Stinging nettle is a prolific perennial plant that has hairs called trichomes lining its leaves and stems. Urtica Massaica or the stinging nettle is an indigenous herbaceous plant whose leaves are eaten as a vegetable. Arthritis 4. Stinging nettle, or Urtica dioica, is a common plant that grows in the United States, Canada, and Europe.It primarily grows in damp, fertile soil. Today, the plant’s chemical compounds are under investigation as potential therapeutic agents to treat enlarged prostate, high blood pressure and a variety of inflammatory disorders, such as arthritis, allergies and eczema. Stinging nettle grows from early spring through the summer. Many times, you may come across a big patch of wild nettles in the garden and forests. There are simple remedies for nettle stings. A 2011 study from India examined the use of a stinging nettle extract in lab rats with medically induced BPH. Lana Butner, ND, LAc, is a board-certified naturopathic doctor and licensed acupuncturist in New York City. In New Zealand there are 3 species: the native ongaonga (giant tree nettle), and 2 introduced varieties. The nettle has sharp hairs on its leaves. Can Saw Palmetto Treat an Enlarged Prostate? Many topical treatments are reputed to counter the negative effects of nettle stings that range from centuries-old folk remedies to modern over-the-counter preparations. Lipophilic stinging nettle extracts possess potent anti-inflammatory activity, are not cytotoxic and may be superior to traditional tinctures for treating inflammatory disorders. Anemia 6. Even though the pain can be intense during the first few minutes, by avoiding any touching or rubbing, you may prevent the pain from lingering for days. Stinging hairs of nettles are hollow, pointed cells with a tip made of pure silica, which breaks leaving a jagged point when you brush against it. Stinging nettle capsules are usually offered in 300-milligram to 900-milligram formulations and are generally considered safe at these doses. These are the same enzymes targeted by nonsteroidal painkillers like Aleve (naproxen), Voltaren (diclofenac), and Celebrex (celecoxib). In addition to their medical properties, nettles are used for food, animal feed, and the manufacture of nettle beer popular in England. Due to the lack of safety research, stinging nettle should not be used in children, pregnant women, or nursing mothers. How do you prepare fresh stinging nettle? Stinging nettle appears to blunt this effect, reducing the amount of histamine circulating in the body. DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2012.09.016. A Web Experience brought to you by LEAFtv, University of Maryland Medical Center: Stinging Nettle. Future research will ideally focus on this. A related study conducted in 2013 reported that a 500-milligram oral dose of stinging nettle taken every eight hours for three weeks was able to lower the blood pressure and blood sugar of people with advanced type 2 diabetes. Nettles are renowned for their stinging … Ameliorative effects of stinging nettle (. Phytomedicine. Here you’ll discover the best thing for nettle stings when you’re out and about, and how to create a soothing nettle rash home remedy. If botanical identification is not your forte, try spreading mud over the area instead. In some cases, the plant would be used to make a medicinal tonic; in others, the leaves and stems were applied to the skin to treat muscle or joint pain. Rather, it suggests that stinging nettle may be useful for people on antihypertensive or antidiabetes drugs who are still having difficulty controlling their condition. This is particularly important for people who have a known allergy to bee venom since stinging nettle and certain species of bees produce formic acid as a defense mechanism. Can the Poria Mushroom Strengthen Your Immune System? Can Milk Thistle Actually Help Detox the Liver? Side effects are relatively mild. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Herbal Management of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. Lipophilic stinging nettle extracts possess potent anti-inflammatory activity, are not cytotoxic and may be superior to traditional tinctures for treating inflammatory disorders. It’s found in gardens, waste areas, near where animals live, and around moist areas such as creeks. I love nettles. In traditional Chinese medicine, stinging nettles are known as xun mao. DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0272.2011.01197.x. It is believed that the very irritants that cause the "sting" of stinging nettles can inhibit enzymes known as cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). As with the BPH studies, it is unknown what dose of stinging nettle would be needed to achieve allergy relief. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. One immediate solution is to apply the juice of the leaves of certain plants that may be neighboring the nettle, such as broad leaf plantain or dock leaf. A 2013 review in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews pointed out that studies investigating the use of stinging nettle in treating osteoarthritis were of "very low quality.". Generally, the leaves and stems are coated with hair that are silky, brittle, and hollow and contains 3 chemicals, histamine as a skin irritant, acetylcholine which causes burning sensations and serotonin. Can Beta-Sitosterol Reduce Your Risk of Heart Disease? No matter what you prefer to call it, a brush with the plant will likely be memorably unpleasant. