Using Nettle as an herbal
antihistamine
Originally used in the 3rd century BC to
remove venom from snake bites, nettle is a valuable herbal medicine
used today to treat hay fever and prostrate problems.
Also known as stinging nettle, this plant has fine hairs on the leaves
and stems that contain chemicals that sting and burn when it comes in
contact
with the skin. An old folk remedy suggests that stinging
yourself
with nettle will relieve pain associated with arthritis.
Nettle is also a nutritious food that tastes very much like spinach.
It is particularly high in iron and other minerals, vitamin C
and
is rich in carotenoids.
Common uses for nettle as an herbal medicine include helping the body
to remove excess fluid, relieving allergy symptoms, reducing
inflammation and pain, easing prostrate symptoms and treating urinary
tract infections.
Nettle acts as diuretic, helping your body to rid itself of excess
fluid and toxins. People suffering from urinary tract
infections
report that it increases urination, which in turn helps to flush
infection-causing bacteria out of your body. Women who suffer
from bloating just before their period starts, experience relief after
taking nettle herbal supplements.
One of the most beneficial uses of nettle is treating hay fever.
Histamine is produced by your body in response to allergens
and
nasal congestion, sneezing and irritated watery eyes are a result of
the release of this inflammatory compound. Nettle is a source
of
quercetin which is a flavonoid that inhibits the release of histamine.
In a study conducted, more than half of allergy sufferers
rated
nettle to be an effective herbal remedy for hay fever and associated
allergic symptoms.
Another important benefit of nettle is that it is suitable for men with
an enlarged prostate that is not caused by cancer. This
condition
is called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and occurs when the
prostate enlarges and narrows the urethra, which is the tube that
transports out of the bladder. Herbal medicines
containing
nettle works by slowing down prostate growth. Studies have
shown
that nettle is as effective as finasteride, a medication
commonly
prescribed for BPH. Combining nettle with other herbal
supplements such as saw palmetto is effective at relieving symptoms
such as reduced urinary flow, incomplete emptying of the
bladder, post urination dripping, and the constant urge to urinate.
Nettle is also believed to block the hormonal changes that can
contribute to BPH.
More research is needed, but in a preliminary study, nettle helped
people who suffer from arthritis by reducing the amount of pain
medication needed. Patients were given 200 mg of diclofenac
only
(a prescription anti-inflammatory) and compared to a group of patients
who were given 55 g of nettle leaves daily along with the prescribed
diclofenac. The group that added the nettle leaves showed a
significant decrease in pain and inflammation.
What are the side effects of
Nettle?
Please
consult your medical
practitioner prior to using any herbal
medications should you be under their care.
Nettle is considered very safe when used at the recommended doses.
Stomach upsets have been reported and should this occur,
lower
the dosage or discontinue use for a few days.
Nettle can alter the menstrual cycle and there have been reports of
miscarriage, so pregnant women should not use nettle at all.
Please consult your medical practitioner should you experience any
prostate problems. Your doctor can eliminate the possibility
of
cancer and should then be able to advise you on a safe, herbal
treatment such as nettle.
Nettle thins blood, so people using blood thinning medications such as
Warfarin should take care when taking nettle supplements.
Nettle lowers blood pressure, so care should be taken when using
medications to treat high blood pressure.
How do I use Nettle?
When buying herbal supplements containing nettle, make sure that it
contains the freeze-dried herb, or an extract standardized to contain 1
percent plant silica which is an active ingredient in nettle.
To treat allergies and hay fever, take 250 mg of standardized extract
three times a day as needed.
To assist with BPH, use 250 mg of standardized extract twice a day in
combination with 160 mg of saw palmetto.
To relieve the pain and inflammation associated with gout and
arthritis, take 250 mg of standardized extract three times a day.
You can make a compress of nettle tea and apply this to
painful
joints.
Take nettle with food to minimize the risk of stomach upsets.
If
you are planning to use nettle as a food, make sure that you cook older
leaves to deactivate the stingers. The young shoots can be
eaten
raw or added to salads.
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