Stinging Nettle: Benefits, Uses and Preparation

Dr. Boris Wydoff

Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) is a perennial herbaceous plant with stinging hairs on its leaves and stem. According to phytotherapy reference books, its leaves contain vitamins, carotene, chlorophyll, minerals, and other compounds. Herbal references traditionally describe the plant as a vitamin-rich and hemostatic herbal remedy.

What is this plant and how can you recognize it?

Stinging nettle belongs to the nettle family. It is a perennial plant with a tall, upright stem. The stem is usually unbranched, has a blunt four-sided shape, and is covered with stinging hairs. Underground there is a creeping, branched rhizome.

The leaves are arranged opposite each other. They grow on stalks. The leaf blade may be ovate-heart-shaped or broadly lance-shaped. Its base is heart-shaped, while the tip is long and pointed. The edges are coarsely serrated. The surface has both stinging and ordinary hairs.

According to plant identification guides, the leaves are dark green. Noticeable whitish, coarse hairs lie close to the leaf blade. This feature helps distinguish the plant from similar species, such as white dead-nettle.

The flowers are small, green, and inconspicuous. They are gathered in clusters that form inflorescences. The flowers are unisexual. The fruit is a small, light-gray, single-seeded nutlet. Flowering is reported from June to September.

Fresh nettle causes a burning sensation when touched. This is caused by the stinging hairs. They break off easily and release their contents, causing local skin irritation. Therefore, gloves are used when harvesting the plant.

Where does stinging nettle grow?

The plant is often found in places associated with human activity: near homes, fences, and roadsides. It prefers nitrogen-rich soils. It is also found in forest clearings and along riverbanks. The plant is widespread in the Northern Hemisphere.

Stinging nettle benefits: why are the leaves interesting?

The main part of the plant used in phytotherapy reference books is the leaves. They are described as a multivitamin herbal material.

The leaves are reported to contain carotene — 14—30 mg%, vitamin C — 100—200 mg%, vitamin K — 400 biological units per 1 g, vitamin B2, pantothenic acid, chlorophyll, the glycoside urticin, small amounts of tannins and organic acids.

Another description of the herb lists gallic acid, gum, tannins and protein substances, mineral salts, formic acid, and a glycoside.

According to phytotherapy reference books, leaf infusion and liquid extract have traditionally been used as remedies associated with increased blood clotting. Descriptions also report observations of increased hemoglobin levels and red blood cell counts.

How is nettle described for bleeding?

In herbal references, the plant traditionally has a place among hemostatic herbs. Its preparations have been described for different types of bleeding, including uterine, pulmonary, kidney, intestinal, and hemorrhoidal bleeding. Reference books also mention the herbal material for conditions associated with vitamin deficiency and for anemia.

It is important to remember that bleeding is a symptom, and its causes can vary. These conditions require medical assessment.

How is nettle described as affecting the urinary system?

Reference books describe the plant as a diuretic. Its action is associated with increased excretion through the kidneys. It appears in traditional herbal mixtures intended to support the urinary system. When kidney disease is present, using the plant requires caution and consultation with a doctor.

Other traditional uses

Older descriptions of folk practice also mention the plant for liver diseases, cholecystitis, atherosclerosis, and some gastrointestinal disorders. These references concern traditional uses of the plant. They do not replace modern diagnosis and treatment.

Infusions and other forms have been described in folk practice for external skin and hair care. Chlorophyll, a plant-based dye, is also obtained from the plant. It is used in the food, perfume, and pharmaceutical industries.

Can nettle be used as food?

Nettle is known not only as a medicinal plant. Young shoots and leaves are used as edible greens. Reference books describe their use in vegetable soups and salads.

Before eating, fresh leaves can be scalded with boiling water. This reduces their stinging effect. Young parts of the plant are more commonly used as food.

How is stinging nettle used?

Reference books describe different forms of the herbal material: fresh herb, dried leaves, leaf powder, infusion, decoction, fresh juice, and liquid extract.

Dried herbal material is used to prepare an infusion. One phytotherapy description gives a cold extraction method for Urtica dioica herb: 1 tablespoon of herb, preferably fresh.

The doctor's book also gives a recipe for an herbal tea with nettle. It contains: horsetail — 15 g, nettle, preferably collected in spring — 10 g, knotweed — 8 g, St. John's wort — 6 g.

A pinch of the chopped herbal material is infused in a cup of hot water for 10 minutes and then strained. The strained remainder of the mixture is poured over with 2 cups of hot water. This recipe belongs to descriptions of alternative herbal practice. It should not be considered a universal way to treat diseases.