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. Stinging nettle is a plant that grows in North America, Europe, and Africa. Stinging nettle rash occurs when the skin comes into contact with stinging nettles. The hairs are like small needles that inject chemicals on invading pests and predators or attaches to the human legs while walking by. “Physicians’ Desk Reference for Herbal Medicines”; Thomas Brendler, et al. “Stinging trees (Gympie-Gympie) are the bane of people in the Australian tropical and sub-tropical coastal areas – especially after disturbances such as cyclones, which trigger the germination of seeds. A stinging nettle is a type of herbaceous plant, which though first originated in Europe, now grows throughout most of the world. If possible, do not touch or rub the affected area for 10 minutes. Stinging nettle is an amazing wild herb that comes across as edible green and highly nutritious superfood that is widely found in nature. The best time to harvest is in the spring when the plans are no taller than a foot and are not yet blossoming. This has been evidenced in part by 2016 study in the Journal of Translational Medicine in which lab rats experienced vasodilation (the relaxing of blood vessels) when injected with a crude stinging nettle extract. These hairs act like miniature hypodermic needles, injecting you with histamine, folic acid, and other substances that cause localized redness and pain. The good news is that with a good stinging nettle remedy on hand, you’ll be back on your feet in no time. 2013;5:CD010538. Unless you are completely sure what a plant is, do not harvest it. Stinging nettle is a common weed. The best way to prevent a stinging nettle rash is to avoid stinging nettles touching the skin. Mechanisms underlying the antihypertensive properties of, Nettle extract (Urtica dioica) affects key receptors and enzymes associated with allergic rhinitis. Stinging nettle is a perennial plant with hairs or trichomes which lines the leaves and stems. Wrap fresh uncooked nettles in moist paper towels, and store them in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to four days. After 28 days of treatment, the rats experienced a reduction in prostate size similar to the effects of the prostate drug finasteride. Here are a few general guidelines that will help. Test-tube research shows that stinging nettle extracts can inhibit inflammation that can trigger seasonal allergies ( 16 ). Stinging nettle rash happens with direct contact with stinging nettles.They are rich herbal properties. While picking the nettle plants, you should be careful because some of the varieties may cause stinging on the skin and result in rashes. Stinging nettle can also amplify the effects of diuretics ("water pills") like Lasix (furosemide) and should be avoided. Stinging nettles are usually recognized by their slight hairy and serrated-edged leaves. Stinging Nettle’s has a remarkable ability to rebuild and restore. 2016;14(1):254. 2013 Jan 15;20(2):143-7. Some people will finely chop the herb to make a refreshing medicinal tea. Today, the plant’s chemical compounds are under investigation as potential therapeutic agents to treat enlarged prostate, high blood pressure and a variety of inflammatory disorders, … Plant in full sun or partial shade. It can be steamed or sautéed in the same way that chard and kale are. Histamine is a compound that triggers the body's immune response to an allergen. Plant Profile. Stinging nettle also exerts a mild diuretic effect, mainly by irritating the kidneys. Stinging nettle, or urtica dioica, is a perennial flowering plant that has been used medicinally for ages, dating back as far as Ancient Greece. Despite the positive findings, the effect was not considered robust enough to be a viable stand-alone option for either hypertension or diabetes. The roots of the plant are used in traditional medicine for the treatment of hepatic diseases and stomach aches. Johnson, T.; Sohn, J.; Inman, W. et al. Older plants tend to be tougher and have a bitter taste. 2012:44(s1):396-409. 2009 23(7):920-6. Never mind worrying about pests and disease. Avoid touching the area at first. Rarely, some people may experience a severe systemic or body-wide allergic reaction evidenced by hives or rash, difficulty breathing, dizziness and swelling of the tongue, which warrants immediate medical attention. DOI: 10.1002/ptr.2763. This can reduce your risk of exposure to pesticides and other chemical toxins. Use these stinging nettle recipes for fast relief of seasonal allergies and inflammation. Other topical remedies include a paste of baking soda and water, calamine lotion and milk of magnesia. What Are the Benefits of Eucalyptus Leaves? Alternative practitioners believe that stinging nettles can reduce pain and inflammation associated with both infectious and non-infection conditions. Fermented stinging nettle tea, both treatment and fertilizer Thanks to fermented stinging nettle tea , create your own 100% organic fertilizer and parasite repellent ! If water is not available at all, consider using your own saliva to cleanse the area until you can get to soap and water. There are no guidelines for the appropriate use of stinging needle supplements. Still, it is unclear how much stinging nettle is needed to deliver a therapeutic dose of beta-sitosterol. The effect is attributed to a