The Complete Medicinal Herbal: A Practical Guide to the Healing Properties of Herbs

Urtica dioica

Stinging nettle

Tradition has it that Caesar’s troops introduced the Roman nettle (U. pilulifera) into Britain because they expected the climate to be so cold that they would need to whip themselves with nettles to keep warm. “Urtication”, or beating with nettles, is a standard folk remedy for arthritis and rheumatism still sometimes recommended today. Perennial stinging nettles (U. dioica) are still used medicinally and make good cleansing spring tonics and a nourishing vegetable if gathered when the leaves are young.

Character: Cool and dry with an astringent, slightly bitter taste.

Constituents: Histamine, formic acid, acetylcholine, serotonin, glucoquinones, many minerals (inc. silica), vitamins A, B & C, tannins.

Actions: Astringent, diuretic, tonic, nutritive, hemostatic, circulatory stimulant, galactagogue, hypoglycemic, antiscorbutic.

PARTS USED

AERIAL PARTS

Nettles “rob the soil,” making them rich in vitamins and minerals, including iron, so a good tonic for anemia. The high vitamin C content also ensures that the iron is properly absorbed. They help clear uric acid from the system so are good for gout and arthritis, while the astringency makes them valuable in stopping bleeding. Nettles “sting” because of histamine and formic acid in the hairs, which trigger an allergic response. Harvest (with care) while flowering.

ROOT

Traditionally used as a conditioner for falling hair and dandruff. Recent research has confirmed that it is also effective in controlling benign prostate enlargement.

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APPLICATIONS

Aerial parts

Juice: The juice from the whole fresh plant makes a good tonic for debilitated conditions and anemia. It can also be used for nettle stings. The fresh juice is also diuretic and is used for cardiac insufficiency with edema.

Infusion: Use the young fresh shoots to make a spring tonic. A standard infusion can be used to stimulate the circulation and cleanse the system in arthritis, rheumatism, gout, and eczema. Also to increase milk flow in nursing mothers.

Tincture: Used in combinations with relevant herbs for arthritic disorders, skin problems or heavy uterine bleeding.

Wash: For burns, insect bites, wounds.

Compress: A pad soaked in the tincture can be applied to painful arthritic joints and used for gout, neuralgia, sprains, tendonitis, and sciatica.

Ointment: For hemorrhoids (piles).

Powder: The powdered leaves can be inhaled as snuff for nosebleeds.

Root

Hair rinse: A decoction can be used for dandruff, falling hair, and as a general conditioner.

Decoction: Use with saw palmetto for benign prostate enlargement.



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