Nettle beneficial properties, application, contraindications, folk remedies.

There are contraindications, consultation with a specialist is required

The benefits of nettle have been known for several thousand years: even in the works of Hippocrates, Dioscorides and Galen, healing properties and use for medical, cosmetic and nutritional purposes were mentioned. This is a universal plant for promoting health, maintaining tone and improving mood. The herb is also used to nourish and enrich the body not only with vitamins, but also with proteins and carbohydrates. Nettle has found application in medicine, cooking and cosmetology.

Useful properties of nettle

So what are the benefits of this herb? An infusion of this burning plant improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and has a choleretic effect. Thanks to the large amount of plant protein and lectin, the herb has a strong antitoxic effect, and the chlorophyll in its composition helps in healing wounds and strengthening the hair structure.

Effects:

• normalization of lipid metabolism due to the presence of iron salts and vitamins;
• weight loss and acceleration of metabolism and, as a result, assistance in weight loss;
• pronounced hemostatic effect;
• choleretic and anti-inflammatory effects;
• improvement of lactation in lactating women;
• increased metabolism due to the content of large amounts of chlorophyll;
• normalization of cardiac and respiratory activity;
• maintaining vision due to the presence of vitamin A;
• the role of an antioxidant, as it contains a lot of vitamin C;
• protection and maintenance of immunity;
• lowering sugar levels and, consequently, helping people suffering from diabetes;
• hemostatic, wound healing, anti-inflammatory;
• treatment of anemia, as it increases hemoglobin;
• fight against various skin inflammations;
• hair care in the form of masks and lotions.

Nettle Benefits: What Can You Get from This Weed?

Content:

• Nettle Benefits: What Can You Get from This Weed?
• Medicinal properties
• Nettle for hair growth and skin care
• When is it not recommended to take nettle?

Nettle plant fibers are used to weave durable clothing and other fabrics. It was used as an alternative to cotton during World War I and World War II, but has now been replaced by cheaper materials. On the other hand, some apparel industries are starting to see it as a more environmentally friendly alternative to other fabric sources.

This plant contains a huge amount of vitamins and minerals. The vitamins it contains: , , , and . It also contains amino acids and antioxidants that help fight free radicals.

Chemical composition

If you ask the question “how is nettle useful for humans?”, then the first answer will be its chemical composition, because it contains a huge amount of microelements.

Nutritional value per 100 grams:

• proteins - 4 grams,
• fats - 0 grams,
• carbohydrates - 5 grams,
• calorie content - 24.8.

What vitamins are in nettle?

Since this herb is a multivitamin plant, its leaves contain twice as much ascorbic acid than blackcurrant, lemon or apple, and the carotene level is higher than that of carrots. The plant contains vitamins A, C, group B (B1, B2, B3), E and K, macro- and microelements. The presence of vitamin K is responsible for the hemostatic effect of stinging grass.

Contains:

• glycoside urticine, ergosterol, carotenoids, phytosterols;
• chlorophyll, violaxanthin;
• pantothenic, formic, silicon, gallic acids.

In what form is it used?

The benefits of nettle for humans have long been known, so it is often used in the treatment of boils, acne, and also as a remedy for rheumatism and gout. To do this, it is recommended to use it in the form:

1. water infusion,
2. briquettes with crushed leaves,
3. liquid extract.

This herb grows everywhere in the northwest and central Russia, so collecting it yourself is not difficult for many residents of the country. Therefore, in times of famine, the healing properties of stinging nettle saved many people from vitamin deficiency. The main thing is to choose, collect or buy a plant from ecologically clean regions of Russia.

Important information! If you decide to collect the grass with your own hands, then know: it is best to use leaves that are collected from May to June for treatment. The collection must be dried in a uniform layer up to 5 cm thick.