plant-based compound known as beta-sitosterol, which is believed to have anti-inflammatory properties. Topical stinging nettle ointment is intended for the short-term treatment of dermatitis and other mild skin conditions. Dietary supplements are largely unregulated in the United States and not subject to rigorous testing or research. Left untreated, a severe inflammatory reaction could lead to anaphylaxis, which can be fatal. Internally, antihistamine medications block histamine from binding to histamine receptors in mast cells in the skin, which prevents an inflammatory reaction from the immune system. What Is Stinging Nettle? There are smartphone apps today like FlowerChecker, Google Goggles, and PlantSnapp that allow you to photograph a plant and confirm the general species. This plant is commonly met all over Europe and the United States and it can be used as food or as medicine. Is it safe to forage for wild stinging nettle? Discover fermented stinging nettle tea , an excellent fertilizer for plants in both gardens and vegetable patches, and an amazing pest control agent for most parasites like aphids. Guggul Extract and Its Possible Health Benefits. The stinging nettle plant is a harmless stinging plant that you must have come in contact at some point of time in your life. A number of studies have suggested that nettle can help alleviate allergies and ease symptoms like sneezing, nasal congestion, and itching. Cooking stinging nettle gets rid of the stinging hairs. Karyn is a seasoned herbalist, book author, columnist and freelance writer who specializes in holistic living and natural health. The chemicals found in the stinging hairs of nettle responsible for the pharmacological effects of the plant are histamine, acetylcholine, various leukotrienes and formic acid, the same agent found in bee venom. Green nettle or Urtica dioica is the most common type of all, together with the white dead nettle and the small nettle. In fact, after being stung by a stinging plant the pain can recur for more than two months. The researchers further asserted that other herbal remedies appear far more promising, including Arnica extract gel and Capsicum ointments and patches. It should not be used as your daily cream as it may cause rash and irritation. These conclusions were not entirely supported. Stinging nettle is extremely nutritious and it is an excellent spring tonic. If taken by mouth, you may experience stomach upset and sweating. Frozen nettles can keep for up to eight months. J Transl Med. When these chemicals penetrate the skin after contact with the plant, the local allergic reaction is referred to as urticaria. It has been used as an herbal remedy for thousands of years. Urinary tract infections 8. Ⓒ 2020 About, Inc. (Dotdash) — All rights reserved, Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Her work is regularly featured in media such as First For Women, Woman's World, and Natural Health. Roschek, B.; Fink, R.; McMichael, M. et al. The main challenge when foraging for wild nettle is ensuring that you pick the right plant. Top herbal therapies for treating osteoarthritis. They are also sometimes referred to as Chinese nettle, devil's leaf, or, simply, nettles. Cathy Wong is a nutritionist and wellness expert. Mechanisms underlying the antihypertensive properties of Urtica dioica. Stinging nettles are generally considered safe based on their traditional use as food and in folk remedies. Topical corticosteroid preparations such as hydrocortisone creams or sprays are available over-the-counter or by prescription. Another benefit of growing stinging nettle is that it actually can reduce the risk of … The stinging nettle extract appears to block histamine from reaching receptors on tissue, reducing the severity of symptoms. When investigating beta-sitosterol on its own, the effect on the prostate gland was far more clear. At the same time, stinging nettle prevents an enzyme known as tryptase from reaching mast cells. Sold in many health food stores and pharmacies, stinging nettle is available as capsules, tinctures, teas, wax-based salves, and ointment. The plant causes a slight discomfort by stinging or pricking but is widely known for its benefits. This same diuretic effect can reduce the concentration of lithium in the blood, undermining the efficacy of the drug and potentially causing a rebound of depression, bipolar, or schizophrenia symptoms. Phytother Res. There are also no known properties of this plant that actually cure the symptoms of stinging nettles, but many people believe that dock is an effective treatment to the sting of Urtica dioica . According to a 2016 review of studies in the Journal of Cancer Science and Therapy, beta-sitosterol is able to reduce prostaglandin levels that directly influence prostate inflammation, reducing the blood flow and size of the gland itself. Some of the claims are better supported by research than others. Fresh nettle leaves can be stored in the refrigerator for 2-5 days. Recognizing the plant and teaching children how to distinguish it can help avoid stinging nettle rash. There is evidence that taking a stinging nettle supplement or applying it to the skin may reduce pain in people with osteoarthritis ("wear-and-tear" arthritis). ; 2007. If stranded on a desert island, nettle would be one of my must have herbs. Can Lemon Balm Help Reduce Stress and Boost Your Health? 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