|  | Diet Nutrition | Nutritional Supplements

Nettle Tips

The leaves, stems and roots of the herb stinging nettle have been used since medieval times to treat many medical issues. According to Steven D. Ehrlich, N.M.D., who specializes in alternative medicine, studies have been done that demonstrate the effectiveness of nettle in the treatment of a variety of issues.

  1. Preparation

    • Stinging nettle leaves or roots are used to make tea, extract, tinctures and creams. For tea, 3 or 4 tsp. of dried leaves or dried root is steeped in 2/3 cup of boiling water for three to five minutes. Tea is also made with fresh leaves through infusion. When making tea with fresh leaves, remember that the prickly leaves sting if you touch them. To treat medical issues, drink three or four cups of tea per day. Treatments call for 2 to 4 g of dried nettle leaf three times a day, 1.5 ml of root extract three or four times a day, 2 to 5 ml of leaf extract three times a day or 1 to 4 ml of root tincture three to four times a day.

    Medical Uses

    • For centuries, people have used stinging nettle for muscle and joint pain, arthritis, gout, anemia and eczema. Today it is commonly used to treat urinary problems during times when the prostate is enlarged. Ehrlich recommends that, before using nettle for the prostate, a diagnosis should be sought to make sure the cause of the problem is not prostate cancer. Nettle is also used to treat urinary tract infections and hay fever. The cream is used for sprains, strains, tendinitis and even insect bites. Stinging nettle should be used with lots of fluid due to its diuretic quality.

    Studies

    • Studies of nettle uses for prostate indicate it is more successful in combination with other herbs, such as saw palmetto. Nettle root is comparable to prostate medicine in treating symptoms, but it does not reduce the size of the prostate. Studies are not conclusive about the use of nettle for treatment of osteoarthritis, but it has been used historically for many forms of arthritis. Studies have shown taking nettle in combination with NSAIDs allowed patients to reduce NSAID use. Some animal studies have indicated that nettle lowers blood sugar and blood pressure; there is not sufficient evidence, Ehrlich states, of the same being true for humans.

    Side Effects

    • Although nettle is considered safe, it can cause mild stomach upset, fluid retention, hives or rash. It can also trigger other side effects when used with some herbs. Nettle should not be used by pregnant women. Because it affects the blood's ability to clot, nettle also should not be used by people who are on blood-thinning drugs such as Warfarin, Plavix and aspirin. It also should not be taken with drugs for high blood pressure, such as ACE inhibitors or beta blockers. Since it acts as a diuretic, nettle should not be taken by people who are on water pills.

Nutritional Supplements - Related Articles