You can use modern dryers, in which it is necessary to set the temperature to 50°. The shelf life of this product is two years. You can also dry the roots, which have beneficial qualities. The roots are collected and stored from late autumn to the first days of spring, the flowers of the plant - in the summer, and the seeds - from late summer to early autumn. To make nettle juice, you only need young shoots and stems before the inflorescences form.

In scientific research

• Studies conducted on rats have confirmed the anti-inflammatory effect of stinging nettle extract in a model of Alzheimer's disease. In a study, Gholam Hossein Riazi (Laboratory of Neuroorganic Chemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Tehran University in Iran) confirmed the antiproliferative effect in small cell lung cancer, which is characterized by high mortality.
• Wafa Siuda (Faculty of Biological Sciences, Badji Mokhtar Annab University) asked the question “why is nettle good for you?” and conducted a study on “Can stinging nettle supplementation reduce mercury toxicity in rats?” The results of his work clearly demonstrated the antitoxic effect.
• In 2013, V. Hadjashemi and Vahid Klushani wrote an article in a medical journal about the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of stinging nettle leaf extract when exposed to animals. Thanks to their work, it began to be used more often as a traditional remedy for musculoskeletal pain and rheumatism.
• In 2016, Rahila Qayyum (Faculty of Pharmacy, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Pakistan) conducted a study on the mechanisms underlying the antihypertensive properties of stinging nettle.
• The extract is effective as an antioxidant in the adjuvant therapy of type II diabetes mellitus and helps minimize the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and other complications in patients with diabetes mellitus. This was published by Alidad Amiri Behzadi from the Young Researchers and Elite Club of the Islamic Azad University of Iran, “Effects of stinging nettle supplementation on blood lipids, liver enzymes and nitric oxide levels in patients with type II diabetes mellitus: a double randomized clinical trial.”
• In 2022, Karama Zuari Bouasida wrote an article on the topic “Study on the hemostatic and wound healing potential of stinging nettle leaves.”
• The antibacterial activity of stinging nettle was studied in 2014 by Professor of the Faculty of Biology Hossein Motamedi from Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz.
• Traditionally used to treat cardiovascular diseases, especially hypertension. Animal studies have confirmed the antihypertensive effect attributable to calcium channel blockade and NO-mediated vasorelaxation. Rohit Bisht from the Department of Pharmacology at ISF College of Pharmacy in Punjab, India, has released a study on this topic.

Medicinal properties

Stinging nettle, Latin name Urtica dioica, has been used for medicinal purposes since at least 3 BC. In medieval times it was used to treat joint pain and also as a diuretic. Today, nettle root is used to treat genitourinary problems associated with enlarged prostate (BPH), urinary tract infections and hay fever. Meanwhile, nettle leaf is most commonly used to treat pain, osteoarthritis, allergies and hay fever.

Nettle decoction directly affects the kidneys. Nettle is a diuretic and increases urine production and uric acid removal (under medical supervision). Thus, it may be useful for swelling, inflammatory arthritis, or gout. Its main components are flavonoids (quercetin, kaempferol), carotenoids, vitamin C, vitamin B, vitamin K1, triterpenes, sterols and minerals. Ten grams of it contain 290 milligrams of calcium and 86 milligrams of magnesium. By comparison, 10 grams of raw spinach contains 10 milligrams of calcium and 8 milligrams of magnesium.

Nettle decoction for allergies. Hay fever affects millions of people, and nettle tea is effective in combating the itching and sneezing commonly associated with it. A study conducted at the National College of Naturopathic Medicine found that 58% of participants who were given its freeze-dried extract to treat hay fever experienced a reduction in symptoms. Since antihistamines can have side effects such as drowsiness, cramping and dry mouth, nettle tea is a good alternative for people with high sensitivities.

Impact on prostate health. Research also suggests that nettle may have a positive effect on the prostate gland and may help prevent benign prostatic hyperplasia. It has not yet been established how the plant affects this condition, but research suggests that it limits and regulates the amount of testosterone produced by the body.

