Stinging nettle is rather unpopular because it multiplies en masse and hurts unpleasantly when touched. But as a medicinal plant it has a long tradition and helps with rheumatism, cystitis and prostate problems. Historically, the nettle is a plant with quite an impressive career: the first poetic praise of the nettle was given by the Roman poet Catullus in the 1st century BC, who praised this plant after it cured his cold and cough. Dioscorides, a Greek physician of the 1st century AD, treated with nettle diseases for which it is still used today.
Nettle as a measuring tool
In the Middle Ages, the nettle was used to test how serious the patient was in case of illness. For this purpose, the plant was placed in the urine of the sick person. If the nettle remained green day and night, this spoke for a speedy recovery, but if it shriveled, this showed the seriousness of the disease.
Distribution and types of nettles
The family of nettles, Urticaceae, includes more than 30 species. The large stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) grows to a height of 60 cm to 150 cm and is special from a botanical point of view: it is a so-called dioecious plant, i.e. it has only male or female flowers. The small nettle (Urtica urens) grows only 15 cm to 45 cm high and each plant has united female and male parts in the flower. The generic name Urtica comes from the Latin “urere”, which translated means “to burn”, dioica means the said “dioecious”. Both species are widespread throughout the earth in temperate zones. Especially the small nettle grows almost everywhere – on paths, fields, meadows, rubble heaps and in gardens. The plant blooms from spring to late fall with spikes of small greenish flowers and is collected – flowering or not – from May to late July. Stems and leaves are covered with stinging hairs, the spherical tips of which break off when the fresh plant is touched. In the process, their constituents (formic acid as well as pro-inflammatory substances) are released into the skin, triggering the typical burning sensation and wheal formation. Given this effect, stinging nettle has given its name to an allergic reaction of the skin: hives or urticaria.
Nettles for bladder and kidneys
In medicine, it is mainly the plant parts of the large nettle that are used. Preparations from the leaves and herb have a mild diuretic effect, which is attributed to the high content of minerals, especially potassium. Therefore, the tea preparations from nettle leaves and herb are suitable as a water expelling agent (diuretic) for flushing in inflammatory diseases of the draining urinary tract and kidney gravel.
Nettles against rheumatism
Nettle owes its healing effect in rheumatism and inflammatory joint diseases to its content of caffeoyl malic acid and unsaturated fatty acids, which have anti-inflammatory properties. In this context, standardized finished preparations are often of higher quality than the loose tea drug. This is because the herb often has pieces of stem added to it, which contain fewer ingredients. Nettle extract is well tolerated and can also be taken long-term to support antirheumatic treatment.
Nettle for the treatment of prostate
The root of stinging nettle is suitable for treating symptoms of incipient benign prostate enlargement. It is unclear which ingredients are effective here: Fatty acids, phytosterones or lecines. In most cases, ready-to-use medications with the same active ingredient content are used. However, these only remedy the symptoms, not the enlargement of the prostate itself. Regular visits to the doctor are therefore important.
Preparation of nettle tea
Nettle tea helps to prevent and supportive treatment of bladder infections and kidney gravel. To do this, pour 3 to 4 teaspoons of nettle herb or leaves (about 4 g) with 150 ml of hot water and pass through a tea strainer after 10 minutes. Drink a cup of freshly prepared tea three to four times a day. In general, patients with urinary tract problems should make sure to drink plenty of fluids. But be careful: patients with heart or kidney weakness or water retention in the tissues may only consume a limited amount of fluid!
