Are Freeze-dried Stinging Nettles Good For A Stuffy Nose?

Rich in vitamins and minerals, "de-stung" preparations of stinging nettle offer alternatives to spinach in early spring, when the wild plants are at their prime. Foragers also gather nettle leaves to dry for traditional medicinal teas. Nettles in either food or tea form appear in countless folk remedies for hay fever, notes wild foods expert Steve Brill. Freeze-dried capsules are a modern alternative to traditional preparations. If you suspect your stuffy nose and other symptoms stem from hay fever, ask your doctor if freeze-dried stinging nettle is an appropriate herbal remedy.

Stuffy Nose Causes

Hay fever, which stinging nettle may treat, is only one of several potential culprits behind your nasal congestion. Stuffy noses also result from common colds, flu cases or sinus infections. These illnesses cause the blood vessels in your nasal tissues to swell. In such cases, over-the-counter decongestants, saline nasal sprays and humidifiers or vaporizers are preferable to stinging nettle. Nasal congestion may also stem from structural issues such as a deviated septum or adenoids, which require surgery to produce significant relief.

Stinging Nettle and Hay Fever

Stinging nettle appears to have antihistamine properties, which preliminary evidence indicates relieves the symptoms of hay fever, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Research into the herb for hay fever focused on freeze-dried stinging nettle leaves, which come in capsule form. Primary symptoms treated by the freeze-dried stinging nettle were itching and sneezing.

Considerations

Stinging nettle is a traditional antidote for hay fever symptoms. Yet limited scientific research into freeze-dried nettle leaf or other nettle preparations exists. The capsules may not provide immediate relief for stuffy noses related to hay fever, because nettle initially relieves runny noses, sneezing and itchy skin. Yet because nettle helps clear mucous from your system, nasal congestion from excess mucous may be eased by using the nettle capsules. Additionally, UMMC points out that stinging nettle contains anti-inflammatory properties, making it possible that nasal congestion caused by swollen blood vessels may also respond to freeze-dried nettle capsules. UMMC calls for more research exploring the link between hay fever symptom relief and freeze-dried stinging nettle.

Dosage

Stinging nettle for medicinal purposes comes in a range of traditional and modern applications. Teas, tinctures, extracts and creams offer nettle roots or leaves for either oral or topical use. To use stinging nettle for the relief of hay fever symptoms, the dosage found to provide relief is 300 mg twice a day. Read product labels carefully to ensure you buy nettle leaf rather than nettle root, which contains different therapeutic compounds. The safe dosage of freeze-dried nettle capsules for children is not currently known; ask your pediatrician before giving your child the herb.

Alternatives

Along with stinging nettle, butterbur and goldenseal are frequently used as herbal remedies for hay fever, according to UMMC. Other therapies that may provide relief for your stuffy nose include acupuncture, vitamin C, blue-green algae, nasal spray, allergy shots and over-the-counter antihistamines and decongestants.