Herbal Uses for Nettles

Stinging nettle, or urtica dioica, has many interesting effects on the human body. The plant's herb, leaf and root are used internally for urinary disorders and externally for rheumatic ailments. Nettle also is recognized for its astringent and diuretic properties, according to Applied Health. Nettle contains vitamin B1 and its young leaves often are eaten in salads or stews.

Theory

• Complex sugars, or polysaccharides, and lectins are the active components in the nettle plant, while the chemicals released by the leaf spines have anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. The flavonoids in nettles are thought to have antihistamine effects.

Anti-Inflammatory

• When nettle is applied to the skin, it prevents the body from creating prostaglandins, which are inflammatory chemicals. The fine hairs on the nettle's stems and leaves contain irritating chemicals that are released when the plant comes into contact with the skin. The nettle's hairs, also called spines, are very painful if you touch them; however, they can reduce muscle and joint pain, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Urinary Problems

• Stinging nettle prompts the secretion of uric acid, stimulates bladder and kidney function, and helps with digestion and blood circulation. It often is used to treat those who are suffering from urinary problems as a result of an enlarged prostate. While it helps sufferers with symptoms, it does not reduce the size of the prostate as well as the drug finasteride does.

  Doctors and scientists don't know why nettle works. It may be that nettle contains chemicals that alter testosterone and estrogen levels or that it works directly on the cells in the prostate.

Other Benefits

• Nettle has long been used to combat gout, anemia, arthritis and eczema. It also is used to treat hay fever, tendonitis, strains and sprains, and insect bites. Nettle may reduce the amount of histamine that your body creates in response to an allergen.

Caution

• If you use nettle for a long time, the diuretic properties may alter laboratory results on electrolyte, potassium, blood urea nitrogen, sodium, uric acid, protein bound iodine and glucose levels.

  Do not topically apply nettle if you are taking an acne medication that contains vitamin A or retinoic acid because this can adversely affect your skin, according to Applied Health.