White Dead-Nettle: Benefits, Uses and Precautions

Dr. Boris Wydoff

White dead-nettle (Lamium album), also known as white nettle, is a wild plant whose flowers and herb are used in traditional herbal medicine. Older herbal guides included it in plant mixtures traditionally used for vaginal discharge and skin problems, particularly eczema. White dead-nettle is also mentioned among wild plants suitable for making fresh juice.

The main traditional ways of using this plant are water infusions, decoctions and fresh juice. For medicinal use, the white flowers with their attached stamens are harvested separately. It is important, however, to distinguish recipes made with white dead-nettle alone from mixtures containing several plants. When a recipe includes multiple ingredients, it would be incorrect to attribute the entire effect to just one of them.

What Is White Dead-Nettle and How Can You Identify It?

White dead-nettle belongs to the mint family (Lamiaceae). In older botanical literature, this family is also called the Labiatae. The plant's scientific name is Lamium album L.

Its common name, "dead-nettle," comes from its resemblance to ordinary stinging nettle. However, these are two different plants. White dead-nettle does not belong to the nettle genus and is not a variety of stinging nettle.

When identifying the species, pay particular attention to its leaves and flowers.

According to A. F. Gammersman, white dead-nettle leaves are green or light green and covered with fine, soft hairs. The flowers are white, have a distinctive shape and appear on the plant during its flowering period.

For medicinal use, the reference book describes a separate floral material called Flores Lamii albi. It consists of white corollas with their attached stamens.

When harvesting, take care not to confuse the flowers with other parts of the plant. Different herbal recipes use either the herb of white dead-nettle or its flowers. These are different types of plant material, so when consulting old recipes, pay attention to exactly which part of the plant is specified.

Do not identify wild white dead-nettle solely by its common name or its resemblance to stinging nettle. The species must be positively identified before harvesting.

What Are the Benefits of White Dead-Nettle?

The traditional properties of white dead-nettle are described mainly in older herbal medicine literature. The plant appears in recipes for water infusions and decoctions that were used for certain women's health and skin problems.

The best-known traditional uses include the following.

Women's Health

A. F. Gammersman's reference book describes several herbal combinations containing white dead-nettle. One of them includes three ingredients:

• black locust flowers (Robinia pseudoacacia);
• white clover herb (Trifolium repens);
• white dead-nettle herb (Lamium album).

A water infusion was prepared from this mixture and traditionally used for vaginal discharge. Another recipe combines white dead-nettle with silverweed. The plants were boiled in milk. The resulting preparation was also used in folk practice for vaginal discharge. Yet another historical recipe is a water decoction made from white dead-nettle herb, white water lily flowers and white clover herb. What these recipes have in common is that they combine several plants. Therefore, it cannot be claimed that their traditional use is due exclusively to white dead-nettle.

Furthermore, historical use for vaginal discharge does not mean that the plant has proven effectiveness against gynecological conditions. Unusual discharge can have various causes, so it is important to establish the reason rather than trying to eliminate the symptom with herbal remedies on your own.

Skin and External Use

In herbal medicine literature, white dead-nettle appears as part of a plant mixture traditionally used for eczema. It contains:

• stinging nettle;
• white dead-nettle;
• catnip;
• oregano.

A water decoction was prepared from the mixture. The historical description gives two ways of using it: drinking it and washing the affected areas of skin. Here, too, the remedy contains several ingredients. It is not possible to isolate the effect of white dead-nettle from that of the other plants or attribute the entire result to it.

When dealing with skin problems, it is important to consider the nature of the condition. Severe rashes, oozing, spreading inflammation and intense itching require attention from a dermatologist. Using herbal decoctions on your own should not replace identifying the cause of the condition.

Other Traditional Uses

In his guide, J. Grau mentions white dead-nettle among wild plants suitable for making fresh juice. The description discusses general guidelines for choosing wild plant material. Plants must be correctly identified and must not be poisonous, rare or protected species. The author also draws attention to the taste of wild herbs. They may have a sharp, astringent or bitter flavor. White dead-nettle is included in the list of plants suitable for making fresh juice, but the description does not provide a specific dietary dose or daily consumption schedule.

What White Dead-Nettle Recipes Are Described in Herbal Guides?

To understand the traditional use of this plant correctly, it is helpful to look at some of the known herbal combinations.

A mixture with black locust and clover.

A. F. Gammersman's reference book describes a combination of black locust flowers, white clover herb and white dead-nettle herb. A water infusion was prepared from these three ingredients and traditionally used for vaginal discharge.