Effect on blood pressure. In several animal studies, nettle has been shown to lower blood pressure levels. However, this effect has not yet been demonstrated in human studies. The herb's ability to lower blood pressure likely occurs because it has a diuretic effect on the human body, which in turn lowers systolic blood pressure. Since high blood pressure is a serious medical condition, it should not be used for treatment without consulting an experienced medical professional.

Nettle decoction for arthritis. In 2013, Phytomedicine showed that the plant, including the root, when extracted into an oil-based solution, helps reduce inflammation. Great potential for treating arthritis has been indicated, but further research is still required. The anti-inflammatory properties of nettle may actually help those suffering from arthritis. Moreover, a study published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine in June 2000 reports that nettle leaf can reduce osteoarthritic pain at the base of the big toe when it is applied to the painful area.

Weight loss. Although no formal studies have been conducted on nettle's effects on weight loss, there is evidence that the herb's cleansing properties may help shed pounds by effectively ridding the body of unwanted metabolic waste. Reducing accumulated waste in muscle tissue and the entire lymphatic system allows the body to function more productively. Gillian McKeith, author and TV presenter of You Are What You Eat, recommends 3-4 cups a day of nettle tea in her book Slim for Life as it "boosts metabolism and is a natural appetite suppressant."

Nettle and testosterone. In a 2014 study looking at the negative effects of nicotine on sperm in mice, researchers found that increasing the dose of nettle significantly increased sperm motility, count, normal morphology, seminiferous tubule diameter, and testosterone in all groups compared to controls. Nettle extracts have been promoted for bodybuilders because they appear to affect testosterone levels in the body. There are anecdotal reports that nettle extract also helps replenish the amount of testosterone in the body, which can be significantly reduced during bodybuilding training; however, these claims have not been scientifically verified in humans. Regarding its effect on libido, the herb may help in cases of low sex drive due to its ability to keep testosterone active, but this has not been scientifically proven.

Antibacterial and antifungal effects. A study conducted in 2013 showed that this plant indeed has powerful antibacterial activity. Common in most areas along rivers and lakes, stinging nettle is a plant that also has antifungal properties. In a study published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, agglutinin lectin has chitin-binding properties that result in potent antifungal and mild antibacterial functions.

Anti-inflammatory properties. Nettle is often used for healing due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Nettle extracts help inhibit anti-inflammatory signaling molecules that can cause inflammation in the body. It can help reduce inflammation in the urinary tract, arthritic inflammation, and skin inflammation such as eczema.

In official medicine

It has been known as a medicine since the 17th century, its benefits have been proven by modern medical research, so it is actively used:

• in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases (ulcers, gastritis, colitis);
• with anemia;
• as an antihemorrhagic agent;
• against pulmonary, uterine and other bleeding.

Medicinal properties include increasing blood clotting and hemoglobin, stimulating erythropoiesis and increasing the number of platelets in the blood. The herb increases prothrombin levels when anticoagulants are administered in excess and produces a vasoconstrictor effect. Nettle-based drugs sold in pharmacies have choleretic, anthelmintic, diuretic, anti-inflammatory, and expectorant effects. They are also used for diabetes.

For women's health

This plant can bring both benefit and harm to women, therefore, representatives of the fair sex should be careful. While it will help nursing mothers improve milk production for the baby, it can be dangerous for pregnant women, as it greatly increases the tone of the uterine muscles and can lead to miscarriage.

But during childbirth, it can help women in labor with bleeding disorders and blood loss, and promote rapid and painless contraction of the uterus after childbirth. Therefore, the question “is nettle good for pregnant women?” While it remains open, be sure to consult a physician before use.

In general, the plant is widely used for an analgesic effect and as a hemostatic agent, therefore it will be effective for various gynecological ailments: uterine bleeding and for normalizing menstrual cycles.

