails

Servings per container: 1 Tablet 60 servings 3 Tablets 20 servings

Free from: Sugar, salt, yeast, wheat, soy, colorings, flavorings or preservatives. No GMO. Gluten free.

This is a natural product, color and taste may vary.

Precautions

Consult a health care professional before taking this product if you are a pregnant or lactating woman, currently under medical care or are taking prescription drugs.

Do not accept if seal is broken.

Keep out of reach of children.

Storage

Store in a cool, dry place. Do not freeze.

FDA Disclaimer Statement

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Formula

Herbal Silica with bioflavonoids

FDA Statement of Identity

A Dietary Supplement

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Directions: As a dietary supplement, take 1 to 3 tablets a daily, preferably with meals.

General Statements

Made in the USA

See for yourself

Herbal Silica by Alta Health Products label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Herbal Silica by Alta Health Products

These are the 2 active ingredients this product is made of. Select any to open its full monograph.

Serving size1 Tablet(s) Dosage formTablet Or Pill Servings per container20 Amounts shown are per serving.

Most supplement products combine several ingredients, and a medication can interact with the product through any one of them. Each ingredient below shows whether it has known drug interactions.

Horsetail extract

Interacts with
188 drugs
1500 mg per serving

Horsetail is a traditional herb most often used as a mild diuretic and for hair, nail, and bone support, but high-quality human evidence is limited. I...

Horsetail extract monograph & interactions

Silica

No known
interactions
33 mg per serving Form: Orthosilicic Acid

Silicon is a trace mineral found in the body and in foods like oats, barley, and certain fruits and vegetables, and it is popular in supplements for h...

Silica monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Whey, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Stearic Acid, Croscarmellose Sodium, Calcium Silicate, Magnesium Stearate. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Herbal Silica by Alta Health Products Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Herbal Silica?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

Go to the checker
188Drugs
188 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Herbal Silica with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

Horsetail extract5 drug types · 188 drugs

Antidiabetes Drugs

Theoretically, taking horsetail with antidiabetes drugs might increase the risk of hypoglycemia.
Equisetum myriochaetum has demonstrated hypoglycemic activity in clinical research. In an animal diabetic model, Equisetum giganteum had hypoglycemic effects. It is unclear whether other horsetail species have hypoglycemic effects.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Diuretic Drugs

Theoretically, taking horsetail with diuretic drugs might increase potassium loss and the risk of hypokalemia.
Laboratory research shows that various species of horsetail have diuretic properties. Due to its diuretic effects, there has been concern that taking horsetail along with potassium-depleting diuretics might increase the risk for hypokalemia. However, pharmacokinetic research in humans shows that taking horsetail 900 mg daily for 4 days does not affect urinary excretion of electrolytes, including potassium and sodium, despite having a diuretic effect similar to taking hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg daily. It is unclear if taking horsetail for a longer duration would affect electrolyte levels. Until more is known, use with caution.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Efavirenz (Sustiva)

Theoretically, horsetail might decrease the levels and clinical effects of efavirenz.
In two case reports, patients were found to have detectable viral loads when taking horsetail-containing supplements along with an antiretroviral regimen that included efavirenz. In one case, the antiretroviral regimen included zidovudine, lamivudine, and efavirenz; in the other case, the regimen consisted of emtricitabine, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, and efavirenz. One month after discontinuing horsetail, the viral loads became undetectable in both cases. The exact mechanism of this interaction is unknown. It is also unclear if this interaction is specific to efavirenz or if it is related to various components of antiretroviral therapy.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Lithium

Theoretically, horsetail might increase the levels and adverse effects of lithium.
Animal research suggests that horsetail has diuretic properties. Theoretically, due to these potential diuretic effects, horsetail might reduce excretion and increase levels of lithium. The dose of lithium might need to be decreased.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (Nrtis)

Theoretically, horsetail might decrease the levels and clinical effects of NRTIs.
In two case reports, patients were found to have detectable viral loads when taking horsetail-containing supplements along with an antiretroviral therapy. In one case, the antiretroviral regimen included zidovudine, lamivudine, and efavirenz; in the other case, the regimen consisted of emtricitabine, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, and efavirenz. One month after discontinuing the supplement, the viral loads became undetectable in both cases. The exact mechanism of these interactions is unknown. It is also unclear if these interactions are specific to NRTIs or if they are related to various components of antiretroviral therapy.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Herbal Silica, from the product label.

