Stinging nettles, also known as common nettles, grow all over Europe and the United States in moist, shady spots. Many people avoid this plant because of the burning sting you get from touching the leaves. Herbalists know better. Nettles have been used for centuries because of their many healing benefits. Both the leaves and the roots may have healing properties. The benefits below all come from the use of stinging nettle leaves, unless the roots are specifically noted.
Benefits
Nettles are part of a category of herbs known as adaptogens. Stress relief, detoxifying, and hormonal regulation are just a few of the health benefits that nettles provide.
Immune Booster
Nettles contain vitamins that can help boost your immune system including vitamins A, C, and K. They also contain minerals that help the body stay healthy. Vitamins A and C support the immune system directly.
Adaptogenic Abilities
Adaptogenic herbs rejuvenate your body. Nettles are an important tonic for nourishing the body, providing vitamins and minerals and supporting the adrenal glands. Adaptogens assist your body in dealing with stress of all kinds. They help with whatever your body needs to normalize itself.
Adrenal Support
The adrenal glands are small glands that sit above your kidneys. Epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine are just two of the hormones the adrenal glands secrete. Both of these are stress hormones. Adrenal fatigue occurs when your adrenals are overworked, something that is common in today's high stress environment of too many commitments and not enough time. Symptoms of adrenal fatigue include exhaustion, lethargy, and inability to handle stress. Nettles reduce exhaustion and inability to handle stress. They are gently energizing herbs that give you a boost without the caffeine crash.
Antiseptic
Antiseptic herbs inhibit the growth of microorganisms and prevent infection. The antiseptic properties of nettles are good for preventing infection in wounds. Bathe the wound in an infusion of nettle leaf made from steeping a cup of nettle tea and cooling the liquid.
Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Arthritic
Nettles reduce inflammation and help non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs in treating arthritis, according to Dr. Josh Axe. Reducing inflammation is beneficial in treating many illnesses, including autoimmune diseases.
Nettles have also been used traditionally to help neutralize uric acid and prevent it from crystalizing. Gout (a form of arthritis) is caused by a buildup of uric acid in the body. Likewise, the anti-inflammatory properties relieve the pain and inflammation of arthritis of all types. If you sting yourself with the stinging spines of the nettle at a place on your body where you have pain, you can lessen that pain. According to Mother Earth News, this practice has been used for over 2,000 years, and it is useful for arthritis and other conditions. Nettles' ability to reduce the inflammatory chemicals in the body may be the reason for this benefit.
Hormone Regulation
One of the most studied effects of nettle root (as opposed to the leaves) is its role in regulating hormones in both women and men. The substance does this by helping the body to adapt hormonally, adding certain hormones if needed and decreasing others. This may be helpful during times of hormonal imbalance, such as menopause, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), or adrenal fatigue.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
Science is doing extensive studies into the use of nettles to treat Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia or BPH. BPH is caused by the enlargement of the prostate gland, which causes symptoms like inability to empty the bladder, constant urge to urinate, and reduced urine flow. It can develop into prostate cancer. Nettles help prevent this through their immune system support.
Menopause and Heavy Menstruation
Menopausal symptoms like late night insomnia, hot flashes, and lack of energy can benefit from nettles. They can help with other hormonal issues, as well, such as PMS and excessive blood flow due to their hormonal modulating qualities. The styptic (stopping bleeding) nature of nettles can lessen heavy or disordered menstrual flow according to Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy: Modern Herbal Medicine.
Nutrition
Nettles are packed with vitamins and minerals that can keep your body healthy. In addition to vitamins A, C, E and K, nettles are high in protein with no fat. They are high in iron and contain potassium, calcium, magnesium, and iodine, as well as other minerals.
Detox
Mild diuretic effects of nettles help remove toxins from your system and replace them with vitamins and minerals your body needs to stay healthy.
Side Effects and Cautions
There aren't many side-effects of nettles; however, some people notice sweating, stomach upset, and allergic reactions (very rare). They may interact with certain medications, so consult your healthcare practitioner prior to adding nettles to your supplements, particularly if you take any of the following medications:
- Blood thinners of any kind including aspirin - Nettles acts as a blood thinner
- Lithium - Nettles diuretic effect may decrease lithium levels
- Diabetes medications - Nettles decreases blood glucose levels and combined with medications may cause hypoglycemia
- Sedatives - Nettle in high quantities may cause drowsiness
- Warfarin (Coumadin) - Specifically because this medication slows blood clotting and nettles can increase blood clotting making the medication less effective
Nettle Facts
Want to learn more about nettles? Consider the following facts.
- The botanical name for stinging nettles is Urtica dioica.
- The plant grows in woodland areas, along creeks, and in flood plains where the soil stays moist. It can grow up to three feet tall. New shoots emerge from the roots as they spread so nettles can take over an area very quickly.
- The four-sided stems have oval leaves with serrated edges that grow opposite each other. The leaves can be as much as six inches long and are covered with hollow hairs. These hairs have the ability to inject chemicals into the skin of animals and humans when they come in contact. The chemicals irritate the skin, causing itching and burning sensations that can last for several days.
- Once the leaves are dried, they don't have the ability to sting and can be used both as food and medicine.
- Nutritionally dense, nettles have been used as cooked greens, tonics, and teas. According to Susan Weed, a well known wise woman, "Drinking a glass of cold nettle infusion pumps so much nourishment into the blood; you'll feel invigorated in just a few days."
- Some people forage nettles for dinner and use them in recipes such as nettle soup (a savory dinner soup with nettles, herbs, and rice) or nettle pesto (a twist on traditional pesto).
Nettle Folklore
There is a lot of nettles folklore out there. Here are a few of the most interesting bits from A Modern Herbal.
- Irritation from the nettle can be soothed by rubbing the skin with rosemary, mint, or sage.
- The plant fiber is similar to flax and has been used to weave cloth. It was used for this purpose during World War II in Germany and Austria when these countries ran short on cotton.
- Dried nettle added to chicken feed is supposed to increase egg yield.
- Hang a bunch of stinging nettle in the pantry to keep away flies. Supposedly they can't stand the smell.
- You can make a natural green or yellow dye from nettles.
Common Nettles May Be Good Weeds
A weed is any plant you don't want growing in your garden. That said, nettles may not be the unwanted weeds you always thought they were. With a little care and some imagination, you can use these hardworking plants for food, medicine, and tea.
