#common nettle

Scientific Names: Urtica dioica, Urtica urens Other Common Names: Common nettle, greater nettle, nettles Overall Safety: 😐

Therapeutic Efficacy and Considerations:

Osteoarthritis: 🙁 Preliminary studies suggest the topical use of whole leaf for arthritis may have some benefit, but current evidence is not strong enough to support use. In addition, the adverse event profile and difficulties in properly handling, obtaining, and preparing the leaves, mean that the risks outweigh possible benefits at this time. Use is not recommended. General dosing is topical application of whole leaves to painful areas daily as needed.

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: 😐 Although several controlled studies exist, evidence available in English is limited to two case studies that demonstrated positive improvements in symptoms, but no effect on prostate volume. Although more studies are warranted, use for this indication cannot be recommended at this time. Stinging nettle is often used in combination products for BPH along with herbs with firm evidence for efficacy; as stinging nettle is generally well tolerated, especially in low doses, use of these products does not have to be discouraged. Usually given as 600-1200 mg of a 5:1 root extract daily OR 4-6 g root daily as a tea.

Allergic Rhinitis: 🙁 Current evidence does not support use for this indication. Normal dose is 300 mg extract (above ground parts) three times a day. Up to 300 mg seven times daily has been used.

Chemistry/Pharmacology:

Root: Extracts competitively inhibit the binding capacity of sex hormone binding globulin and inhibit aromatase and 5-α-reductase. Inflammation mediators are affected and weak anti-inflammatory activity may be present.

Leaves: Leaves contain beta-sitosterol and multiple flavonoids such as quercetin, is thought to be a mast-cell stabilizer and have anti-inflammatory properties. The nettle leaf hairs contain histamine, serotonin, and acetylcholine, and all which may cause local irritation, although the leaves seem to have local anesthetic properties. Leaves contain high amounts of vitamin C, carotene, vitamin K, potassium, and calcium, and have some diuretic activity.

Drug Interactions: The leaves may interact with WARFARIN (due to vitamin K content), hypoglycemic agents, antihypertensives, and CNS depressants with above ground parts. Root: 5-α-reductase inhibitors or hormonal therapies.

Contraindications/Precautions: The root is contraindicated during pregnancy due to 5-alpha reductase inhibition. The leaves should be used with great caution or not at all during pregnancy and lactation. Topical preparations may cause allergic reactions.

Puccinia urticata on Urtica dioica

It’s hard to walk by banks covered in common nettle without noticing this fiery and gruesome rust fungus taking hold of and deforming the plant’s limbs. 

It’s best described as a species complex with a life cycle which might alternate between two hosts- in the British Isles often a nettle (U. dioica or U. urens) and a sedge (mostly Carex sp.), but its ‘sub-species’ can also be found on Aster and Ribes.      

I made a flower bouquet out of wood anemone, lungwort and other stuff.

Some wood anemone leaves to dry out so I can smok -

In the language of flowers, there is a designated flower for each day. Today, October 31, that flower is Common Nettle, which signifies spitefulness. Image above from Wikipedia. Urtica dioica, often known as Common Nettle or stinging nettle (although not all plants of this species sting) was originally native to Europe, but is now found worldwide. Common Nettle has a long history of use as a…