Herbs and plantsNettle — a weed that heals more than we think?
Sources: 8 · Article: 13 149 characters
Jan Jaśkowski and Henryk Różański describe nettle as a plant with many uses, from allergies and diabetes to skin care and urinary problems.
- Jan Jaśkowski also lists its nutrients and its possible anti-inflammatory effects and support for digestion.
- Henryk Różański describes the uses of different parts of the plant, including the roots and rhizomes, but also lists contraindications and a possible temporary effect on male fertility.
- Nettle may also cause itching, redness, and swelling of the skin.
What the authors write
Jan Jaśkowski
Jan Jaśkowski says nettle has detoxifying, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and anti-hemorrhagic effects.
„The plant’s leaves have stinging, hair-like structures, and their formic acid content also causes itching, redness, and swelling.
There are many reasons to use nettle, including its detoxifying, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and anti-hemorrhagic effects.”Liście rośliny mają struktury włoskowate, które kłują, a poprzez zawartość kwasu mrówkowego powodują także swędzenie, zaczerwienienie i obrzęk.
Z wielu powodów, dla których warto stosować pokrzywy, wymienić należy działanie detoksykujące, przeciwzapalne, odkażające oraz przeciwkrwotoczne.
Jan Jaśkowski
Jan Jaśkowski describes nettle as a natural treatment for hay fever that blocks histamine receptors and limits the release of substances that cause allergies.
„Nettle is a natural treatment for hay fever. It works mainly by blocking histamine receptors and preventing immune cells from releasing chemicals that cause allergy symptoms (5).”Pokrzywa jest naturalną metodą leczenia kataru siennego. Jej działanie to przede wszystkim blokowanie receptorów histaminowych i powstrzymywanie komórek odpornościowych przed uwalnianiem substancji chemicznych wywołujących objawy alergii (5).
Jan Jaśkowski
Jan Jaśkowski says that compounds in nettle support diabetes treatment by lowering blood sugar levels.
„Compounds in nettle support diabetes treatment because they lower blood sugar levels—a finding supported by scientific research (6).
This herb may also help reduce excess body weight because it regulates metabolism and aids digestion, helping people lose extra weight.”Związki zawarte w pokrzywie mają wspomagające działanie przy leczeniu cukrzycy, ponieważ obniżają poziom cukru we krwi — jest to udowodnione w badaniach naukowych (6).
Zioło to ma także działanie wspomagające redukcję nadmiernej masy ciała, ponieważ reguluje przemianę materii i ułatwia trawienie, poprzez co wspomaga utratę zbędnych kilogramów.
Jan Jaśkowski
Jan Jaśkowski attributes support for metabolism and digestion to nettle, which may help reduce excess body weight.
„This herb may also help reduce excess body weight because it regulates metabolism and aids digestion, helping people lose extra weight.
Nettle also works very well as a natural cosmetic. It can be used to restore the skin, hair, and nails.”Zioło to ma także działanie wspomagające redukcję nadmiernej masy ciała, ponieważ reguluje przemianę materii i ułatwia trawienie, poprzez co wspomaga utratę zbędnych kilogramów.
Pokrzywa sprawdza się świetnie również jako naturalny kosmetyk. Można jej używać do regeneracji skóry, włosów i paznokci.
Jan Jaśkowski
Jan Jaśkowski lists the vitamins, minerals, and other compounds in nettle, as well as its effect on the amount of antioxidants in the body.
„Above all, nettle herb is an invaluable source of minerals such as iron, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, silicon, and potassium. It is also a source of vitamins A, E, K, B2, and C. Nettle additionally contains chlorophyll, flavonoids, organic acids, and tannins. It also increases the amount of antioxidants in the body (1).”Przede wszystkim ziele pokrzywy jest nieocenionym źródłem soli mineralnych, takich jak żelazo, wapń, fosfor, magnez, krzem oraz potas. Jest ona także źródłem witamin A, E, K, B2 oraz C. Dodatkowo pokrzywa zawiera chlorofil, flawonoidy, kwasy organiczne i garbniki. Ponadto pokrzywa podnosi ilość antyoksydantów w organizmie (1).
