Latin Name: Urtica dioica
Family: Urticaceae
Part used: Fresh or dried leaf, seed or root.
Energetics: Astringent, bitter, cooling, salty.
Iris: All types.
Interactions: Please check with your Healthcare Provider.
Safe alongside Herb
- Glipizide
- Ibuprofen
- Meloxicam
CONTRA-INDICATIONS
Known allergic hypersensitivity.
ACTIONS
- Strengthens natural resistance
- Remineraliser
- Anti-rheumatic
- Eliminates uric acid
- Nutritive
- Anti-fungal
- Anti-bacterial
- Anti-allergic
- Anti-histamine
- Anti-lithic
- Anti-viral
- Anti-neoplastic
- Prostatic tonic
- Rubefacient
- Blood tonic
- Hypoglycaemic
- Adaptogen
- Antiseptic
- Astringent tonic
- Diuretic
- Expectorant
- Vasodilator
- Hypotensive
- Galactagogue
- Splenic
- Circulatory stimulant
- Amphoteric to breast milk
Main Constituents
- Chlorophyll
- Lignans (inhibit 5 alpha reductase)
- Linoleic acid (83% in seed)
- Serotonin
- Histamine
- Vitamins: A, B,C, E
- Carotenoids
- Silica
- Iron
- Calcium
- Ch
- Selenium
- Zinc
- Potassium
Main Uses
Digestive System: Diarrhoea, Feeble digestion due to low HCL
Integumentary: Promotes hair growth, Wounds, Nettle rash, Urticaria, Dandruff
Circulatory: Iron-deficiency anaemia, Diabetes
Musculo-Skeletal System: Backache, Gout, RA, OA
Endocrine: Menorrhagia
Immune System: Splenic disorders
Respiratory System: Nosebleeds, Allergic rhinitis, Asthma, Respiratory allergies
Reproductive System: Inflammation of the prostate, Pregnancy (combine with Raspberry for iron and calcium), Women desiring ample bust
Urinary System: Cystitis, Eliminates urates, Calculi
Infections:
Bacteria: Bacillus, Clostridium, Enterococcus, E. coli, Klebsiella, Mycobacteria, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus Spp., Streptococcus Spp., Vibrio cholerae.
Fungi: Candida
Viruses: Cytomegalovirus, HIV, Herpes zoster.
More About Nettle
Stinging Nettle has excellent blood building effects, which is due to its trace minerals, chlorophyll and the enzyme secretin, which causes an increase in red blood cells.
It can help in cases of uterine blood deficiency and stagnation, and its qualities are cleansing, digestive and stimulatory to the urinary tract.
Nettle root is often combined with other prostatic herbs such as Saw palmetto to reduce inflammation in the prostate gland. It has a very balancing effect on all the bodily fluids, whether they are in excess or deficient.
Nettle appears to be a troublesome weed yet has such amazing qualities that lend itself to being a high class healing herb. It combines well with most of the herbs but particularly Cleavers (Galium aparine), and both can be drunk together as a tea, after a long Winter to clear the sluggishness of the lymphatic system.
Nettle is often overlooked as an adaptogen but is incredibly supportive to the adrenal glands, helping to support energy and also blood sugar balance.
Recipes:
Nettle Pesto Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 large bowl Nettle leaves
- Olive oil
- 3-4 large Garlic cloves
- Approx. 31g of Parmesan cheese
- Approx. 31g of Sunflower seeds (substitute pine nuts, almonds, pistachios, etc.)
- Salt and Pepper, to taste
Method:
- Garble (remove the stems from) fresh nettle leaves. Gently wipe or wash to remove grass or dirt.
- Gently boil the nettle leaves for at least 5 minutes.
- Strain and add to a food processor or high powered blender, with the sunflower seeds (or nut of choice), garlic, cheese, salt, and pepper.
- Pulse the ingredients in the blender a couple of times very briefly. Then turn on a low-blending setting and slowly drizzle olive oil from the top opening of the food processor.
- Stop once everything comes together. Check for the consistency. You want it to be a spreadable sauce.
- Pulse again and add more olive oil if necessary.
- Serve with fresh vegetables, over pasta, on toast, on chicken or fish, or use for pizza sauce.
Don’t waste the nettle cooking water (tea)! Either drink it yourself, all of those vitamins and minerals are in the water, or water your plants with it!
References
Acute myeloid leukemia, apoptosis,
Nettle Tea Inhibits Growth of Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells In Vitro by Promoting Apoptosis.
Furthermore, the chemical composition of UD aqueous extract indicated the presence of multiple chemical agents, such as flavonoids and phenolics, mainly patuletin, m/p-hydroxybenzoic acid, and caffeic acid, among others, to which the pro-apoptotic and anti-tumor effects may be attributed.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32872275/
Type 2 diabetes, fasting blood sugar
The effect of nettle (Urtica dioica) supplementation on the glycemic control of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
The findings of the present study suggest that nettle supplementation may be effective in controlling FBS for T2DM patients.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31802554/
Type 2 diabetes, blood levels, glycemic control
Improved glycemic control in patients with advanced type 2 diabetes mellitus taking Urtica dioica leaf extract: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial
At the endpoint, the extract lowered the blood levels of fasting glucose, 2 hours postprandial glucose, and HbA1c significantly. Nettle may safely improve glycemic control in type 2 diabetic patients needing insulin therapy.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24273930/
Metabolic syndrome, anti-hyperlipidemic, antioxidant, cholesterol, anti-diabetic effects
A review of the effects of Urtica dioica (nettle) in metabolic syndrome.
Antihyperlipidemic properties of nettle are mediated by inhibition of HMGCoA reductase and amelioration of lipid peroxidation via antioxidant effects. Also, one of the flavonoids in nettle, quercetin, is responsible for decreasing total cholesterol. Moreover, nettle is responsible for anti-diabetic effects through processes such as increasing insulin secretion and proliferation of pancreatic β-cells.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35911652/
Antimicrobial, gram-negative bacteria, antioxidant
Phenolic Profile, Antioxidant Capacity and Antimicrobial Activity of Nettle Leaves Extracts Obtained by Advanced Extraction Techniques.
PLE nettle extract showed antimicrobial activity against bacteria, especially against Gram-negative Pseudomonas fragi ATCC 4973 and Campylobacter jejuni NCTC 11168 strains. This suggests that PLE is suitable for obtaining a nettle extract with antioxidant and antimicrobial potential.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34684733/