Stinging nettle, or Urtica dioica, is found throughout the world as a bright green herb with stinging hairs on its leaves and stems that can result in a painful touch. High in nutrition and medicinal chemicals, people are now turning to this plant for its ability to lower blood pressure and protect the heart. Whether it's taken as a tea, eaten with breakfast or purchased as an extract, nettle leaves have a beneficial effect on blood pressure and offer a safe and natural complementary treatment.
Diuretic
According a study published in "The Journal of Ethnopharmacology" by Mohammed Premier University in 2000, nettle extract was found to reduce blood pressure and increase the flushing of fluids through the kidneys. This diuretic action of nettle is likely to contribute to its hypotensive effects, as decreasing the volume of blood in circulation decreases the pressure exerted on the capillaries and blood vessel walls. Researchers found high doses of nettle leaf extract had a lasting effect on the blood pressure of animals, reducing it by as much as 38 percent.
Vasodilation
During a study published in "The Journal of Ethnopharmacology" by the University of Pisa in 2002, researchers discovered that nettle leaf extract had a significant vasodilatory effect on blood vessels in the body. When nettle leaf is taken internally, it helps blood vessel walls relax by increasing nitric oxide levels and opening ion channels. When the walls of the blood vessels relax, the pressure within them is reduced and overall blood pressure goes down.
Heart Rate
In addition to showing significant hypotensive effects, one study discovered nettle leaf extract also slows down the heart rate. Researchers from the Mohammed Premier University published its findings in "Phytotherapy Research" in 2002, revealing nettle leaf extract's strong bradycardia, or heart-slowing, actions. Chemicals in nettle leaf extract binded to chemical receptors on the heart muscle, improving the tone of those muscles and slowing the heart beat. Nettle leaf has a significant effect on many levels of the cardiovascular system, supporting its traditional use as both a hypotensive and a cardioprotective agent.
Safety and Toxicity
Nettle leaf is a safe and nontoxic herbal medicine when taken within the recommended dosage range. Nettle leaves have been used for centuries throughout Europe, Asia and North America as both a medicine and a vegetable. The stinging needles that cause urticaria when touched discourage many people from using the plant, but when the leaves are dried or treated with hot water, the needles become inert. The results of a human clinical trial published in the journal "Arzneimittelforschung" by the University Clinics of Cologne in 2006, showed that nettle leaf extract is well-tolerated by the majority of patients, with only one person out of 1,514 experiencing any form of negative side effect. Consult with your health care provider before combining nettle leaf extract with prescribed medications as it may interact with a wide range of drugs.
References
- "The University of Maryland Medical Center"; Stinging Nettle
- "Journal of Ethnopharmacology"; Acute Diuretic, Natriuretic and Hypotensive Effects ... ; A. Tahri, et al.; 2000
- "Journal of Ethnopharmacology"; Cardiovascular Effects of Urtica Dioica L .... ; L. Testai, et al.; 2002
- "Phytotherapy Research"; CardiovascularEeffects of Urtica Dioica L. in Isolated Rat Heart and Aorta; A. Legssyer, et al.; 2002
- "Arzneimittelforschung"; Efficacy and Safety of a Combination of Sabal and Urtica Extract in Lower Urinary Tract SSymptoms ... ; U. Engelmann, et al.; 2006