Jan Jaśkowski
Jan Jaśkowski describes nettle as a natural cosmetic for restoring the skin, hair, and nails, and for regulating excessive sweating.
„This herb may also help reduce excess body weight because it regulates metabolism and aids digestion, helping people lose extra weight.
Nettle also works very well as a natural cosmetic. It can be used to restore the skin, hair, and nails. It also regulates excessive sweating.”Zioło to ma także działanie wspomagające redukcję nadmiernej masy ciała, ponieważ reguluje przemianę materii i ułatwia trawienie, poprzez co wspomaga utratę zbędnych kilogramów.
Pokrzywa sprawdza się świetnie również jako naturalny kosmetyk. Można jej używać do regeneracji skóry, włosów i paznokci. Poza tym reguluje nadmierne pocenie się.
Jan Jaśkowski
Nettle can irritate the skin, causing itching, redness, and swelling.
„The plant’s leaves have stinging, hair-like structures, and their formic acid content also causes itching, redness, and swelling.
There are many reasons to use nettle, including its detoxifying, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and anti-hemorrhagic effects.”Liście rośliny mają struktury włoskowate, które kłują, a poprzez zawartość kwasu mrówkowego powodują także swędzenie, zaczerwienienie i obrzęk.
Z wielu powodów, dla których warto stosować pokrzywy, wymienić należy działanie detoksykujące, przeciwzapalne, odkażające oraz przeciwkrwotoczne.
Henryk Różański
Henryk Różański describes young nettle as an ingredient in salads, juice, and other homemade preserves, and says it has detoxifying and strengthening effects.
„We can already use young nettle to make salads, an herbal extract, juice, a macerate, and nettle butter (chop fresh nettle into cow’s butter). Put chopped nettle herb on bread with butter. It has detoxifying and strengthening effects. It provides easily absorbed vitamins K, C, A (provitamin), and E, as well as iron, magnesium, and silicon.”Właśnie już teraz możemy z takiej młodej pokrzywy przygotowywać sałatki, intrakt, sok, macerat oraz masełko pokrzywowe (masło krowie posiekać ze świeżą pokrzywą). Siekane ziele pokrzywy dawać na chlebek z masłem. Działa odtruwająco i wzmacniająco. Dostarcza łatwo przyswajalną witaminę K, C, A (prowitamina), E, żelazo, magnez i krzem.
Henryk Różański
Henryk Różański says nettle provides vitamins and minerals, stimulates the production of red blood cells, and may help with paleness and weakness.
„It provides easily absorbed vitamins K, C, A (provitamin), and E, as well as iron, magnesium, and silicon. It improves well-being. It stimulates the bone marrow to produce red blood cells. It relieves the paleness and weakness of spring. An herbal extract (1 part ground herb to 5 parts 40% alcohol) made from fresh herb strengthens the hair and nourishes the skin (rinses and washes).”Dostarcza łatwo przyswajalną witaminę K, C, A (prowitamina), E, żelazo, magnez i krzem. Poprawia samopoczucie. Pobudza szpik do wytwarzania krwinek czerwonych. Usuwa wiosenną bladość i osłabienie. Intrakt (1 częśc ziela mielonego na 5 częsci alkoholu 40%) na swieżym zielu wzmacnia włosy i odżywia skórę (płukanki, przemywanie).
Henryk Różański
Henryk Różański describes nettle as a remedy that supports urination in people with an enlarged prostate and reduces related symptoms.
