Therapy and areas of application

The medical effectiveness of preparations made from nettle leaves or nettle roots has been confirmed in many studies. The healing effect in arthritis and rheumatism comes from the ingredient of the nettle leaves of the large nettle, which inhibits the formation of inflammatory substances. The caffeoyl malic acid and unsaturated fatty acids help to alleviate rheumatism.

Nettle herb can be used both for rheumatoid complaints and for urinary tract inflammations. The stinging nettle tea preparations have a water-secreting and flushing effect on urinary tract diseases and the formation of kidney and urinary gravel. Stinging nettle root extracts improve symptoms of age-related benign enlargement of the prostate gland.

The problems with urination as a result of an enlarged prostate were improved in a study with nettle root extracts. The nocturnal urge to urinate was reduced after taking nettle extracts and the urine flow increased. The residual urine remaining in the bladder decreased.

Application in homeopathy

As Urtica urens, obtained from the fresh flowering herb. In potencies D2 to D6 used for hives and other burning and itching skin rashes. Also for light burns and sunburn. Also used for rheumatism and gout for better elimination of uric acid. Also has a positive effect on the milk flow in nursing mothers.

Dosage forms

The stinging nettle is not only a so-called weed, but a tasty medicinal plant. Valuable ingredients such as vitamins A. and E, magnesium, sodium, iron, potassium and silicon, as well as many other active plant ingredients make it effective. Prepared preparations (capsules) with various dry extracts, fresh plant juice or preparations made from the leaves or the herb of the stinging nettle are used.

The recommended daily dose is 8 to 12 g of dried leaves, divided into two to three portions per day. You can also use 3 x 15 millilitres of pressed juice. Please always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

For the preparation of a tea you need three to four teaspoons of finely chopped herb. This is boiled with 150 ml boiling water and strained after 10 minutes. One drinks two to three portions of it a day.

Ready-made preparations from the roots of the nettle are available as capsules, film-coated tablets or drops. They consist of liquid or dry extracts and tea preparations. A daily dose of 4 to 6 g of nettle root is recommended.

Please follow the manufacturer’s instructions. To make a tea from nettle roots you need one teaspoon of crushed root. This is boiled with 150 ml cold water for 1 minute and then strained after 10 minutes.

Drink 2 to 3 cups of nettle root tea. For external use, stinging nettle tincture in a ratio of 1:10 with methylated spirit. Nettle hair tonic is considered an old household remedy against greasy hair, hair loss and dandruff.

To prepare one stinging nettle hair tonic you need 250 g chopped root. This is boiled in one litre of water and 0.5 l of wine vinegar for 30 minutes. This results in a hair tonic which is used to massage the hair once a week. It should be noted, however, that finished preparations are often of higher quality than simple tea mixtures.