For men's health

Why nettle is useful for men: to strengthen potency. The herb has a beneficial effect on the reproductive system and helps in the treatment of prostate adenoma. The herb is used as a general tonic and prophylactic; all components of the plant can be used - seeds, roots, leaves. Traditionally, the duration of treatment is four weeks. Also, herbs can be supplemented with the main course of treatment with medications, but this is only permitted in consultation with a doctor. Independent actions can lead to adverse consequences from other body systems.

In folk medicine

Apply:

• as a diuretic herb in the treatment of edema syndrome;
• for diseases of the kidneys, liver and biliary tract (constipation, cholecystitis, nephritis, pyelonephritis);
• in the treatment of gout, iron deficiency anemia and polyarthritis;
• for atherosclerosis, bronchial asthma, whooping cough;
• during hypertension and even during cancer treatment.

The seeds can help women with infertility and men with impotence. To do this, nettle seeds need to be mixed with a softened banana and eaten every day. Freshly squeezed juice from the leaves is recommended for the treatment of osteomyelitis and for problems with digestion of food, as well as for large amounts of salts in the joints. The leaves are brewed and consumed to strengthen the immune system during colds and flu.

It is useful for poor appetite, gastritis, enterocolitis, pathology of the cardiovascular system, in particular for heart failure of I and II degrees, tachycardia. Plus, it helps restore the sense of smell when it is lost or sensitivity decreases. Powder of sun-dried leaves is used to treat ulcers and ulcers.

What are the benefits of nettle infusion?

A strong infusion of leaves is an excellent remedy for ulcers, burns and small wounds. It is actively used to strengthen hair when it is dry and brittle, as well as to treat dandruff. Recipe: Pour warm water over the chopped herbs, making sure to leave some room for fermentation. Cover the container with a lid, a board or wrap it in burlap and place in a warm place for 7–14 days.

What are the benefits of nettle decoction?

Taking the decoction a few days before the start of the menstrual cycle helps reduce the amount of blood loss in women. The decoction is also useful for patients with diabetes, but for a healing effect you need to know how to brew fresh herbs correctly. We offer the following option. Cooking recipe: mix 2 tbsp. tablespoons of dried nettle and mint leaves, add 3 liters of water and cook for 3 minutes. Leave for about half an hour and filter. You can add honey to the broth.

In cooking and dietetics

In cooking, nettle leaves, seeds and roots are popular in the preparation of salads and first courses (pickle soup, borscht), they are also added to sauces, fillings for pies, plus salted and fermented for the winter. To reduce the pungency, the leaves are treated with boiling water. Young, tender inflorescences are added to tea and dried for the winter. You should add it to hot dishes a couple of minutes before they are ready, but first rinse cold dishes, put them in boiling water and cook for two minutes, rinse them with cold water, and only then you can cut them - then you won’t get burned. Often adding recipes with nettle to the menu, you can reduce weight, because 100 grams of this herb contains only 24.8 calories.

Important information! If you eat untreated leaves often and a lot, flatulence will occur.

Tea

For a simple and vitamin-packed tea recipe, take:

• nettle leaves,
• dog-rose fruit,
• thyme.

Pour one tablespoon of each ingredient into two glasses of hot water into a container. Allow the finished product to stand for two hours, then drink as regular tea. Another advantage of this tea is that there is no need to waste time preparing the decoction.

Dangerous properties and contraindications

It is not recommended for use by people diagnosed with varicose veins or thrombophlebitis, as this plant strongly thickens the blood. Under no circumstances should it be used by pregnant women, as it can cause contractions and premature birth.

Nettle is a tasty and healthy weed

Many people become acquainted with nettles in early childhood; this acquaintance is very memorable and not at all gastronomic. Meanwhile, the burning character of nettle is completely pacified as soon as it falls into the skillful hands of a cook. A wide variety of dishes are prepared from nettles, although most people only think of nettle soup, also known as nettle cabbage soup. Translated from Latin, nettle means stinging. This is a weed, although in some European countries nettle is specially cultivated.