What forms of herbal material are mentioned in reference books?

Besides infusion and liquid extract, traditional descriptions include tincture, fresh juice, and dry leaf powder. They were used as individual forms of herbal material or included in herbal mixtures.

Older herbal books also describe using young shoots and leaves as food and stem fibers for making fabric. Until the 18th century, the plant was regarded not only as a food and medicinal plant but also as a fiber plant.

How to prepare stinging nettle correctly?

Nettle leaves — Folium Urticae — are used as medicinal herbal material. They are collected during flowering. When preparing an infusion, it is important to use properly prepared herbal material and follow the stated preparation methods. Do not increase the amount of herb on your own. Herbal material contains active substances. Fresh nettle remains stinging until it wilts. After wilting, the stinging effect decreases. Therefore, during harvesting, the plant may first be cut and the leaves separated afterward.

How to harvest and store nettle?

Leaves intended for medicinal use are collected during flowering. During harvesting, efforts are made to avoid large amounts of stems. Leaves can be picked by hand while wearing gloves. Another method is to cut the plant and separate the leaves after wilting, when they have lost their stinging effect.

Nettle is dried in the shade. For medicinal herbal material, a moisture content of no more than 14% is specified. When harvesting, it is important to distinguish stinging nettle from similar plants. Stinging nettle has different leaf characteristics, while white dead-nettle has softer hairs.

Dried herbal material is recommended to be stored in baskets or cloth or paper bags.

How can you distinguish stinging nettle from similar species?

Stinging nettle (Urtica urens) can be found in the same places as common nettle. It differs by its annual life cycle and smaller, oval leaves with deeply cut, blunt, straight teeth.

Stinging nettle has dark green leaves with clearly visible whitish, coarse hairs lying close to the leaf blade. White dead-nettle, or false nettle (Lamium album), has green or light-green leaves with fine, soft hairs. It does not belong to the genus Urtica.

How to find stinging nettle abroad

Abroad, stinging nettle is more often searched for by its local names rather than its Russian name:

• USA: stinging nettle (also nettle).
• Germany: Große Brennnessel or Brennnessel.
• France: grande ortie, ortie dioïque or ortie piquante.
• Latin name: *Urtica dioica*.

Different forms are available for sale:

• leaves or aerial herb — loose for tea, in tea bags, in liquid extracts/tinctures, and capsules;
• root — cut loose, in liquid extract/tincture, and capsules;
• seeds are sometimes sold in specialized herbal shops, but this is a less typical option.

Where to look:

• USA: health food stores, herbal shops, online stores;
• Germany: Apotheken, including online pharmacies, Reformhäuser, and tea shops;
• France: pharmacies, herboristeries, health food stores, and online stores.

Check the packaging for *Urtica dioica* and the plant part: leaf/herb (Blätter/Kraut; feuille/partie aérienne) or root (Wurzel; racine). In the USA, dietary supplements do not undergo premarket FDA approval before being sold.

Stinging nettle contraindications and precautions

The plant should not be used if you are allergic to it.

Fresh nettle can cause burning and irritation on contact with the skin. Itching, redness, rash, and hives are possible. When taken internally, nausea, unpleasant abdominal sensations, vomiting, and diarrhea have been described.

Current evidence does not confirm sufficient safety for medicinal use of the plant during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Caution is required during these periods. Preparations are not recommended for children under 12 years of age.

With kidney disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, or blood clotting disorders, consult a doctor before use. A doctor should also be consulted if fluid intake needs to be restricted.

Caution is required when combining it with medicines. Additional effects are possible when used together with diuretics and medicines that lower blood pressure. Medical assessment is required for combinations with insulin, oral blood sugar-lowering medicines, lithium, and warfarin.

The tannins in nettle may reduce the effect of iron preparations when taken together.

When should you see a doctor?

Nettle is a medicinal plant, but using it does not replace medical care. You should see a doctor for unexplained or ongoing bleeding, especially if it has appeared for the first time or is accompanied by worsening health. Specialist advice is needed with chronic diseases, regular medication use, pregnancy, and breastfeeding.

In case of a severe allergic reaction, swelling, widespread hives, or difficulty breathing, urgent medical attention is required. Children should not be given medicinal nettle preparations without consulting a doctor. If a doctor has prescribed treatment, herbal material is not a reason to change the prescribed therapy on your own.

Boris Wydoff — naturopath and author, Ph.D. in nutrition. For over fifty years I have helped people restore health through nutrition, cleansing and the power of the mind — in Europe, America and Asia. About the author →

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