BD 508: Equisetum – The Lunar Healer of the Compost
What Is BD 508?
BD 508 is made from Equisetum arvense, commonly known as horsetail. Unlike the other biodynamic preparations, BD 508 is not used in compost, but as a foliar or soil spray to help manage excessive moisture and fungal conditions.
Although it is one of the most powerful biodynamic remedies, it was once almost forgotten:
When I began distributing the preparations following Josephine Porter’s death in 1984, I was troubled by the fact that two of the preparations... seemed to be of virtually no interest to anyone ordering preparations. Those two were BD 501... and BD 508, Equisetum arvense or horsetail herb.
– Hugh J. Courtney, Applied Biodynamics, no. 68 (2010): 184.¹
This preparation is most often used to control fungal diseases, reduce mildew, and regulate excess moisture in soil or air.
How BD 508 Works
BD 508 can be prepared in several ways. The most common is a decoction, where dried horsetail is simmered, fermented, and then applied as a spray. The extended fermentation enhances its effectiveness:
Take one unit of shredded Equisetum arvense ... Bring to a boil in one gallon of water and simmer for one hour... allow to ferment ten to fourteen days ... One unit of horsetail can thereby treat up to three acres with as powerful effect as can be achieved by the fresh tea recipe on only one acre.
– [Attributed to Hugh J. Courtney], Applied Biodynamics, no. 68 (2010): 192.²
Unlike BD 500 and BD 501, BD 508 is not stirred or dynamized. It is simply applied with awareness and rhythm, often around the full moon or in particularly wet years. It acts as a corrective spray, helping plants and soil recover from conditions that lead to disease.
The Spiritual Science of BD 508
BD 508 is deeply connected to the moon. It is said to normalize lunar influences on water processes in the soil and plant. Courtney linked it directly to the sensory system of the farm organism:
It is BD 501, and especially BD 508 (by virtue of its ‘normalization’ of the moon’s earthly energies), that stimulates the sense organs of the farm individuality... Without that stimulation... the other members of the solar system cannot bring to bear their powers...
– Hugh J. Courtney, “Revealing the Hidden Forces of Equisetum arvense,” Applied Biodynamics, no. 68 (2010): 204.³
BD 508 does not force the farm into balance; rather, it restores receptivity. It clears the way for the subtle influences of Sun, planets, and cosmos to enter into relationship with the Earth.
📚 Footnotes
- Hugh J. Courtney, “Revealing the Hidden Forces of Equisetum arvense,” Applied Biodynamics, no. 68 (2010): 184.
- Ibid., 192.
- Ibid., 204.