Stinging Nettle

Stinging Nettle is either seen as a bothersome weed or a herbal treasure. Back in the day- 1532 to be exact- Hieronymus Bock writes in his herbal “Our doctors and pharmacists are ashamed of going out and fetching some common weed from behind the fence to include in their formulas, even though in both cookery and medicine it has proven it’s mighty and impressive effects.” . Herbalism teaches us that power and healing can be found in the most humble and grumpy of plants and that power is to be respected, even if it does fit the botanical professional aesthetic. Nettles can be found worldwide having about 2600 species. The most common is Urtica dioica which is an invasive European stinging nettle and the most sustainable to harvest. Nettle grows most abundantly in areas with high annual rainfall and prefers nitrogen-rich soil in the under-stories along the edges of meadows and open rich forests. The Sting of the Nettle is a botanical wonder. It’s hairs or trichomes break upon contact and form into small biological glass needles filled with a stinging hormonal cocktail of histamine, acetylcholine, serotonin, and formic acid. The antidote is ironically the juice of the nettle leaves which heal its own sting. 

Botanical Names: Urtica dioica 

Family: Urticaceae

Parts Used: Leaf and Root (sometimes seed)

Therapeutic Category: Mild remedy with minimal chronic toxicity

Constituents:
Leaf: Flavonoids, minerals (potassium, silicilic acid, calcium), coumarins, tannins, glucoquinone, mucilage, glycosides, phenolic acids, phytosterols, biogenic amines (histamine, serotonin, acetylcholine), chlorophylls, carotenoids.

Root: Phytosterols (β-sitosterol, β-sitosteoline+ β-sitosterol-glucoside ect.), coumarins, lignans, lectin (UDA= urtica dioica agglutinin), polysaccharides, triterpenes, minerals, ceramides.

Taste: Mineral dense, earthy, slightly bitter, alkaline, gritty. 

Energetics: Astringent, somewhat sweet and salty, neutral to cool, dry, nourishing, restoring, stabilizing, dissolving

Actions: Nutrient dense, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory (in large part due to phenolic acid derivatives), diuretic (due to potassium salts), blood trophorestorative, hemostatic, astringent, refrigerant, local anesthetic, anti-diarrheal, hemostatic. Nettle Root is a powerful immunomodulant due to its ability to inhibit the biosynthesis of DHT in prostatic tissue as well as binding to the receptors. 

Tropism: Blood, Fluids, lungs, intestines, spleen, liver, kidneys, bladder, uterus, connective tissue. 

Preparations and Dosage:

Preparation note: Juice of the entire Nettle herb is the most effective and nutrient dense preparation and brings out the entire range of its actions.

 Nettle Root and Nettle Seed are remedies that should be considered separate from the aerial parts of the plant. Nettle Root is mostly used as a decongestant for the prostate or androgen excessive conditions. It works as an astringent, anti-diarrheal, mucostatic, detoxicant, and dissolvent for cold, damp conditions in the urinary or reproductive systems. Nettle Seed is used as a general restorative for weak deficiency conditions of all types. The presence of phytohormones and fatty oil makes it specifically a thyroid stimulant in a functional  hypothyroidism and immune stimulant for toxic insect bites or the ingestion of a poisonous plant.

Dosage:

Nettle Leaf:
Long Infusion: 10-20g
Tincture: 4-6 ml at 1:3 strength in 30% ethanol

Nettle Root:
Decoction: 4-10 g
Tincture: 1- 4 ml at 1:3 strength in 30% ethanol

Nettle Seed:
Short Decoction: 3-8 g
Tincture: 1-3 g at 1:3 strength in 30% ethanol

Cautions and Contraindications:

No reports of contraindication, however a flushing out treatment is contraindicated in cases of obstructive stones or edema due to kidney issues. Before using nettle root for hormonal or BPH issues, you should always consult a health professional. In rare cases, mild gastrointestinal discomfort is present.

Topical Preparation use:

Nettle leaf can be used externally as an alcoholic liniment prepared with fresh herb to aid in rheumatic and neuralgic pains. Washes and compresses can also be used for degenerative and arthritic musculoskeletal conditions for pain relief and deep level treatments. 

Wet cotton, drops, or irrigation with fresh juice has also been used to treat nosebleeds. Nettle Root has also been used as hair rinse for hair loss or weak hair by creating a diluted herbal vinegar decoction with Rosemary and/or Birch leaf.

Nettle can also be infused in skin ointments or lotions alongside Calendula, Burdock, and Figwort for a general dermal remedy. 

Many have also reported that stinging oneself with the fresh plant around stiff or painful joints can bring relief due to the anti-histamine action, serotonin, and blood rush to the area. Medicine for masochists. 

Nutrition:

Stinging Nettle is extremely nutrient dense, high in protein, and packed with Vitamins A, C and K, as well as several B vitamins, calcium, non-heme iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and sodium, fats such as linoleic acid, linolenic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid and oleic acid, all of the essential amino acids and phytonutrients such as polyphenols, chlorophyll, and pigments. 

Nettles Relationship to Hormone Regulation

For most healthy individuals, High levels of estrogen and testosterone are damaging only after they have become bound to Sex Hormones Binding Globulin (SHBG). Once estrogen or testosterone have become bound to SHBG, they begin the process of being converted into harmful estrogen metabolites, like estradiol. By keeping these sex hormones free, the rates of conversion to harmful metabolites are decreased. Nettle Root has the unique ability to optimize functions of the endocrine system and hormones specifically related to reproductive health. In females, Nettle Root works by blocking SHBG which has an affinity for all sex hormones, and keeping levels of free estrogen is important. For men, Nettle Root even works to unbind testosterone which has already become bound by SHBG, further increasing levels of important free testosterone and further decreasing the conversion to estrogen metabolites.

Nettles Relationship to Blood

Nettle is an excellent blood trophorestorative due largely to it’s high nutrient content. It stimulates production of red blood cells which replenishes the blood and enhances and regulates metabolic function. This is also beneficial for stagnant or absent periods. In my personal experience, a infusion of stinging nettle sipped throughout the day during menstruation helps my own PMS symptoms including pain, irritability, and overall quickens the pace of my flow.

Nettles Relationship to Allergies and Respiration

The Leaves and stems of stinging nettle have the ability to treat seasonal allergies in some cases due to its anti-inflammatory effects as well as it’s phytonutrient content. The best preparation for this seems to be a syrup made with Mullein flower, Elecampane root and Coltsfoot. Smoking the dried herb in small puffs may also bring asthmatic relief.