Nettle ~ Urtica dioica (Urtica urens in some places)

Nettle

Latin name: Urtica dioica (Urtica urens in some places)

Family: Urticaceae

Part used: young aerial parts, root

Habitat: waste places throughout world

Main constituents: chlorophyll, indoles (histamine, serotonin), acetylcholine, Vitamin C, fiber

Energetics: drying, stimulating

Main herbal actions: alkalizing diuretic, astringent, tonic, antihemorrhagic, alterative

Minor herbal actions: urinary tract tonic

Main medicinal uses: hemorrhage, skin complaints (i.e. eczema, skin eruptions)

Minor medicinal uses: acute hay fever and histaminic allergic reactions (requires special preparation- Khalsa), asthma, gouty arthritis, edema; root is used for benign prostatic hyperplasia

Preparations: infusion: 1 tsp/cup water; decoction: more indicated if minerals are desired; 1:1 tincture: 10-60 gtt qd-qid; best used long-term in chronic illnesses, specially prepared in capsules for acute conditions: 1-15 grams per day (Khalsa)

Contraindications: pregnancy (large doses); raw

Toxicity: unknown
 
Sources: Sharol Tilgner, N.D.: Herbal Medicine from the Heart of the Earth; Wren, R.C. Potter’s New Encyclopedia of Botanical Drugs and Preparations

Nettle Module 2 lecture

Nettle has essentially 3 main uses which are very different remedies:

  1. Nutritive Tonic

    1. A food that is roughly comparable to spinach in nutritional quality
    2. Tea is edible as food when cooked, it looses it’s sting.

  2. General Respiratory Remedy

    1. Anti-inflammatory
    2. Used in tea is high doses
    3. Healing benefit for the lungs ? in particular

  3. Anti-Allergy Remedy

    1. Nettle contains ingredients (probably a flavanoid) that is anti-histamatic
    2. Use it when you want anti-histamine type benefit
      1. Nettle doesn’t make you sleepy,
      2. doesn’t dry you out
      3. just shuts down the histamine response
      4. takes about 5 minutes
      5. Need to use especially processed Nettle because the flavanoid is easily destroyed
    3. Freeze dried Nettle is good, but is double the price
    4. To treat an allergy, take one capsule when allergy symptoms begin, or even preventatively, in 5 minutes, take another.
    5. Take every 5 minutes until the symptoms are resolved.
    6. Dose: 4 to 8 capsules per allergy episode.
    7. Relief lasts 4 to 6 hours.
    8. Nettle is harmless stuff. can take a huge amount.

Nettle contains Formic Acid, a simple organic acid.  As soon as it comes into contact with water, it decomposes.

Nettle Seed

  • Nettle seed has a kidney benefit
  • One of the best herbs for general kidney benefit
  • Nettle seed is challenging to find.  Seeds can be consumes as powder or whole.
  • Include in urinary remedies

Nettle Leaf

  • Main uses:
    • Nutritive food
    • Lung support
    • Allergy (specially processed)

 Herbal Defense page 187, 236

Nettle Leaf is an

  • excellent remedy for respiratory symptoms
  • antihistamine for hives
  • Alertative – nourishing blood cleanser
  • Helps clear clogged lymph nodes
  • Affinity for the prostate (p 236)

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