Moreover, from the point of view of usefulness, calling nettle a weed is somehow unfair. Doctors appreciated its healing properties back in ancient times.

– Nettle contains vitamins A, several vitamins B, C and K, as well as minerals: copper, iron, potassium, zinc, calcium, manganese, selenium, phosphorus, fluorine, iodine. – Nettle accelerates metabolic processes, removes toxins from the body, fights infections, strengthens blood vessels, increases hemoglobin levels, improves heart function, helps get rid of chronic fatigue, and has a beneficial effect on the gastrointestinal tract.

So, you can see for yourself that nettle dishes simply must be on your table. They will give the body tired in winter the necessary boost of vigor. In addition, nettle is an excellent textile material. Clothes are made from its fibers. Ropes, ropes and fishing tackle made from nettle are famous for their extraordinary strength. They also attributed special magical powers to it and made amulets from the leaves of the plant.

In the fairy tale by G.Kh. Andersen's "Wild Swans" the girl Eliza wove shirts from nettles for her 11 brothers, bewitched by an evil sorceress. The shirts were supposed to restore their human appearance.

The youngest, tender, light green leaves are used in cooking. Although young nettles do not sting as much as mature ones, you should still wear rubber gloves to avoid discomfort. Nettle does not have a distinct taste, so ingredients with richer flavor characteristics are added to dishes. For example, they put sorrel in cabbage soup with nettles to get a pleasant sourness.

Nettle cabbage soup can also be non-vegetarian. Pelageya Alexandrova-Ignatieva’s book “Practical Fundamentals of Culinary Art,” published in 1899, provides a recipe that includes two types of meat and sausages.

Nettle can be used for cabbage soup only while it is still young; old nettle is very bitter, and cabbage soup made from it has a bad taste. Taking the young nettle, sort it out, rinse it thoroughly, rinse it with boiling water, let it boil once, then put it on a sieve, pour over it with cold water, squeeze it dry and finely chop it. "Practical Fundamentals of Culinary Art"

Nettle can also be added to summer okroshka made with either kvass or kefir. It is necessary to scald the greens with boiling water or boil them for just a couple of minutes to remove the heat. In principle, these simple manipulations should always be done when you prepare dishes with nettles that have not been heat-treated.

By the way, in order to preserve all the vitamins as much as possible, it is recommended to salt food with nettles immediately before serving.

In Moldova and Romania, chorba, a type of sour soup, is prepared with nettles and rice. For acid, add kvass or vinegar to it. The soup is thickened with flour fried in butter or vegetable oil. The French gastronomic school offers creamy nettle soup. For a rich taste, the soup is cooked in chicken broth, and the thickness is created using potatoes.

Feel free to add nettles to any vegetable salads. She, of course, won’t solo, but she will happily give you the prescribed dose of vitamins. Potato salad with egg and nettle is no less good. If you like pesto and make it yourself, replace the basil with nettles. Or use both herbs to make the sauce as usual spicy. Italian chefs add nettles to risotto and pasta sauces. Dishes take on an amazing creamy green hue, since nettle, like spinach, is a natural dye. For risotto and pasta, nettle leaves are first blanched and crushed to a puree consistency.

Nettle is also good in baking. If you are planning to bake a pie with spinach, you can safely replace the spinach with nettles. In Ossetia, famous for its pies, there is a special recipe for nettle pie. Pypyshdzhyn is a type of Ossetian pie with cheese and herbs, which also includes young nettle shoots. It is believed that this recipe is quite young and is not included in the classic list of pies with meat, cheese, potatoes and beet tops. On the other hand, many Ossetians say that their grandmothers baked such a pie. In general, there is nothing surprising in this: in the Caucasus, nettle has always been used in cooking along with wild garlic as the first spring green. For example, the Laks, a people of Dagestan, also actively use nettles. It is put into the filling of thin burkiv flatbreads. It’s called mechal burkiw, which means flatbread with nettles. They are fried in a dry frying pan, without oil, just like kutabs. Dagestanis also make kurze with nettles - an analogue of our dumplings.

