Nettle (Urtica dioica) is a staple in Western herbal medicine. The plant is also known as stinging nettle because of the needle-like hairs that will inject you with histamine, serotonin, acetylcholine and formic acid on contact, causing pain, itching and inflammation. But nettle tea does not cause these problems, and it has many medicinal benefits due to its polyphenol, lectin and polysaccharide content. Traditionally, nettle was used as a tonic and detoxifying herb, but in the last decade, knowledge of the plant's benefits has grown. Nettle may be a valuable herb for treating many chronic disorders.
Diabetes
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disorder that effects the body's ability to control blood glucose levels. Too much glucose, or sugar, in your blood over a long period can lead to cardiovascular disease, gum problems, osteoporosis, and damage to your nerves, kidneys, eyes and feet. Nettle tea may help control blood sugar since the plant can reduce blood glucose levels, according to a study published in the December 2003 issue of "Fitotherapia." A recent study in the February 2010 issue of "Human and Experimental Toxicology" found that nettle has antidiabetic activity and, when given together with insulin, it potentiates the effects of insulin, thus enhancing the body's ability to lower glucose levels.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is an enlargement of the prostate gland that can cause problems in the lower urinary tract, which includes the ureters, the bladder and the urethra. These problems include weak urination, frequency in urinating, urinary tract infections and blood in the urine. Nettle is an herbal diuretic and has a long history of use in treating urological problems. A study in the 2007 issue of "Phytomedicine" found that nettle was effective in improving the symptoms associated with BPH. Another study in the 2007 issue of "International Urology and Nephrology" found that a combination of nettle root and saw palmetto (Sabal serrulata) increased urinary flow and decreased BPH symptoms in test subjects.
High cholesterol
Nettle has several chemical constituents that help the body metabolize fat and maintain cholesterol levels, including betaine, ferulic acid and lycopene. High cholesterol levels can cause atherosclerosis, or plaque deposits on your artery walls, leading to stroke or coronary artery disease. A study published in the 2006 issue of "Fitoterapia" found that nettle can decrease total cholesterol levels in test animals.
Allergies
Nettle's sting causes an allergic reaction due to the chemicals injected through the plant's hairs, but nettle tea is a safe treatment for seasonal allergies. A study published in the 2009 issue of "Phytotherapy Research" found that nettle has anti-inflammatory actions that work against the pro-inflammatory agents that cause allergies like hay fever. Nettle also inhibits Cyclooxygenase-1 and Cyclooxygenase-2, enzymes responsible for inflammation and pain.
References
- "Fitoterapia"; Antihyperglycemic activity of the aqueous extract of Urtica dioica; Bnouham M, Merhfour FZ, Ziyyat A, Mekhfi H, Aziz M, Legssyer A; December 2003
- "Human and Experimental Toxicology"; Antidiabetic effect of some medicinal plants of Oriental Morocco in neonatal non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus rats. Bnouham M, Merhfour FZ, Ziyyat A, Aziz M, Legssyer A, Mekhfi H; February 2010
- "Phytomedicine"; A comprehensive review on the stinging nettle effect and efficacy profiles. Part II: urticae radix; Chrubasik JE, Roufogalis BD, Wagner H, Chrubasik S; August 2007
- "International Urology and Nephrology"; Efficacy and safety of a combination of Sabal and Urtica extract in lower urinary tract symptoms--long-term follow-up of a placebo-controlled, double-blind, multicenter trial; Lopatkin N, Sivkov A, Schläfke S, Funk P, Medvedev A, Engelmann U; 2007
- "Fitoterapia"; Effect of Urtica dioica extract intake upon blood lipid profile in the rats; Daher CF, Baroody KG, Baroody GM; April 2006
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