Alta Health Products

See all Alta Health Products products
Name
ALTA HEALTH PRODUCTS
City
Idaho City
State
ID
ZipCode
83631
Web Address
www.altahealthproducts.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Herbal Silica by Alta Health Products: Common Questions

Does Herbal Silica by Alta Health Products interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Herbal Silica has a known interaction with 188 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Herbal Silica contains 2 active ingredients, and an interaction can come from any of them. We check every ingredient, combine the results into one list per medication, and show which ingredient and mechanism is responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
Can I take this while I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
No — the safety data for horsetail isn't sufficient to recommend it during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and silica also lacks enough data for either. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about what's safe for you at this stage.
What are the side effects I might notice?
The most common ones from horsetail are stomach bloating, more frequent bowel movements, and nausea. In rare cases, prolonged use of crude horsetail can deplete thiamine (vitamin B1) — though certified products are tested to prevent this. One person developed a skin reaction after applying horsetail topically.
Does this product actually work for what it claims?
The evidence is limited. We don't have enough reliable data to say horsetail helps with urinary incontinence, weight loss, sore throat, or hair loss. Silica shows some promise for bone strength (osteoporosis), but that evidence is still developing.
Is it safe to take long-term?
The safety data for horsetail is strongest for short-term use in healthy adults — long-term safety isn't well studied. Silica from food is generally well tolerated, but long-term supplement use at high doses hasn't been thoroughly evaluated either.
Will this interact with my water pill (diuretic)?
Possibly, yes — horsetail has diuretic properties too, and combining them might increase potassium loss and the risk of low potassium (hypokalemia). Check your exact diuretic medication against the interaction tool on this page, and talk with your doctor or pharmacist before starting.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Not sure if Herbal Silica is safe with your meds?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

Ask a pharmacist

Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Herbal Silica label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Herbal Silica's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 33 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Horsetail 14 references
  1. Sudan BJ. Seborrhoeic dermatitis induced by nicotine of horsetails (Equisetum arvense L.). Contact Dermatitis 1985;13:201-2.
  2. Perez Gutierrez RM, Laguna GY, Walkowski A. Diuretic activity of Mexican equisetum. J Ethnopharmacol 1985;14:269-72. PubMed
  3. Lemus I, Garcia R, Erazo S, et al. Diuretic activity of an Equisetum bogotense tea (Platero herb): evaluation in healthy volunteers. J Ethnopharmacol 1996;54:55-8. PubMed
  4. Revilla MC, Andrade-Cetto A, Islas S, Wiedenfeld H. Hypoglycemic effect of Equisetum myriochaetum aerial parts on type 2 diabetic patients. J Ethnopharmacol 2002;81:117-20. PubMed
  5. Tiktinskii, O. L. and Bablumian, I. A. [Therapeutic action of Java tea and field horsetail in uric acid diathesis]. Urol.Nefrol.(Mosk) 1983;3(1):47-50.
  6. Henderson JA, Evans EV, and McIntosh RA. The antithiamine action of Equisetum. J Amer Vet Med Assoc 1952;120:375-378.
  7. Carneiro DM, Freire RC, Honório TC, Zoghaib I, Cardoso FF, Tresvenzol LM, de Paula JR, Sousa AL, Jardim PC, da Cunha LC. Randomized, Double-Blind Clinical Trial to Assess the Acute Diuretic Effect of Equisetum arvense (Field Horsetail) in Healthy Voluntee
  8. Klnçalp S, Ekiz F, Basar Ö, Coban S, Yüksel O. Equisetum arvense (Field Horsetail)-induced liver injury. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2012 Feb;24(2):213-4. PubMed
  9. Ortega García JA, Angulo MG, Sobrino-Najul EJ, Soldin OP, Mira AP, Martínez-Salcedo E, Claudio L. Prenatal exposure of a girl with autism spectrum disorder to 'horsetail' (Equisetum arvense) herbal remedy and alcohol: a case report. J Med Case Rep. 2011 M PubMed
  10. Cordova E, Morganti L, Rodriguez C. Possible Drug-Herb Interaction between Herbal Supplement Containing Horsetail (Equisetum arvense) and Antiretroviral Drugs. J Int Assoc Provid AIDS Care. 2017;16(1):11-13.
  11. García Gavilán MD, Moreno García AM, Rosales Zabal JM, Navarro Jarabo JM, Sánchez Cantos A. Case of drug-induced acute pancreatitis produced by horsetail infusions. Rev Esp Enferm Dig. 2017 Apr;109(4):301-304. PubMed
  12. Vieira GT, de Oliveira TT, Carneiro MAA, et al. Antidiabetic effect of Equisetum giganteum L. extract on alloxan-diabetic rabbit. J Ethnopharmacol. 2020;260:112898. PubMed
  13. Health Canada. Organism-Equisetum arvense. Available at: http://webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca/nhpid-bdipsn/ingredReq.do?id=6117&lang=eng. Accessed 21-July 2021.
  14. Bates D, Duong TB, Kheyson S, Moore K. Hyponatremia Secondary to Decreased Oral Intake and SIADH and Possibly Exacerbated by Horsetail (Equisetum arvense). Can J Hosp Pharm 2021;74(4):386-389. PubMed

