Stinging Nettle, often referred to as nettle, is a medicinal plant that has been used as an herbal remedy for thousands of years for its many health benefits. It has been used in alternative medicine against many medical conditions, including loss of libido, Inflammation, Enlarged Prostate Symptoms and high blood pressure.
Stinging Nettle has been recorded as far back as the Bronze Age (3,000 BCE – 1200 BCE) and it’s still being used by herbalists today. There are records between 58 and 45 BCE of nettles stinging properties assisting Julius Caesar’s troop in helping them stay awake and alert during the night.
But before we move on to the list, allow me to describe the plant a little to help you better understand.
Stinging Nettle is a plant with pointed leaves and yellowish to white flowers. It primarily grows in fertile, damp soil. The leaves are very unique and when touched, they give off certain chemicals. The hair structures cause the chemical to be injected into the skin and this causes a burning sensation, which is often called stinging sensation. But the burning effect is only temporary and not dangerous. The plant gets its name because of the stinging sensation that you get when you brush against the plant’s hairy stems and leaves.
Stinging Nettle grows in North America, Europe and Africa and can be eaten on its own or as an ingredient in other food preparations. You must first cook or steam the nettle leaves in order to destroy the hairs on them. But most of the times, they are dried and processed until it is in the form of a powder.
In this article, you will learn 14 Stinging Nettle benefits for men’s health, as well as women’s well-being. You will also discover many nutrients, including all the essential amino acids, packed in this small plant.
Here are 14 benefits of stinging nettle:
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
In Europe, Stinging Nettle is a common alternative treatment for BPH, a form of enlarged prostate. A great majority of Some prostate supplements on the market include Stinging Nettle as an ingredient. The reason is because in many studies plant has been shown to reduce the level of DHT levels. High levels of DHT contribute to prostate problems.
- Urinary disorders
Stinging nettle has shown to reduce and relief urinary symptoms which are often caused by enlarged prostate. When the prostatic gland is enlarged it causes a pressure against the bladder and the urethra. In turn, this leads to the development of urinary tract infections which are associated with urination difficulty, urinary retention, leakage and nocturia.
- Improve kidney failure
Stinging Nettle has many benefits to the kidneys functioning. It has been shown to increase creatinine, a chemical waste product of creatine. Your body uses creatine to supply your muscles with energy and improve kidney functions. It is also said to decrease and dissolve kidney stones.
- Certain Allergies
Stinging Nettle acts as an anti-inflammatory and may be useful in reducing the symptoms of hay fever. There’s some research that has linked using Stinging Nettle as an alternative treatment can relieve symptoms of itchy eyes, sneezing, and a runny nose.
- Joint pain
According to some research, there is evidence that rubbing the leaves of Stinging Nettle on painful joints can provide relief. There was also a small study that found eating stewed Stinging Nettle leaves improve the therapeutic effects of the anti-inflammatory drug called diclofenac.
- Arthritis
Stinging Nettle is commonly used in alternative treatment of osteoarthritis. People have used it to treat arthritis and alleviate the pain. The Arthritis Foundation suggests taking up to 1,300 mg of Stinging Nettle in the form of capsule, tablet, tincture, extract, or a cream application directly to the skin.
- Diabetes
The root and above ground parts of Stinging Nettle are used for diabetes and is actually one benefits of the most common uses of the plant. But when it comes to diabetes, there are some controversies. Some research find Stinging Nettle can control blood sugar in type 2 diabetes, while other studies have found that it can raise blood sugar. So be sure to talk to your professional care provider and check your glucose levels regularly if you have diabetes and are taking Stinging Nettle supplement.
- High blood pressure
Stinging Nettle may help lower blood pressure. This may be due to people using it as a diuretic. When someone has high blood pressure, the diuretic causes the body to shed more water, thus help rid your body of salt in the urine. By helping removing water and sodium from your blood, stinging nettle decreases the amount of fluid and salt flowing through your veins and arteries, consequently lowers blood pressure.
- Wound healing and reduced bleeding
Stinging Nettle may be useful in helping wounds heal faster as well as shorten the amount of time that someone bleeds. Some studies were conducted on rat to develop more effective dressings to expedite healing processes and diminish the bacterial burden in burn wounds. The researchers assessed the healing effect of nettle extract on second degree burns wound in rats in comparison with silver sulfadiazine and vaseline. The results showed maximal rate of healing in the nettle group.
- Reduce inflammation
Many people use Nettle as an anti-inflammatory remedy, and there are scientific findings to back up that. In a study published by the Department of Nutritional Sciences & Toxicology, the plant was found to have potent anti inflammation activity. During the study, the scientists used Extracts of four plant portions: roots, stems, leaves and flowers. The extracts were prepared using accelerated solvent extraction involving water, hexanes, methanol and dichloromethane. The extracts were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activity. It was found that stinging nettle extracts not only possess powerful anti-inflammatory activity but may be superior to traditional tinctures commonly used to treat inflammatory disorders
- Balance testosterone and DHT
The root of Nettle helps to balance the proportion of testosterone and DHT which favors better erection. It also prevents sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) from attaching to male tissues, and block DHT from binding to the globulin. SHBG is a glycoprotein that binds to sex hormones, especially testosterone and estradiol. low levels of SHBG are linked with many medical conditions in both men and women, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure. By regulating the balance, nettle helps maintain healthy hormone levels.
- Multivitamins and Minerals
Stinging Nettle Extract is packed with vitamins and other nutrients. Among others, the plant contains vitamins A, C, K and B. The root and leaf of nettle also has many minerals: calcium, potassium, sodium, phosphorus, magnesium and iron.
- Healthy Fats and essential amino acids
There are several healthy fats in nettle including palmitic, oleic, stearic and linoleic acids. All of these nutrients are very important for men to maintain overall good health. As an added bonus stinging nettle extract also contains all of the essential amino acids that the body needs, and they are building blocks for proteins.
- Prostate Ulcer
In a recent Turkish study, the researchers found stinging nettle extract has antimicrobial effects against nine microorganisms, as well as anti-ulcer and analgesic properties in the prostate gland. When combined with sabal fruit extract, The root extract was found to be superior to placebo in the treatment of prostate hyperplasia, a precancerous condition, and was well tolerated.
Summary
Natural alternatives, like Stinging Nettle, in the treatment of prostate problems are becoming more popular every day. This is primarily because people are becoming more aware of the side effects caused by pharmaceutical drugs, and they are looking for natural alternative treatments that produce positive results with no side effects.
Although Stinging Nettle is most commonly used as an alternative treatment for these conditions above, there are a host of nettle benefits you receive from using the plant regularly.
