Drinking tea made from stinging nettle may provide you with many benefits, including relief from allergies due to hay fever or allergic rhinitis. It can relieve such symptoms as stuffy nose, sneezing, itchy eyes, headaches and coughing, all of which can be associated with allergies. However, as with all alternative remedies, check with your doctor before you begin drinking nettle tea and tell him about any other medications or supplements that you take.
Definition and Function
Stinging nettle, or Urtica dioica, is a traditional medicinal remedy used to treat a variety of conditions, such as muscle pain, eczema, arthritis, gout, urinary problems and allergies. Scientists believe that it works by reducing inflammatory molecules within your body. For allergies, this can help relieve symptoms associated with inflammation, such as swollen nasal passages, as well as the pain and pressure that often accompanies this. However, because there have not been many studies on the effects of nettle on allergies, the efficacy of this herb for treating this condition remains unproven as of 2009.
Dosage
Nettle comes in many forms, like dried leaves, fluid extract, tincture, and creams. You can also use the dried leaves or roots to make a tea. To brew the tea, boil 2/3 cup water and then pour it over 3 to 4 tsp of dried nettle leaves or roots. Allow this to steep for three to five minutes before removing the leaves or roots and drinking the tea. You can consume this tea up to four times a day, but drink additional water as well.
Side Effects and Precautions
As with any herb or medicine, drinking nettle tea for allergies may cause unwanted side effects. These include intestinal problems, excess sweating, fluid retention and contact dermatitis in the form of hives or a rash. If you experience any of these while consuming nettle, stop taking the herb and seek medical attention. Also be aware that if you are on medications like Warfarin or those used to treat depression, nettle may interact with these. Because this herb can change your menstrual cycle, you should not take it if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant. Ask your doctor before taking nettle if you have kidney problems as well.
Additional Considerations
Along with drinking nettle tea, there are other lifestyle changes you can make to alleviate your allergy symptoms. For example, you might find that rinsing your nasal passages with a saline solution can relieve sinus congestion and other symptoms of allergic rhinitis. If you find that nettle is not relieving your allergies, talk to your doctor about other herbs or treatment options.
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