Notes: Nettles, Urtica urens, is a perennial herb. Leaves are opposite with the characteristic stinging bristles. Urtica has an almost worldwide distribution, grows on a widely varied habitat, and especially likes waste ground.

Energetics: sweet; cool-warm; taste: acrid, Leaf: Temperature: warm-cool

Taste- acrid

Organ : Lu, Bl, Intestines; Affinities: Genitourinary, blood, skin, and eyes.

The seed, leaf and root are all used and all three have slightly different uses.

Culpeper says, “..Nettles is an herb Mars claims dominion over. You know Mars is hot and dry, and you know as well that Winter is cold and moist, then you may well know as well the reason why Nettle tops eaten in the Spring consume the phlegmatic superfluities in the body of man, the coldness and moistness of Winter hathe left behind.”

Peter Holmes likes a juice of the entire Nettle plant; for lung conditions combined with Mullein flower, Elecampane root, Coltsfoot herb.

Hair rinse for weak and falling out hair: a vinegar decoction of Nettle root

Classified as a mild herb with no known contraindications (ESCOP), drug interactions or adverse effects if overdosed. An occasional individual many of slight allergic reaction but only if susceptible.

Leaf versus Root- (Jeremy Ross); Both can be used to treat urinary disorders

Root is especially linked to the treatment of early stage benign prostate hyperplasia and the urinary symptoms associated with it, whether irritative or obstructive.

Peter Holmes says, “Nettle herb’s detoxicant, digestive, urinary and glandular actions provide excellent support for complex metabolic disorders especially when they involve connective tissue. As working on the blood level, Nettle herb is a medium strength hemostatic and astringent for hemorrhages.” Leaf is used to treat respiratory, intestinal, skin and joint disorders, whilst Urtica root does not have a main tradition of use for these problems.

One of Steve Marsden’s lectures; “Nettle leaf has great anti-histamine proprieties and to be helpful in any pruritic case.”

David Winston-(From 2012 AHVMA conference)- " Nettle leaf is widely renowned as a nutritive pot herb, diuretic, antiarthritic, and antihistamine, along with many other uses. Nettle seed is also a skin herb, it's specific indication being skin that looks or feels like paper and tears and bleeds easily. It can be combined with Horsetail and Gotu Kola to enhance its activity. Nettle root is widely used in Europe but is still relatively little known in the U.S. as an antidyscratic agent, especially for the prostate. Nettle root in combination with Saw Palmetto, Collinsonia and White Sage is a highly effective formula for treating BPH symptoms. Nettle seed is perhaps the most profound medicine from this versatile herb. The seed is the most effective kidney tropho-restorative that I have used. Alone or combined with Cordyceps, processed Rehmannia, Cornus Fruit, Rhubarb root and Dang Shen Root, I have found it helpful for slowing the progression and even moderately reversing degenerative kidney disease, including glomerulonephritis, and chronic nephritis with degeneration."

Matt Wood-.".is one of the fundamental remedies of traditional Western Herbalism. .Nettle acts on the protein pathways in the body. It reduces allergic reactions to proteins; and eliminates mucus on membranes resulting from allergy; also helps with the digestion and absorption of protein. It helps the liver build blood proteins. These help keep the plasma inside the blood vessels, reducing edema and low blood pressure resulting from loss of plasma into the tissues. Nettle also helps with the removal of proteinaceous waste products from the system, hence it is a remedy in gout, arthritis, muscular soreness, tissue acidity, and kidney disease. It also has a specific action as a tropho-restorative bringing back function to parts that have become paralyzed, atrophied or functionally inactive. It also works internally on inactive kidneys, thyroid, menstruation, hormones, nerves, muscles to bring them back into effective operation."

He considers the taste to be sweet, bitter, earthen and stimulating and useful to treat tissue states of depression, atrophy and stagnation.

Specific indications: low blood pressure, loss of hair and hair color, mental dullness, lack of concentration and mental acuity; diarrhea, dysentery, chronic, mucus in stools, inactive kidneys (seeds), chronic inflammation of the bladder with abundant mucus discharge; benign prostatic hypertrophy (root), menstruation: excessive, anemia from blood loss, atrophy and paralysis of muscles, hypothyroid; all bites that itch.

