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Agrimony Glossary |
Nettle |
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Urtica dioica
Nettles are a cornucopia of vitamins, minerals and the list of uses is almost endless. From ancient Greece to the present, nettle has been documented for its use in treating coughs, tuberculosis, and arthritis, and in stimulating hair growth. When the Romans invaded Europe and Britain, they brought nettles with them, believing they would need them to beat themselves to keep warm. They were also used in this way on areas affected by arthritis or rheumatism. The young leaves may be eaten as a "green, leafy vegetable" and are a good source of minerals. The tough fibres from the stalks were used to make cloth, rope, fishing nets and whatever else needed to be sewn before flax and hemp came along. Many remarkable healing properties have been attributed to nettles, including prevention of baldness, allergic rhinitis and rheumatic pain. However, the nettle root is recommended as a diuretic and, relatively recently for relief of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
An infusion of nettles and red clover, mixed in equal proportions, helps cleanse the blood and is useful in treating acne. A compress soaked in nettle tea may be applied to arthritic joints, tendonitis, sprains and sciatica to relieve pain. Because of its astringency, nettles may be made into an ointment for hemorrhoids. Powdered nettle leaves may be inhaled like snuff to stop nosebleeds. The juice from the whole fresh plant may be used to antidote the sting and as a tonic for debilitated conditions or for a weak heart with fluid retention. DISCLAIMER: This page is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for accurate diagnosis and treatment by a qualified health care professional. The author is neither a chemist nor an herbalist and has had no medical training whatsoever. The content herein is the product of research, not practical experience. |
The
Latin root of Urtica is uro, meaning “I burn,”
indicative of the small stings caused by the little hairs on the leaves
of this plant that burn when contact is made with the skin. 
Nettles
have a cooling energy, and are drying and astringent. The aerial parts
may be used as an astringent, diuretic, expectorant, haemostatic (stop
bleeding), circulatory stimulant, nutritive tonic, improve milk flow for
nursing, lower blood sugar levels, treat gout and arthritis, and prevent
scurvy. The combination of iron and vitamin C is useful in treating
anemia, because the vitamin C improves iron absorption from the GI
tract. When boiled, they have also been used as a green dye. The
root is used in combination with other herbs such as saw palmetto and
pygeum to relieve symptoms of BPH. It has also been used as a
conditioner for dandruff and hair loss. When mixed with salt and boiled
it produces a yellow dye. Nettles are also helpful in relieving the
symptoms of hay fever and other allergic reactions that produce
increased congestion in the sinuses. The mineral content makes nettles
helpful for goiter, osteoporosis, muscle cramps, high blood pressure and
malabsorption syndrome. Almost any condition that requires improved
mineral balance will benefit from nettles.