Stinging nettle is a popular herb that is used for its various health benefits.
Research shows that it may be able to help with a variety of health complaints, including: allergies (allergic rhinitis), enlarged prostate, and arthritis. It may also help to balance inflammation in the body.
In this article, we will look at the benefits of stinging nettle, its safety, and its history.
Table of Contents
What Are Stinging Nettles?
Nettle is generally regarded as a weed. It grows throughout the temperate regions of the world, particularly on nitrate-rich soil in waste places. The plant has been used extensively throughout history for a variety of applications and possesses very fine, sharp stinging hairs.
It provided a source of fiber before the general introduction of flax and has an old reputation as a spring vegetable, the young shoots being cooked and eaten like spinach (and as a remedy for scurvy).
The leaf was used as livestock fodder and the oil from nettle seed was employed as burning oil in Egypt. Nettle is currently a commercial source of chlorophyll. The leaf, root, and seeds are all used medicinally.
The British Herbal Compendium recommends nettle leaf should comprise the dried leaf or aerial parts, collected during the flowering period. Nettle root includes the root and rhizome and is mainly indicated for benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Stinging nettle can be taken as a powder, in capsules, or as a tea. In particular, nettle tea benefits the body in a number of different ways, and has a delicious taste.
Are Stinging Nettles Safe To Consume?
Yes, stinging nettles are safe to consume. However, nettle leaves must first be heated to destroy the irritating chemicals.
Nettles leaves have tiny hairs that contain chemicals that irritate the skin; these chemicals include acetylcholine, histamine, and formic acid. When nettles leaves are heated up by steaming or cooking, this destroys these chemicals and removes the potential for irritation.
It should be noted that dietary supplements that contain stinging nettle will have gone through a heating process that renders them safe and free of irritation.
Health Benefits of Stinging Nettle:
Stinging nettle has many purported health benefits. We’ve listed the top research-backed advantages below, based on our analysis.
1. May Help With Seasonal Allergies
One of the primary health benefits of stinging nettle is for allergies. In fact, stinging nettle is thought to be one of the best herbs for allergies.
It should be noted that nettle leaf benefits the body’s allergic response, other parts of the nettle plant provide different health advantages (i.e. nettle root for prostate health, etc…).
Research shows that stinging nettle leaf may have the ability to reduce symptoms caused by seasonal allergies and hay fever. In fact, it’s one of the best herbs for respiratory health due to its antiallergic effects.
Seasonal allergies, also known as allergic rhinitis, is an atopic disease that presents itself when sensitive individuals are exposed to allergens, such as pollen or pet dander.
Typical symptoms of an allergic reaction include:
- sneezing
- nasal congestion
- watery eyes
- clear rhinorrhea (clear, runny nasal mucus)
- and nasal pruritus (itchy nose and throat)
In vitro studies show that stinging nettle has the ability to stabilize mast cells. It’s thought that this stabilization effect blocks histamine receptors and stops immune cells from releasing inflammatory molecules that trigger allergic reaction symptoms.
A clinical trial with 98 participants showed that stinging nettle was rated as being more effective than placebo in treating allergic rhinitis symptoms.
Another human clinical trial showed that stinging nettle root helped to reduce nasal smear eosinophil count (a key marker used in diagnosing allergic rhinitis). While both the placebo group and the stinging nettle group experienced a decrease in total allergy symptoms, the findings were labeled as inconclusive.
The researchers noted that their research limitations for this study underscore the need for larger, longer-term studies on nettle for the treatment of allergic rhinitis.
It should also be noted that the study utilized an extract made from stinging nettle root. Typically the leaf is the part that’s utilized for stabilizing the body’s immune response.
Summary:
Stinging nettle leaf appears to be a promising natural remedy for seasonal allergies. However, long-term human clinical trials are needed to ensure the efficacy of nettles for allergies.
2. May Help With Arthritis
Human clinical studies have shown that stinging nettle can help to relieve inflammatory conditions, including arthritis.
Arthritis is an inflammatory disease of the joints. Arthritis sufferers experience a wide variety of symptoms, including joint pain and stiffness, decreased range of motion, and joint deformities. It’s estimated that over 40% of the population will develop osteoarthritis in their lifetime.
A double-blind placebo-controlled study involving 27 individuals showed that applying a stinging nettle cream onto arthritis-affected areas significantly reduced pain and improved functionality, as compared to the placebo treatment group.
Another clinical trial showed that taking a stinging nettle supplement significantly reduced arthritic pain in individuals with osteoarthritis of the knee or hip. Additionally, the researchers noted that the stinging nettle group had a decreased need for additional analgesics and NSAIDs for pain management.
Summary:
Stinging nettle appears to be a promising natural remedy for inflammation-based diseases like arthritis. However, additional long-term human clinical trials are needed to ensure the efficacy of nettles for arthritis.
3. May Support Prostate Health
Studies show that stinging nettle root benefits individuals with an enlarged prostate.
Enlarged prostate, known medically as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), is a condition in men in which the prostate gland increases in size, which can cause discomfort during urination. There is no known cause of enlarged prostate.
Research has been conducted on stinging nettles’ ability to treat BPH.
A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted with 620 individuals. The group that was given stinging nettle experienced improvements in a variety of prostate health markers, including increased urinary flow rate and decreased residual urine volume.
The researchers noted that the stinging nettle group also experienced a modest reduction in total prostate size. The nettle group also experienced no side effects.
Another clinical trial tested the effectiveness of a combination supplement containing extracts made from stinging nettle and saw palmetto fruit. The findings revealed that this supplement increased urinary flow by 19% and reduced residual urine volume by 44%.
Summary: