Nettle

Common names

• Chinese Nettle
• Common Nettle
• Common Stinging Nettle
• Great Nettle
• Great Stinging Nettle
• Hsieh-tzu-ts'ao
• Nettle
• Stinging Nettle

The herb known as the nettle is a small plant reaching about two to three feet in height with an erect stem; it bears dark green leaves that are marked by serrated margins. The nettle gives out small and inconspicuous flowers when in bloom. The nettle has now been designated by international botanists as the Urtica dioica L. and the herb belongs to the plant family Urticaceae. There are many sub-species of this plant and the American variety differs from the typical European sub-species of the nettle called Urtica dioica, the main difference between these two sub-species of the same plant lying in the fact that the European plant bears both male and female flowers - it is dioecious. This classification is also challenged at the same time by certain botanists, who see the varieties of the U. dioica subspecies - gracilis as distinct species of plants in their own right, even though very similar to the nettle. North America has four distinct species of the Urtica - two subspecies and six varieties in total; all of these bear sharp stinging hairs - hence, the common name, the nettle. People tend to refer to the plant with very uncomplimentary names, following accidental contact of the skin with these stinging hairs. Herbal medicine traditionally uses the entire herb in the preparation of the remedy, and the whole plant is collected just before the flowering season, the herb has seen a lot of use and developed a lengthy reputation in popular folk medicine around the world - the main use being as a specific herbal remedy for the treatment of asthma in patients. Herbal remedies derived from the nettle have also been used as expectorants, in an anti-spasmodic role, as a diuretic, as an astringent, and as an herbal tonic for overall health. Topical treatments are also based on the nettle, and the herbal remedy is applied directly to the scalp, especially the fresh juice of the herb, this remedy is said to stimulate hair growth in patients with hair loss problems. Placing nettle leaves directly on the affected areas of the body is also said to cure all cases of chronic rheumatism, this topical treatment is a very popular herbal remedy. The traditional uses of the nettle are almost legendary and have been known down the centuries, it is reported anecdotally that the Roman soldiers, facing the inhospitable weather and climate of occupied Britain, used the irritation induced by nettle leaves to keep their legs warmed in winter. Culinary recipes have also seen the use of the tender tops of young and first growth nettles, these parts of the herb are especially palatable or so it is said when cooked well. There are numbers of culinary recipes which utilize the nettle as the main course - these include pudding made from nettle and the technique to develop a unique beer from the nettle. Scientists have studied the results of many chemical analyses carried out on the nettle, and these tests have shown that the nettle contains more than twenty different chemical compounds as primary constituents. However, very few of them are likely to give a person a significant therapeutic benefit when used as internal herbal medicine. Evidence moreover, does not support the contention that the nettle is highly effective in the treatment of disorders such as rheumatism or the received wisdom that it can induce hair growth on bald heads, these is despite the very real localized skin irritation produced by the stinging hairs when contact is made with human skin. Chemicals in the stinging hair thought to be the ones responsible for the strong and irritating action include the compound histamine, the compound acetylcholine, and the chemical known as 5-hydroxytryptamine which have all been detected during scientific analysis carried out on the hairs. The identity of the chemical compounds is however, disputed by the results of other studies carried out on other plants of the closely related, and much more toxic, genus of Laportea, for this reason, the real identity of the compounds which induce the irritation and pain during contact is still to be confirmed and requires further investigation. The total content of plant pigment chlorophyll is high in the nettle and the plant therefore serves as an easily available and commercial source for herbal extraction of this important pigment. Culinary uses of the herb are also many, and the young nettle shoots are very edible, and these are often cooked to make delicious herbal dishes. Moreover, their content of important compounds is high and the shoots may approximately provide the same amounts of carotene - or the pro-vitamin A and the vitamin C as vegetables like the spinach or other similar greens normally used in dishes. Traditionally, herbalist have also recognized the potent diuretic properties of the nettle leaf, and right now several pharmaceutical preparations have incorporated the leaves in products which are currently marketed in the European market - this diuretic action of the compounds present in the leaves is a confirmed property of the nettle. In recent years, the extract made from the roots of the nettle has assumed some popularity in Europe for the treatment of urinary retention arising as a result of disorders such as a benign prostate hypertrophy - which is the enlargement of the prostate gland unconnected to prostate cancer. The effectiveness of the nettle extract in this role has been supported by some clinical evidence, some of the positive results came from eight open ended and observational studies utilizing two placebo-controls, during the course of rigorous double-blind studies conducted on different patients. Due to these confirmed results, and as far as urinary retention is concerned, the nettle has passed the approval of German health authorities and the product is currently marketed and widely used in that country. At the same time, the need for additional scientific studies to investigate the other traditional medical use of nettle is great and verification is required for many of the traditionally touted properties of the plant including the property of treating urinary retention mentioned above. As an edible plant, nettles can be considered very high in nutrition value, and the species also have high content of many important vitamins and essential minerals, especially important ones such as iron, essential minerals such as silica and the essential mineral potassium. This high mineral and vitamin content may be one reason for the traditional use of the nettle for centuries to make very nourishing tonics for the treatment of physical weakness and debilitation, as an aid to the process of convalescence and in the treatment of symptoms connected with anemia. The detoxification of the body is another important property of the nettles and through their stimulating action on the functioning of the bladder and the kidneys, the nettles helps in cleansing the body of all accumulated toxins and in the rapid removal of metabolic waste. Fluid retention is also alleviated by using the herbal remedies made from the nettles; it is also used in the treatment of various bladder infections, and in the destruction of stones and gravel in the body. The herbal remedies made from the nettles are also effective in aiding in the excretion of accumulated uric acid, for this reason the herb is an excellent remedy for the treatment of gout and severe arthritis as well as in the treatment of various skin problems affecting patients.

