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Nutrition in Nettle

Nettle, or Urtica dioica, has been used in medicinal settings since medieval European times to treat joint pain and rid the body of excess water. Though nettle has fine hairs on the leaves and stems that can irritate the skin, when those hairs contact a painful body area, they can reduce the amount of pain felt.

  1. Plant Description and Nutritional Composition

    • Nettle can grow in any place in the world as long as it has nitrogen-rich soil. It will bloom between June and September and will usually reach two to four feet in height. The stems of the nettle plant are upright and the leaves are heart shaped. Most of the tiny hairs on the plant are found on the underside of the leaves and stem. Nettle products used for nutritional uses are made from the leaves, stems and sometimes the root. It's available in capsule, freeze-dried leaf, dried leaf and extract forms.

    Nutritional Uses

    • Nettle has been taken to treat three conditions: Benigh Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), Osteoarthritis and Hay Fever. BPH is a condition that is marked by an enlarged prostate, and nettle has helped relieve symptoms such as reduced urinary flow and post urination dripping in these individuals. Scientists believe nettle reduces these symptoms by affecting certain hormones or by acting directly on prostate cells. In Osteoarthritis patients, the stems and leaves of the nettle have been placed on a joint area to treat arthritis and sore muscles. Nettle capsules have been taken by those who suffer from hay fever, and these capsules have reduced sneezing and itching. Scientists believe the nettle works in hay fever patients by reducing the amount of histamine in the body.

    Taking Nettle

    • There has not been enough research into the effects of nettle on children, so speak to your doctor before giving nettle to your child. Adults can take nettle in five different ways. As a tea, pour 2/3 cup of boiling water over 3 teaspoons of dried nettle leaves and drink 3 cups of it a day. When taking just the dried leaf, eat 2 - 4 grams of it three times a day. As a fluid root extract, take 1.5 mL of it three to four times a day; as a fluid leaf extract, take 2 - 5 mL of it three times a day. As a tincture root, take 1 - 4 mL of it three times a day.

    Precautions

    • Though nettle has been used for centuries as a nutritional supplement to treat a number of different conditions, it can trigger side effects. Speak with your doctor before you begin taking it. The occasional side effects that have been observed include hives, mild stomach upset and fluid retention. Nettle may also alter a woman's menstrual cycle and cause miscarriage, so don't use it if you are pregnant. You should also avoid taking nettle if you are taking blood-thinners, drugs for high blood pressure, diuretics, drugs for diabetes or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

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