Nettle, or Urtica dioica, is also called stinging or common nettle, brennessel and devil's leaf. The plant grows wild in most regions. Fine, stiff hairs cover the entire surface of the plant and release chemicals that cause a stinging or burning sensation when touched. The leaves and roots of nettle plants have been part of traditional herbal medicine for hundreds of years. They are potentially helpful for several conditions, including urinary problems, hay fever and arthritis. Consult your doctor before adding nettle to your regimen.
Hay Fever
Hay fever is a seasonal allergy, often triggered in the fall when ragweed and other fall-blooming plants release large amounts of pollen. Symptoms of hay fever include sneezing, coughing and irritated eyes. Nettle may help relieve some or all of these symptoms by suppressing production of histamine, an inflammatory chemical, by some of your immune cells. Herbal practitioners often recommend that nettle consumption should begin early, before the onset of hay fever season, to maximize its effect.
Arthritis
The anti-inflammatory activity of nettle makes the herb of potential benefit for arthritis. In a clinical trial of nettle for arthritis of the thumb, published in the "Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine" in 2000, subjects who applied nettle leaf topically to the painful area for one week experienced a significant reduction in pain compared to others who used a placebo treatment. In another trial of nettle, published in "Arthritis Research and Therapy" in 2009, subjects who took nettle internally in combination with vitamin E and fish oil were able to reduce their consumption of anti-inflammatory medicines compared to others who took a placebo.
Urinary Problems
Nettle also acts as a diuretic, increasing production of urine and promoting good kidney function. Herbalists often recommend nettle preparations to treat bladder infections and kidney stones. In addition, components of several parts of the plant, including the root, may be beneficial in treating benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, a disorder in which enlargement of the prostate interferes with urination. In a clinical trial published in 2005 in the "Journal of Herbal Pharmacotherapy," subjects with BPH who took nettle for six months experienced a substantial improvement of symptoms compared to others who took a placebo.
Recommendations and Precautions
Nettle is available from most health food stores as the dried leaf or as a tincture. The recommended dose for internal consumption is 1 to 4 mL of tincture, three or four times daily. Dried leaf may be used to make a tea by steeping 3 to 4 tsp. in 6 oz. of boiling water for up to 5 minutes. Three or four cups of tea may be consumed daily. For topical use, prepared creams containing nettle are available from health food stores and some pharmacies.
Nettle is generally considered safe, with only mild side effects such as gastric discomfort. Never apply nettle to an open wound or sore and do not consume nettle if you are pregnant. Nettle may also interact with some medications. Consult your doctor to discuss whether nettle is appropriate for your situation.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Stinging Nettle
- HerbWisdom.com: Nettle (Urtica Dioica)
- "Arthritis Research and Therapies"; Phytagic, a Food Supplement, vs. Placebo in Patients with Osteoarthritis...; A. Jacquet et al.; December 2009
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Nettle
- "Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine"; Randomized Controlled Trial of Nettle Sting for Treatment of Base-of-Thumb Pain; C. Randall et al.; June 2000
- "Journal of Herbal Pharmacotherapy"; Urtica Dioica for Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia...; M. Safarinejad; 2005
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