Uses

The main use of the herbal remedies made from the nettle is in the role of a cleansing and detoxifying agent in the body. The diuretic action of the nettle is also a highly regarded property possessed by the herb; this property is probably due to the high content of bio-molecules known as the flavonoids and may also be because of the high potassium levels in the herb. The main property of the herbal remedy in this role is that it increases the total production of urine and helps in the effective elimination of accumulated metabolic waste products in the body. Various skin disorders and conditions are also effectively treated using herbal remedies derived from the nettle, as an example, the cases of childhood eczema and arthritic problems are treated using the nettle, and the herbal remedy is extensively used in the treatment of very poor or impaired kidney functioning, beside its use in treating fluid retention issues. Bleeding in any area of the body is treatable by the strong astringent action of the nettle. Nettle in the form of an herbal infusion, as a tincture or in the fresh juice form can be applied externally as a topical measure for the treatment of various cuts and wounds to stanch the bleeding, it can be used in cases of hemorrhoids, it can stanch nose bleeds, and it can also be used as a soothing and healing salve against various burns and scald injuries. The herbal remedies made from the nettle have also been extensively used as a remedy for stemming bleeding during heavy menstrual periods, and paradoxically also in inducing bleeding during delayed or absent periods in women. The nettle remedies also stimulate the production of milk in lactating women, and have a galactagogue role in such cases. The herbal remedies made from the nettle can also be used as an excellent restorative remedy for treatment during menopause in women. The nettle also helps in clearing away various disorders in the respiratory system and in the treatment of a variety of catarrhal congestion and is an effective remedy in relieving the symptoms of various allergies such as those that come on during hay fever and in asthmatic attacks. The remedies made from the nettle also help in healing disorders affecting the digestive tract; it is an effective remedy against cases of diarrhea, in the treatment of excess gas, and to treat the various inflammation and ulcerations affecting the digestive tract in different people. The herbal remedies made from the nettle have also been successful treatment elevated blood sugar levels and the nettle seed tincture is said to be able to elevate the functioning and performance of the thyroid gland and in so doing is believed to be capable of reducing disorders such as goiter. The fresh juice of the nettle juice can also be used as an effective topical herbal remedy to relieve the skin of symptoms associated with insect bites and stings; these can include the sting of the nettle as well! Fresh nettle stinging hairs contains the formic acid and the compound histamine, these chemicals responsible for the irritation of skin, have been successfully and traditionally used to stimulate the circulation of blood and to relieve the physical symptoms of disorders such as arthritis and rheumatism in many patients.

Habitat and cultivation

The nettle plant is native to temperate regions largely lying in the northern hemisphere, it also grows wild in southern Africa, and in the Andes, and even in areas of Australia. The herb has many uses, and the young shoots are harvesting during the spring for use as a vegetable and to prepare an herbal tonic to be used in the treatment of various disorders. During the summer season, the aerial parts of the herb and especially the leaves are plucked when the plant is in full bloom. Autumn is the time when nettle roots are harvested and used in the preparation of various herbal remedies.

Constituents

Nettle contains histamine, formic acid, acetylcholine, serotonin, glucoquinones, many minerals (inc. silica), vitamins A, B, C, tannins.

Side effects and cautions

The nettle based herbal remedies do not induce allergic reactions and if they do so, such instances are very rare and far apart. At the same time, the fresh nettles can induce rash when the plants stinging hairs come in direct contact with naked skin - this is probably a familiar experience for many people.

Applications

Root

HAIR RINSE - The nettle roots can also be used to make an herbal decoction, which can be used as a rinse for the treatment of dandruff, to stem the causes of falling hair, and as a general conditioner for a healthy scalp.

Stinging nettle for arthritic pain

To prepare the tea as it is given here you will need a juicer. If this recipe is too troublesome for you, you may find a similar prepared mixture in your health food store.

• 1 part stinging nettle juice
• Walnut tree leaves, amounting to the same weight as the two juices combined
• 1 part cotton grass (Eriophorum) juice
• 1 squirt vinegar
• About 6 cups (1 1/2l) water
• Much honey

Bring all ingredients, except for the honey, to a boil, skim off the foam and strain out the plant debris. Sweeten with honey before drinking. With respect to the dosage, for 15 days you should drink this in moderate amounts on an empty stomach, but after meals, abundantly. If you opt for the packaged tea, take 2 cups a day for 2 weeks.

From Mary - Mar-01-2021

I rinse my hair with strong nettle infusion. It helps me to get rid of dry scalp and makes the hair stronger. Also, I noticed that hair loss is significantly stopped. Nettle tea is also good to get rid off too much liquids from the body. But expect a frequent trips to the bathroom after drinking this tea!

From Marlene - Nov-04-2012

Read about this herb years ago for treating scalp problems. So when I got a recurring rash on my scalp, I applied drop of a nettle tincture and it reduced redness right away and I will continue to apply it daily for full results.