A mixture with water lily and clover.

Another recipe uses white dead-nettle herb, white water lily flowers and white clover herb. A water decoction was prepared from the mixture and also used in folk practice for vaginal discharge.

A combination with silverweed.

This historical recipe calls for white dead-nettle and the entire silverweed plant. The mixture was boiled in milk for 2–3 minutes. The old description recommends drinking one glass of the prepared remedy three times a day, but does not specify the amount of each plant or the volume of milk.

For this reason, that dosage should not be used as a standalone instruction. Without the original proportions, it is impossible to reproduce the concentration of the preparation.

A mixture for eczema.

This mixture contains stinging nettle, white dead-nettle, catnip and oregano. The water decoction was traditionally used both internally and to wash affected areas of skin. All these combinations belong to historical herbal medicine practice. They show the purposes for which white dead-nettle was included in herbal mixtures, but they do not prove that it is effective in treating specific conditions. It is also important not to transfer the recipe for one mixture to another. The ingredients, plant parts used and preparation methods all matter.

How Do You Brew White Dead-Nettle?

Preparing white dead-nettle requires some clarification: older reference books describe water infusions and decoctions, but they do not provide exact proportions of plant material and water for every recipe.

Therefore, it is not possible to reliably reconstruct a universal recipe using white dead-nettle alone if the original reference book does not specify the amount of herb, volume of liquid and preparation time. To understand how the plant was traditionally used, it is important to distinguish between three forms.

Water infusion. In the historical recipe, an infusion was prepared from black locust flowers, white clover herb and white dead-nettle herb. This is a multi-ingredient preparation traditionally used for vaginal discharge.

Water decoction. One of the described decoctions combines white dead-nettle, white water lily and white clover. Another version contains stinging nettle, white dead-nettle, catnip and oregano.

Milk decoction. In this recipe, white dead-nettle is combined with silverweed. The mixture is boiled in milk for 2–3 minutes. However, the volume of milk and the amount of plant material are not specified.

The known historical recipes provide information about the ingredients in these herbal combinations and some preparation methods, but they do not justify prescribing arbitrary proportions for self-treatment.

Do not automatically transfer dosages from one recipe to another or increase the concentration of the herbs. It is particularly important not to regard a multi-ingredient decoction as a remedy whose effectiveness has been established for any one plant.

Can You Eat White Dead-Nettle?

The question of using white dead-nettle as food is discussed in J. Grau's guide to wild plants. The author mentions white dead-nettle among plants suitable for making fresh juice. When choosing wild plant material, several conditions must be considered. First, the plant must be correctly identified. Looking similar to other members of the same family does not guarantee that it is actually white dead-nettle. Second, poisonous, rare or protected plants must never be used. The taste of the plant material should also be taken into account: wild herbs can be sharp, astringent or bitter.

Third, pay attention to the condition and cleanliness of the harvested plants.

The description does not establish a specific dietary dose of white dead-nettle. Therefore, its mention as a source of fresh juice in the guide should not be interpreted as a recommendation for daily consumption or as a treatment regimen.

How to Harvest the Flowers and Store White Dead-Nettle Properly

The quality of herbal material depends on correctly identifying the species, choosing the right part of the plant and following proper harvesting practices. A. F. Gammersman's reference book describes the medicinal flowers of white dead-nettle separately.

When to Harvest

The flowers of white dead-nettle, known as Flores Lamii albi, are used for harvesting. Collect fully opened white corollas. The stamens attached to the corolla tube must be kept with them. This is an important feature of the floral material. The harvested material should consist specifically of flowers with their attached stamens, rather than a random mixture of leaves, stems and other plant parts. Other recipes use the herb of white dead-nettle. Therefore, before harvesting, determine exactly which type of plant material is needed for the recipe you have chosen.

How to Dry

According to the reference book, the flowers should be dried in the shade, spread out in a thin layer. Do not pile freshly collected flowers together in a dense mass. When preparing the material, it is also important to remove other plants and any parts of different species that may have been collected by mistake. Once dried, good-quality material has the following characteristic features:

• whitish or yellowish-white color;
• mild, honey-like scent;
• slightly sweet taste with a mucilaginous quality;
• predominantly corollas with their attached stamens.

These characteristics are given in A. F. Gammersman's description of the medicinal plant material.

