Stinging Nettle: Benefits, History & Medicinal Uses

The stinging nettle, Urtica dioica, is found across Asia, Europe and North America. Stinging nettle has long been used as a medicinal herb with diuretic and anti-inflammatory properties.

History

• Stinging nettles were gathered and cooked for food by Native Americans in the spring when other plants were hard to find.

Anti-inflammatory

• Stinging nettle reduces levels of inflammatory chemicals in the body and interferes with pain signals sent from the brain, reducing pain levels. It also contains antihistamines.

Blood

• The stinging nettle has many benefits for the blood as a purifier and as a hemostatic, to stop bleeding.

Joint Pain

• The nettle is used to relieve joint pain in conditions such as arthritis and rheumatism. It stimulates the excretion of uric acid and is useful for treating gout as well.

Alkaline

• The plant extract has alkalizing properties that neutralize harmful acids within the body.

Sting

• The stinging nettle has fine hairs on the leaves and stems that release irritating chemicals into parts of the skin that come into contact with the plant.