See these in context on the Horsetail monograph →

Silicon 19 references
  1. Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine. Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Arsenic, Boron, Chromium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Silicon, Vanadium, and Zinc. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 2002.
  2. Jugdaohsingh R, Anderson SH, Tucker KL, et al. Dietary silicon intake and absorption. Am J Clin Nutr 2002;75:887-93. PubMed
  3. Ichiyanagi O, Sasagawa I, Adachi Y, et al. Silica urolithiasis without magnesium trisilicate intake. Urol Int 1998;61:39-42. PubMed
  4. Levison DA, Crocker PR, Banim S, Wallace DM. Silica stones in the urinary bladder. Lancet 1982;1:704-5. PubMed
  5. Lee MH, Lee YH, Hsu TH, et al. Silica stone--development due to long time oral trisilicate intake. Scand J Urol Nephrol 1993;27:267-9. PubMed
  6. Cruz Guerra, N. A., Gomez Garcia, M. A., Lovaco, Castellano F., Saez Garrido, J. C., Garcia, Cuerpo E., and Escudero, Barrilero A. [Silica urolithiasis: report of a new case]. Actas Urol.Esp 2000;24(2):202-204.
  7. Merget, R., Bauer, T., Kupper, H. U., Philippou, S., Bauer, H. D., Breitstadt, R., and Bruening, T. Health hazards due to the inhalation of amorphous silica. Arch Toxicol. 2002;75(11-12):625-634. PubMed
  8. Khuder, S. A., Peshimam, A. Z., and Agraharam, S. Environmental risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis. Rev Environ Health 2002;17(4):307-315. PubMed
  9. McLaughlin, J. K., Chow, W. H., and Levy, L. S. Amorphous silica: a review of health effects from inhalation exposure with particular reference to cancer. J Toxicol.Environ Health 4-25-1997;50(6):553-566. DOI
  10. Pelucchi, C., Pira, E., Piolatto, G., Coggiola, M., Carta, P., and La, Vecchia C. Occupational silica exposure and lung cancer risk: a review of epidemiological studies 1996-2005. Ann.Oncol. 2006;17(7):1039-1050. PubMed
  11. Gillissen, A., Gessner, C., Hammerschmidt, S., Hoheisel, G., and Wirtz, H. [Health significance of inhaled particles]. Dtsch.Med Wochenschr. 3-24-2006;131(12):639-644.
  12. Hu, J. F., Qu, H., and Wang, J. Z. [Meta analysis for relationship between exposure of free silicon dioxide and lung tumor]. Zhonghua Lao.Dong.Wei Sheng Zhi.Ye.Bing.Za Zhi. 2006;24(7):415-417.
  13. Jugdaohsingh, R. Silicon and bone health. J Nutr Health Aging 2007;11(2):99-110.
  14. Lacasse, Y., Martin, S., Gagne, D., and Lakhal, L. Dose-response meta-analysis of silica and lung cancer. Cancer Causes Control 2009;20(6):925-933. PubMed
  15. McCormic, Z. D., Khuder, S. S., Aryal, B. K., Ames, A. L., and Khuder, S. A. Occupational silica exposure as a risk factor for scleroderma: a meta-analysis. Int Arch Occup.Environ Health 2010;83(7):763-769. PubMed
  16. Haddad, F. S. and Kouyoumdjian, A. Silica stones in humans. Urol.Int 1986;41(1):70-76. PubMed
  17. Tervaert, J. W., Stegeman, C. A., and Kallenberg, C. G. Silicon exposure and vasculitis. Curr Opin.Rheumatol 1998;10(1):12-17. PubMed
  18. Steenland, K. and Stayner, L. Silica, asbestos, man-made mineral fibers, and cancer. Cancer Causes Control 1997;8(3):491-503. PubMed
  19. Boqué N, Valls RM, Pedret A, Puiggrós F, Arola L, Solà R. Relative absorption of silicon from different formulations of dietary supplements: a pilot randomized, double-blind, crossover post-prandial study. Sci Rep 2021;11(1):16479. PubMed

See these in context on the Silicon monograph →

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring