Stinging Nettle
Nettle is a deeply nutritive alterative and tonic herb that supports the blood, kidneys, endocrine system, immune system, and connective tissues. The leaves reduce allergic inflammation, nourish the blood, modulate blood sugar, and strengthen bones and tissues; the roots support prostate health; and the seeds act as a kidney trophorestorative.
Urtica comes from Latin for “to sting,” referring to its stinging hairs, while dioica means “two houses,” describing its separate male and female plants. “Nettle” originates from Germanic terms related to “needle,” referencing the sharp sting of its hairs.
Nettle leaf reduces allergic responses, allergic rhinitis, food sensitivities, and congestion from sinus or lung infections. It decreases wheezing, coughing, and mucous membrane inflammation. Long-term consumption slows rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis progression and reduces edema, water retention, pregnancy-related swelling, and mild cardiac edema. As a diuretic, it enhances kidney elimination of sodium, uric acid, and metabolic byproducts, prevents kidney stone formation, and strengthens bladder tone.
The leaves help reduce passive bleeding, excessive menstrual bleeding, spotting, and minor blood in sputum, urine, or stool. They soothe gastrointestinal inflammation, diarrhea, ulcerative colitis, and hemorrhoids. Highly nutritive, nettle treats iron deficiency anemia, stabilizes blood sugar, reduces sugar cravings, improves connective tissue integrity, prevents osteoporosis, strengthens teeth, supports healing of fractures, sprains, torn tendons, and postoperative tissue recovery. Nettle supports lung tissue healing after respiratory infections and is beneficial for chronic UTIs, gout, eczema, psoriasis, and chronic immune conditions. It increases breast milk production and improves hair health; topical use eases arthritis, tendonitis, sciatica, neuralgia, and lumbago.
Nettle root reduces prostate enlargement in BPH, improving urinary flow and reducing frequency and residual urine.
Nettle seed restores kidney function in chronic nephritis, glomerulonephritis, and medication-induced kidney stress, lowering elevated serum creatinine.
Nettle has been used across Europe and the Americas as food and medicine. Fresh leaves were added to soups, and in Scotland to puddings with leeks and broccoli. Nettle–dandelion–cleavers beer was a folk remedy for arthritis and gout. Decoctions were used to curdle milk, and Roman soldiers rubbed nettle on their limbs to stimulate circulation in cold climates. Indigenous peoples fumigated sweat lodges with nettle for flu or pneumonia and used it to relax birthing muscles. Nettle fiber was historically used for cordage, cloth, paper, twine, sailcloth, and dye. It was also used for livestock health.
A tall herbaceous perennial (1–3 m) with rhizomatous growth. Stems are weak but contain strong bast fibers and are covered in stinging hairs. Leaves are opposite, dark green, serrate, 3–15 cm long, narrowly lanceolate to ovate, with prominent veins and stipules. Flowers are tiny, green, unisexual, and apetalous, borne in dense axillary clusters. Male flowers carry four stamens; female flowers have a superior ovary surrounded by enlarged sepals. The fruit is an ovate achene.
May cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals; avoid with a history of anaphylaxis. Contact dermatitis is possible. Avoid use in cases of obstructive urinary stones, edema from heart or kidney failure, or kidney inflammation. Leaf may be overly drying for yin-deficient individuals.
Tincture:
Glycerite:
30–60 drops 3× daily
Acetum (Vinegar Extract):
1 tsp 1–3× daily before meals
Tea:
Christina Sinadinos, David Hoffman, Bryan Bowen, all relevant CHSHS lectures.