Stinging Nettle is a common perennial plant that was originally found in North America, Western Europe, northern Africa and Asia. While this plant can be considered a scourge on beautiful landscapes and treated like a common weed, stinging nettle has provided many benefits over the centuries. Early societies used the fibers in the stalk to make textiles, a practice that was revived during World War I when harvesting cotton became difficult. Stinging Nettle is also widely considered a cure-all herb with a multitude of therapeutic qualities.
The seeds, leaves, stems, stalks, and roots of Stinging Nettle have many health benefits including:
- Activates the lymph system to increase immunity
- Boost milk production in lactating women
- Relieve menstrual cramps and bloating
- Calms hypertension
- Anti-inflammatory
- Diuretic
- Soothe muscle and joint pain
Stinging Nettle is rich in many nutrients, flavonoids, essential amino acids, and proteins. It has vitamins including A, B1, B5, C, D, E and K, iron, potassium, copper, zinc, magnesium, calcium and more. Looking to take advantage of some of stinging nettle’s health benefits? You can find its nutritional powers in the forms of powder, supplements, tinctures or a brewed tea. Clair’s Teas of Joy offers an Immune Booster tea that is specially designed to equip the body against infections and allergies. Stinging Nettle is brought together with Pau d’Arco bark, and echinacea in a single powerful blend that will help strengthen the immune system, ward off infections, and deter inflammation.
Reference:
- Mohammadi A, Mansoori B, Baradaran PC, Khaze V, Aghapour M, Farhadi M, Baradaran B. (2017) Urtica dioica Extract Inhibits Proliferation and Induces Apoptosis and Related Gene Expression of Breast Cancer Cells In Vitro and In Vivo. Clin Breast Cancer. 2017 Oct;17(6):463-470.
- Namazi N, Esfanjani AT, Heshmati J, Bahrami A. (2011) The effect of hydro alcoholic Nettle (Urtica dioica) extracts on insulin sensitivity and some inflammatory indicators in patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized double-blind control trial. Pak J Biol Sci. 2011 Aug 1;14(15):775-9.