Stinging nettles (Urtica dioica), a popular medicinal herb native to temperate climates around the world, draws its common name from the fine hairs covering its leaves and stems that sting the skin severely when touched. The herb performs well as an anti-inflammatory agent for reducing skin inflammation. Both the leaves and roots of the plant have medicinal properties, and people through the ages have both admired and feared this humble herb.
Hay Fever
Herbalists often prescribe stinging nettles to treat allergies or hay fever. A study conducted by the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon, found that freeze-dried stinging nettle capsules were more effective in treating allergic rhinitis than a placebo. More studies are required to confirm these findings, however. Researchers believe the reason for stinging nettles' effectiveness is that they increase the body's production of histamine in response to an allergen and its inherent anti-inflammatory properties. Taking freeze-dried stinging nettle capsules daily during allergy season might prevent allergy symptoms.
Anemia
Stinging nettles contain high concentrations of vitamin C, iron and chlorophyll. These substances help individuals suffering from iron-deficiency anemia, a condition in which a reduced number of red blood cells prevents the blood from delivering enough oxygen to the body's tissues. According to Phyllis A. Balch in her book "Prescription for Herbal Healing," consuming stinging nettles provides the body with excess iron to increase the production of red blood cells. Always consult a physician if you suspect you have anemia, which is a serious medical condition and should not be self-treated without a doctor's supervision.
Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy
Doctors in Europe frequently use stinging nettles to treat benign prostatic hypertrophy. Evidence suggests that the herb might relieve symptoms such as reduced urinary flow, the constant urge to urinate and incomplete emptying of the bladder, which are caused by an enlarged prostate gland pressing against the urethra. One study, published in the Journal of Herbal Pharmacotherapy in 2005, concluded that stinging nettle supplements have beneficial effects in the treatment of symptomatic BPH. At the end of the study, 81 percent of patients taking stinging nettles experienced marked improvement.
Hives
Natural healers and herbalists also recommend stinging nettles for treating hives, rashes and other skin inflammations, especially those caused by reactions to shellfish. The herb inhibits inflammation by providing the body with caffeic malic acid, a substance that stops a series of chemical reactions through which histamines release inflammatory chemicals. Stinging nettles provide relief for inflammation when taken internally in tea or capsule form, and when applied externally directly to the affected area.
Osteoarthritis
Stinging nettle leaves and stems appear throughout history as a treatment for osteoarthritis, though scientific studies to prove the herb's efficacy are lacking. However, a study published in the December 2009 edition of Arthritis Research and Therapy, found that a combination of fish oil, stinging nettles and vitamin E decreased the need for analgesics and other medications to reduce the symptoms of osteoarthritis. Some evidence also suggests that topical application of stinging nettles in the form of compresses or creams may provide relief for arthritis sufferers.
Other Uses
Stinging nettles have a long history of medicinal use for treating a variety of ailments. In medieval Europe, physicians prescribed the herb for use as a diuretic to help rid the body of excess fluids and to treat joint pain likely caused by arthritis. In modern times, herbalists use stinging nettles to treat muscle pain, tendonitis, insect bites, high blood pressure, diminished sex drive, lupus, chest congestion, coughs, lactation problems, urinary tract disorders, oily skin and greasy hair, though none of these treatments have been clinically proven. The fibers from stinging nettle plants were once used to make cloth, and in some parts of the world, people cook and eat the stinging leaves, which lose their sting after being boiled in water.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Stinging Nettle
- Thieme E-Journals: Randomized, Double-Blind Study of Freeze-Dried Urtica dioica in the Treatment of Allergic Rhinitis
- PubMed: Urtica Dioica for Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study
- PubMed: Phytalgic, A Food Supplement, VS Placebo in Patients With Osteoarthritis of the Knee or Hip: A Randomised Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial
- "Prescription for Herbal Healing"; Phyllis A. Balch; 2002
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