Amazing benefits of Nettle

Nettle is a two- to three-foot-tall plant with an erect stem and serrated dark green leaves. Nettle blossoms are modest and unassuming.

International botanists have named nettle Urtica dioica L. The herb belongs to the Urticaceae family.

There are various subspecies of this plant, and the American version differs from the typical European subspecies known as Urtica dioica. The European plant bears both male and female flowers; it is dioecious.

Some botanists consider the U. dioica subspecies - gracilis variations as separate species, despite their similarity to nettle.

North America features four species of Urtica, two subspecies, and six variations; all of them have stinging hairs, which is why the plant is commonly called nettle. After accidentally touching these stinging hairs, people often give the plant unflattering names.

In traditional herbal medicine, the entire herb is used in remedy preparations, and the entire plant is typically collected just before the flowering season. This herb has a long history in popular folk medicine worldwide, primarily as a specific herbal remedy for treating asthma in patients.

Nettle herbal medicines have been used as expectorants, antispasmodics, diuretics, astringents, and herbal tonics.

Topical therapies based on nettle encourage hair growth in individuals experiencing hair loss by applying the herb's fresh juice directly to the scalp. Placing nettle leaves directly on affected areas of the body is a common practice in herbal medicine.

Roman troops, facing the harsh weather and environment of occupied Britain, used the irritation caused by nettle leaves to warm their legs during winter.

Young and first-growth nettle tops are believed to be quite delicious when fried. Several recipes feature nettle as the main ingredient, including nettle pudding and nettle beer.

Scientists have conducted various chemical investigations on nettle and have identified more than 20 major chemical components. Some of these can be utilized for internal herbal medication, though not all.

Despite the localized skin irritation caused by the stinging hairs upon contact with human skin, there is no solid evidence to support claims that nettles are beneficial in treating rheumatism or baldness.

The chemicals found in stinging hairs, believed to be responsible for the intense and irritating effects, include histamine, acetylcholine, and 5-hydroxytryptamine.

The identity of the chemical compounds is challenged by other research on closely related and much more toxic Laportea plants. Therefore, further examination is needed to determine the real identity of the compounds causing irritation and pain upon contact.

Nettle's high chlorophyll content makes it a commercially viable source for herbal chlorophyll extraction. Young nettle stalks are edible and used in preparing herbal meals.

Their levels of essential chemicals are substantial, and the shoots can provide the same amounts of carotene, pro-vitamin A, and vitamin C as spinach or similar greens.

Traditionally, herbalists have recognized the potent diuretic qualities of nettle leaves, and various pharmaceutical preparations in Europe incorporate the leaves. This diuretic action of the leaves is a well-established property of nettle.

In recent years, nettle root extract has gained popularity in Europe for treating urinary retention caused by benign prostatic hypertrophy.

The effectiveness of nettle extract in this role is supported by clinical evidence, including eight open-ended observational trials with two placebo controls conducted on different individuals.

Due to these confirmed results, nettle has obtained permission from German health authorities and is commonly used there.

Additional scientific research is needed to study other traditional medical uses of nettle, including its ability to relieve urinary retention.

As an edible plant, nettles are rich in vitamins and minerals, including iron, silica, and potassium.

This high mineral and vitamin content may explain why nettles have been used for generations to prepare nourishing tonics for individuals dealing with physical weakness, debilitation, convalescence, and anemia.

Detoxification of the body is another significant benefit of nettles. By stimulating the bladder and kidneys, nettles assist in cleansing the body of toxins and rapidly eliminating metabolic waste.

Nettle herbal therapies are used to treat fluid retention, bladder infections, and kidney stones and gravel.

Nettle herbal remedies aid in the excretion of uric acid, making the plant an effective treatment for gout, severe arthritis, and various skin disorders.