Finally, a few interesting facts:

– Before the era of refrigerators, nettles were used as a preservative: they put a few leaves in milk, wrapped fish and meat to keep the food fresh. – In the Tula region there is the village of Krapivna. Residents took advantage of the promising name and organized an annual nettle festival. Moreover, the village has its own coat of arms, and it depicts nettles. “The English, having forgotten their characteristic composure and prudence, annually hold a fiery competition. Participants try to eat as many nettle stems as possible in one hour. The result is measured in meters of these very stems eaten. – There is a butterfly for which nettle is the most desirable delicacy. That's why it was called "urticaria".

For hair growth and scalp care

In cosmetology, it is widely known as the best helper for hair loss. The author of the medieval medico-pharmacological treatise in Latin verse “On the Powers of Herbs” mentioned it as an effective remedy for hair growth and strengthening. There are many cosmetic recipes using nettle decoction; modern manufacturers make products based on this hot plant, but we still offer recipes so that you can independently make home cosmetic procedures for the health and beauty of your hair.

• To stimulate growth and shine: take 100 grams of leaves, finely chop, add 0.5 cups of vinegar, 0.5 cups of water. The mass must be boiled for half an hour, then cooled and rubbed into the scalp 2-3 times a week.
• Mask for growth: add pharmacy vitamin E capsules to nettle juice. This mask will help well for the growth and strengthening of curls. It is recommended to rub it into the roots once a week for best results.
• Mask for oily hair: take fresh herb and grind it in a blender. You need to add a teaspoon of salt to the resulting mixture. The resulting paste should be applied to the hair and rubbed in gently. Then you need to wrap your head in plastic and wrap it in a towel. After 20 minutes, wash off. This mask can be applied no more than twice a week.
• For a general strengthening effect: take 1 tsp. dried nettle leaves, 1 tsp. sage, 1 tbsp. l. dried chamomile flowers and 2 glasses of water. Boil water, place the herbs in a mug or jar and fill it all with hot water. Cover with a lid and let steep until the broth has cooled. After this, strain the infusion through cheesecloth and use while showering or after.
• To combat early gray hair or seborrheic disease: take 100 grams of leaves, chop and boil in one glass of water. You can rinse your hair with this infusion 3-4 times a week.
• For lightening hair. A suitable option for blondes. To obtain a brightening effect, brew nettle leaves and chamomile flowers mixed in equal proportions. Then strain the infusion and rinse your hair with it. Next, wrap the wet curls in a bag or plastic wrap and a towel for 60 minutes. Afterwards, rinse your hair again with the remnants of the cooled infusion.
• Scalp scrub. You need to grind rye bran and nettles in a blender. Add finely ground salt (extra) to the mixture. Then use the mass to cleanse the skin of sebaceous secretions and dandruff once a week.
• Revitalizing mask. Take 1 cup of crushed leaves, 50 g of yeast, 3 tbsp. l. honey and vegetable oil. Mix everything and stir for a long time until smooth. The mask is designed for only 30 minutes, then rinse your hair thoroughly with water and be sure to use shampoo.

Literature:

1. Nettle (genus of plants) // Great Soviet Encyclopedia M.: Soviet Encyclopedia, 1969-1978.
2. Lavrenova G.V., Lavrenov V. Encyclopedia of medicinal plants.
3. Yuri Konstantinov “Nettle. A unique natural medicine."
4. Daria Veryasova "Nettle". Ivan Dubrovin “All about ordinary nettles.”
5. I. P. Neumyvakin “Nettle: myths and reality”, 2022.
6. Akhmetov R.B. “Overcome the grass.”
7. Polevaya M. A. "St. John's wort and nettle - natural power."