Felter: in The Eclectic Materia Medica, Pharmacology, and Therapeutics "A Specific Medicine is effective in stubborn eczema of the face and scalp. Internal-profuse choleric and excessive mucous discharge, as in cholera infantum and dysentery, are reputed to have been controlled by urtica, while it also has a restraining effect in gastric secretion, and eructations and vomiting. Chronic cystitis, with large mucous diuresis, is also asserted to have been benefited by it

Cook in the "Physio-Medical Dispensatory"-The root is a strong astringent, with moderately stimulating and tonic qualities, of a sharp taste. As a local arrestor of bleeding, it has few equals; and its infusion is of much power, used inwardly, for bleeding form the nose, lung, or stomach, and may also be used to excellent advantage in bleeding from the bowels and passive menorrhagia. Some have used it in diarrhea; but it is suitable only for low conditions and chronic forms of that malady. It is said to act well upon the kidneys.

Ellington-Urtica has been employed for the general purposes of an astringent, both internally and externally, in hemorrhages, ill-conditioned ulcers and in chronic disease of the mucous membranes of the bronchi, bowels and urinary organs, and it is generally agreed to be an efficient remedy. It appears to have a dynamic action as in post-partum hemorrhage, suppression of the milk in nursing women, retrocedent eruptions, urticaria, jaundice, dropsy, ague and corpulency its influence in small doses is reliable. The fresh leaves have been used as a powerful revulsive in lethargy, paralysis, intoxication, congestion of the brain, and hysterical insensibility. This agent is also used when there is excessive mucous discharge form the bowels. Persistent watery diarrheas are controlled by it.

Culpeper-"..it is a safe and sure medicine to open the pipes and passages of the lungs, and helps to expectorate tough phlegm..the juice is effective to settle the palate of the mouth, and to heal and temper inflammation and soreness of the mouth and throat...It also provokes the urine and expels gravel and stone in the reins or bladder...the juice of the leaves stays bleeding at the mouth. The seed is a remedy against the stinging of venomous creatures and (protects) against the poisonous qualities of hemlock, henbane, nightshade, mandrake, or other such like herbs...The seeds or leaves bruised put into the nostrils, stays the bleeding of them, and takes away the flesh growing (Hm..anyone try this for proud flesh in horses??). The juice of the leaves, is good to wash old, rotten, or stinking sores or fistulous, and gangrenes."

Greg Tilford: Specific Uses: All of species of Urtica cause an instantaneous contact dermatitis that is characterized by tiny blisters and a burning sting.  

Although gloves and a long sleeved shirt must be worn when gathering the greens, complete drying or cooking neutralizes the plants’  antigenic proteins and formic acid compounds; the constituents responsible for the plants’ sting.  These compounds break down quickly when exposed to air and/or heat, and when correctly prepared, the leafy greens of young nettle plants are delicious and contain a vast array of vitamins, minerals and nutrients. 

This makes nettle an excellent addition to food  for animals which need extra trace minerals and vitamins in their diet, but not necessarily in huge, multi-vitamin doses. This applies to animals which are already on a natural diet, or those who are sensitive to excessive vitamin or mineral supplementation because of chronic digestive disorders, existing systemic toxicity, or urinary tract problems. The completely dried herb can be sprinkled directly onto the animals’ food, 1/2 tsp. for each pound of food fed, or 1/3 tsp. per meal for cats.  Herbivores can be fed the dried greens in their usual diet, and many will relish it as a special treat.  In Sweden and Russia, where the problems of producing nutrient rich feeds is compounded by a very short growing season, winter-hardy nettles are sometimes cultivated, and later dried, as fodder crops.

For finicky pets that despise anything but what their humans are eating , try cooking the fresh young plants, with enough water to cover, until they are entirely soft and tender.  The cooked greens are excellent with butter.

Nettle is also a good alternative for the more endangered Eyebright (Euphrasia species) as a primary anti-inflammatory agent for the eyes.

Many herbalists who suffer from seasonal allergies have found that nettle leaf helps lessen their symptoms if taken on a regular basis in tincture or tea form, starting before hay fever season.  In a recent study involving 69 patients who suffer from allergic rhinitis, 58% found relief after taking a freeze-dried preparation of the leaf2.

Alternatives and Adjuncts: For anti-inflammatory eye and skin washes, alternatives include raspberry leaf, chamomile, dandelion, calendula, or oxeye daisy.  For conjunctivitis which is secondary to bacterial or fungal infection, nettle combines well with a small part of Oregon grape.   Nutritive adjuncts include spirulina, flax seed, red clover and alfalfa.  For allergies, nettle combines well with elecampane, coltsfoot, goldenrod, lobelia, or licorice as lesser adjuncts.  For urinary incontinence and inflammations of the urinary tract, look at couchgrass, corn silk, cleavers, uva-ursi, goldenrod, and marshmallow.

Cautions & Comments: Touching the live plant will result in a painful, blistering sting.  Use this plant before it flowers— mature plants contain gritty particles that can irritate the kidneys.