„Preparations made from nettle root and rhizome improve urination in people with an enlarged prostate. Bladder emptying improves considerably, and swelling and pain during urination decrease. Patients gain greater control over urination and bladder control.”Preparaty oparte na korzeniu i kłączy pokrzywy poprawiają proces oddawania moczu u chorych na przerost gruczołu krokowego. Opróżnianie pęcherza wydatnie poprawia się, zmniejsza się obrzęk i dolegliwości bólowe przy oddawaniu moczu. Chorzy w większym stopniu kontrolują oddawanie i trzymanie moczu.
Henryk Różański
Henryk Różański also lists uses of nettle for respiratory problems, bleeding, skin conditions, and other complaints.
„Uses: enlarged prostate, overactive thyroid, lack of ovulation, pale skin and weight loss caused by anorexia and anemia, extreme sports, chronic skin conditions, obesity, diabetes, low urine output, urinary stones, inflammation of the urinary tract, hair and nail conditions, reduced resistance to infections, poisoning, detoxifying and rejuvenating (regenerative) treatments, rheumatism, arthritis, respiratory catarrh, colds, and a tendency to hemorrhage.”Wskazania: przerost gruczołu krokowego, nadczynność tarczycy, brak owulacji, bladość skóry i wychudzenie spowodowane anoreksją i niedokrwistością, uprawianie sportów ekstremalnych, przewlekłe choroby skóry, otyłość, cukrzyca, skąpomocz, kamica moczowa, stan zapalny układu moczowego, choroby włosów i paznokci, obniżona odporność na infekcje, zatrucia, kuracje odtruwające i odmładzające (regenerujące), reumatyzm, artretyzm, nieżyt układu oddechowego, przeziębienie, skłonności do krwotoków.
Henryk Różański
Henryk Różański lists Cushing’s disease and polycystic ovary syndrome as contraindications, and also warns that nettle rhizomes may temporarily lower male fertility.
„Contraindications: Cushing’s disease, polycystic ovary syndrome.
Nettle rhizomes may temporarily lower male fertility. Men planning to father a child in the near future should stop taking nettle preparations.
Active compounds in nettle rhizomes and roots:”Przeciwwskazania: choroba Cushinga, zespół policystycznych jajników.
Kłącza pokrzywy mogą przejściowo obniżać płodność mężczyzn. Mężczyźni, którzy planują w najbliższym czasie prokreację powinni odstawić preparaty pokrzywy.
Składniki aktywne kłączy i korzeni pokrzywy:
Henryk Różański
Henryk Różański says that herbal medicine uses the rhizome with roots, the leaf, and the whole herb, and less often the fruit of the nettle.
„Nettle—Urtica, from the Urticaceae family—is a medicinal plant from which the rhizome with roots, the leaf, or even the whole herb is collected. A less common nettle ingredient is the fruit—Fructus Urticae. The nettle fruit is a small nut, oval and lens-shaped, with a flattened profile.”Pokrzywa – Urtica, z rodziny Urticaceae (pokrzywowate), jest rośliną leczniczą z której pozyskuje się kłącze z korzeniami, liść, a nawet całe ziele. Mniej popularnym surowcem z pokrzywy jest owoc – Fructus Urticae. Owoc pokrzywy to orzeszek, jajowaty, soczewkowato spłaszczony.
Henryk Różański
Henryk Różański describes nettle fruit oil as rich in unsaturated fatty acids and warns that the fruits quickly lose their medicinal properties after being crushed.
„After drying the fruits, do not crush them, because the oil, which is rich in unsaturated fatty acids, quickly goes rancid and loses its medicinal properties. Raw, pressed nettle oil is greenish or greenish-yellow. Herbs rich in gallic acid (extracts or micronized raw material), as well as gallic acid itself, preserve nettle oil and crushed fruits.”Po wysuszeniu owoców nie rozdrabniać, bowiem olej bogaty w nienasycone kwasy tłuszczowe ulega szybko jełczeniu i traci właściwości lecznicze. Surowy, wytłoczony olej pokrzywowy jest zielonawy lub zielonożółty. Zioła bogate w kwas galusowy (ekstrakty, zmikronizowany surowiec) oraz sam kwas galusowy konserwują olej pokrzywowy i rozdrobnione owoce.