How to Store the Harvest

Dried flowers should be protected from moisture and contamination. Ideally, store them separately from other plants, labeling the container with the plant name and harvest date. The old regulatory description of white dead-nettle flower quality, given in OST NKVT 6620-210, specifies the following limits:

• moisture content — no more than 14%;
• content of other parts of white dead-nettle, including leaves and calyces — no more than 3%;
• content of organic and mineral impurities — no more than 0.5%.

These figures describe the requirements of an old regulatory document for the purity and composition of the floral material. They do not confirm the safety of home harvesting according to modern standards. Do not use plant material with visible contamination, signs of mold or an unusual smell.

How to Find White Dead-Nettle Abroad

In the United States and Europe, white dead-nettle may be sold or listed under different names:

• USA: white dead-nettle, white deadnettle or white nettle.
• Germany: Weiße Taubnessel.
• France: lamier blanc or ortie blanche.
• Latin name: *Lamium album L.*

Forms in Which It Is Sold

The plant is most often sold as dried flowers or flowering tops for making an infusion. Chopped herb containing leaves, stems and flowers is less common. Tea bags, capsules and liquid extracts are considerably rarer.

Where to Look

• In the USA — health food stores, herbal shops, tea shops and online herb stores.
• In Germany — primarily pharmacies (Apotheke), as well as Reformhaus stores and tea shops.
• In France — pharmacies (pharmacie), herbal shops (herboristerie), organic food stores (magasin bio) and tea shops.

What to Check on the Packaging

Make sure the label says *Lamium album L.*, not stinging nettle (*Urtica dioica*). Check which part of the plant is used: flowers, flowering tops or herb. In Germany, look for the designation Arzneitee on herbal teas sold in pharmacies. Also check the origin of the plant material and any information about product purity.

Sales Regulations vary from country to country: in the USA, the plant is generally sold as a dietary supplement; in Germany, it can be found as an herbal tea in pharmacies; and in France, it is more commonly available as a traditional herbal or food product.

White Dead-Nettle: Contraindications and Precautions

Safety data on Lamium album in humans are limited. Available monographic materials do not establish proven contraindications for the flowers or herb of this plant. However, a lack of sufficient research does not mean that medicinal use is guaranteed to be safe.

When considering possible risks, keep the following circumstances in mind.

Pregnancy. There are not enough studies on the safety of medicinal use of white dead-nettle during pregnancy. Consult your doctor before using the plant for medicinal purposes.

Breastfeeding. Moderate consumption of white dead-nettle as a tea is considered compatible with breastfeeding. However, there is insufficient information about the safety of medicinal doses and concentrated herbal preparations.

Children. Internal use in children under 12 is not recommended because of insufficient safety data. Do not give children medicinal infusions or herbal supplements without professional advice.

Drug Interactions. No established interactions between Lamium album and medications are listed in the available monographic materials. However, this does not prove that interactions are impossible. Particular caution is needed when taking medications with a narrow therapeutic range, especially warfarin and digoxin.

Allergies. Like other plant products, white dead-nettle can cause an individual reaction. If hives, swelling of the face or throat, wheezing or difficulty breathing occur, seek medical attention. A severe reaction requires emergency care.

Unexplained Bleeding. Do not try to manage bloody discharge or other signs of bleeding on your own with herbal remedies. It is important to find out what is causing the symptom.

Quality of Plant Material. A plant that has been incorrectly identified or is contaminated is not suitable for making home remedies. When collecting wild herbs, make sure you identify the species correctly and check the condition of the plant material.

There is no dedicated EMA/HMPC monograph for white dead-nettle. Therefore, the medicinal use of this plant cannot be considered fully studied or standardized.

If you take regular medication, are planning surgery or have chronic health conditions, tell your doctor or pharmacist that you intend to use herbal preparations. Do not stop prescribed medication in favor of herbal recipes.

When to See a Doctor

You should see a doctor if you experience unusual discharge, unexplained bleeding, significant skin inflammation or other symptoms that persist or get worse. It is particularly important not to delay medical care in the following situations:

• unusual discharge appears, especially if accompanied by other unpleasant symptoms;
• unexplained bleeding occurs;
• a skin condition spreads or is accompanied by oozing or intense itching;
• a pronounced allergic reaction develops after consuming a plant product;
• swelling of the face or throat, wheezing or difficulty breathing occurs.

Swelling of the face or throat and breathing difficulties require emergency medical attention. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have a chronic condition or take medication regularly, discuss the use of herbal remedies with a healthcare professional beforehand.

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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