Research from PubMed · Europe PMC
We selected 4 studies with the best, positive results. This is a selection, not a full review of all research.
Total number of studies on this topic in PubMed: 238.
In postmenopausal women, nettle vaginal cream improved sexual quality of life compared with a placebo.
Aim of the study: To examine the effect of Urtica dioica vaginal cream on sexual quality of life in postmenopausal women.
Results: Eighty women (40 per group) completed the trial. The mean total score rose from 73.7 ± 9.5 to 84.9 ± 9.6 in the nettle group and from 78.5 ± 8.1 to 81.7 ± 8.1 in the placebo group. After adjustment for baseline scores, the difference between the groups was 3.4 points at four weeks and 7.7 points at eight weeks, in favor of nettle (P < 0.001). No adverse events were reported. Eight weeks of nettle vaginal cream improved sexual quality of life in postmenopausal women and may offer a non-hormonal option for women who cannot or choose not to use hormone therapy. Longer trials are needed to determine whether the effect persists after treatment ends.
Money for the studynot stated
Do the authors have ties to companies?not stated
Did a manufacturer help with the study?unknown
Type of studystudy with random allocation to groups (RCT)
Participants84
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
The review found that nettle was among the plants with the best results for glycemic control, although evidence of its efficacy and safety remains insufficient.
Aim of the study: In Iranian traditional medicine, the use of herbs for their anti-diabetic effects is widely promoted. This review aimed to assess the glucose-lowering effects of medicinal plants grown in Iran.
Results: The quality of Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) was assessed using the Jadad scale. Among the RCTs, the best results in glycemic control were found for Aloe vera, Citrullus colocynthus, Plantago ovata, Silybum marianum, Rheum ribes, and Urtica dioica. Most plants studied for anti-diabetic effects showed promising results. However, there is not enough evidence on the efficacy and safety of most plants used to treat diabetes.
Money for the studynot stated
Do the authors have ties to companies?not stated
Did a manufacturer help with the study?unknown
Type of studyreview of many studies
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
In a laboratory study, nettle extract had antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects and moderately inhibited colon cancer cells.
Aim of the study: Urtica dioica L. is one of the most widely utilized medicinal plants commonly applied in the form of tea, juice, and dietary supplements.
Results: Moreover, they had no negative impact on cell viability and morphology in normal cells and the extracts, particularly UdF, moderately suppressed adenocarcinoma cells. Furthermore, UdF significantly decreased IL-1β levels in HT29 cells. Our research indicates that U. dioica may provide significant health advantages because of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
Money for the studynot stated
Do the authors have ties to companies?no — the authors say so
Did a manufacturer help with the study?NO
Type of studylaboratory study (on cells)
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
Selected immune indicators increased in fish fed nettle, and 96% of the fish in the nettle group survived after infection.
Aim of the study: This study was aimed at determining the effects of ethanolic extracts of nettle (Urtica dioica) and green olive tree (Phillyrea latifolia), used as feed additives, on innate immune responses in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata). Ethanolic extracts from leaves of both plants were incorporated into feeds in two separate experimental setups, and the fish received 0, 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg nettle or green olive tree extracts for 60 days.
Results: It was determined that nettle supplementation resulted in 96% survival rate after the challenge test. In both trials, expression levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, IL-18, and TNF-α genes were analyzed and evaluated alongside other parameters. Consequently, the findings indicated that nettle, particularly at 100 mg/kg feed, provided the strongest support for immunostimulation and disease resistance in gilthead seabream. In contrast, green olive tree extract showed preliminary immunomodulatory effects that require further confirmation by deeper phytochemical standardization/quantitative characterization and a valid pathogen challenge.
Money for the studygovernment, public institutions · Kastamonu University, Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK)
Do the authors have ties to companies?no — the authors say so
Did a manufacturer help with the study?NO
Type of studyanimal study
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
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