Catherine Schofield - Medical Herbalist, discusses the healing powers of the humble Nettle
One of the joys of spring
for me undoubtedly is seeing the new bright green shoots of all our wild plants
emerging in the hedgerows, woods and waysides. Some bring with them the instant joys of their flowers, whilst others just doggedly drill their way up through
the winter-hardened ground to once more populate our world with green. Many of
these plants are at most under-appreciated or perhaps even reviled by some –
the nettle is one such.
It is admittedly a plant
with attitude – invasive and most of all that famous sting which, as children,
we are all taught to rub immediately with a dock leaf to quell the pain. But I
think it is time to celebrate its many medicinal virtues. I wouldn't go as far as to say cuddle a
nettle, but I am keen to spread word of the properties of this amazing plant.
Some say that nettles (Urtica dioica) are not indigenous to the
UK, but are a long settled foreign plant - possibly introduced by the Romans
who used it to treat the rheumatism they became prey to when they occupied this
gray and damp island. They were said to beat themselves with the leaves to
increase circulation and to provide a counter-irritant to the pain in their
joints - both interesting if uncomfortable ideas - but the counter-irritant
principle is still used in topical applications for aching joints. Whether this
is true, I can't comment, but I do know that the Romans were skilled herbalists
and it is likely that they knew the value of the nettle, much as it is still
very much appreciated by herbalists today.
Nettles are helpful for
many things, the root, leaves and seeds being used medicinally for a wide range
of applications. Also a good source of nutrition, young nettles can be eaten as
spring greens in soup (cooking deactivates the sting) as they are rich in iron
and other vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, calcium and silica, so
make a healthful addition to your diet. You can also make herb vinegars using
young nettles, which can preserve their qualities for the winter months.
Perhaps less well known is
the fact that nettles can be made into textiles, the fibres are long enough to
allow them to be woven into cloth. It is said that in World War I, some
soldiers uniforms were made from nettle fibres, when other textiles became
scarce.
A herb of wide medicinal use
The seed is a great 'local'
adaptogen - adaptogens are a class of herbs which help the body adapt to and
deal with stress which are incredibly useful to herbalists. The use of nettle
seed as an adaptogen also keys into the idea that herbs which are 'local' to
patients - i.e. are derived from a shared close environment, rather than from
far flung corners of the earth, give a them a greater sympathetic action within
the medicine. The plant itself contains serotonin, which may help with
depression, although this is not one of its key actions.
The seed is also helpful
for kidney problems and the whole plant is used to stimulate the kidneys,
although it is thought that long term consumption may put a strain on the
kidneys, because of its high silica content.
Nettles can be helpful for allergic skin complaints and for
prostatitis
Useful particularly for the
male genito-urinary tract - nettle root is often included in herbal remedies
for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostatitis. The leaves are used to
rid body of uric acid and so are used for gout and other rheumatic complaints
and usually figure in most herbal prescriptions for osteo and rheumatoid
arthritis. Similarly nettle leaf can help with some chronic skin disorders,
particularly where there may be an allergic cause to the problem, such as in
some eczemas and urticaria (ironically derived from the Latin for nettle and
commonly called 'nettle rash').
High blood sugar in
diabetes and high blood pressure will respond well to nettle and it can be used
to stimulate sluggish digestive systems, where there is low stomach acid.
If these myriad uses were not enough, it is also used to nourish hair and
nails because of its high silica content and is often used alongside rosemary
in order to stimulate hair growth and strengthen the hair fibre.
Summer is a'comin in... sing
aloud 'aitichoo'! Nettles for hay fever misery
The misery of summer hay
fever is well known and many of us snuffle our way through the summer months.
If you suffer from mild hay fever (or more properly, seasonal allergic
rhinitis) and want a more natural alternative to over the counter remedies, you
could try nettle and elderflower tea. Use a teaspoon of a mixture of dried
elderflowers and nettles in a cup of boiling water, cover whilst it is brewing
and then drink when cooled. Take this up to three times a day.
Nettles have a traditional
reputation for quelling allergies (ironic when you think of the effects of
nettles) and research seems to be confirming this traditional use. For example
remedies using freeze dried nettle leaves have been shown in one clinical trial
to have some positive effect against hay fever. Although not conclusive this
study thought that nettles might have an anti-inflammatory on the mucous
membranes (Mittman1990) However, a more recent study found that extract of
nettle has been found both to be anti-inflammatory and to have anti-histamine
effects (Roscheck et al. 2009). A useful addition to your nettle tea might
be Elderflowers (Sambuccus nigra)
which also soothe the mucous membranes and when dried or fresh they make a
refreshing tea with an interesting and refreshing musky taste.
You can pick and dry your
own nettles (be careful!!) but it is just as easy to get some nettle tea, ready
prepared, from your health food shop. Dried elderflowers can also be bought,
but can be less easy to find. However, these can be gathered from the hedgerows
and should be in flower in the next couple of months (pick from bushes away
from roads and from the nearer the top of the tree than the bottom – dogs can
pollute the lower branches). Try to pick the fresh flowers that are full of
pollen, as unlikely as this seems. it is the pollen which is thought to help
with hay fever. If you gather too many you could always make elderflower
cordial or wine!!
There are of course other
herbal remedies that can be effective for more severe hay fever and allergies
that are available through your herbal medicine practitioner.
This article is meant for educational purposes only and is not
intended as a guide for self-treatment. As with all herbal remedies, if you are
taking other medication, such as insulin or warfarin, are pregnant, lactating
or suffering from any medical condition check with a professional before using.
Make sure you buy herbs from a reliable source or if you are harvesting from
the wild that you have permission, identify the right plant and pick from an
uncontaminated source.
Don't take too much of anything for too long and discontinue
immediately if you have any ill effects.
To make an appointment to see Catherine at Bare Health - please call 01260 408413. Her next clinic day is Tuesday 20th May 10am - 4pm or alternatively, you can email catherine@naturesbestmedicine.
References
Mittman P.(1990) andomized, double-blind
study of freeze-dried Urtica dioica in the treatment of allergic rhinitis.Planta Med. Feb;56(1):44-7
Roschek B Jr, Fink RC, McMichael
M, Alberte RS. (2009) Nettle extract (Urtica
dioica) affects key receptors and enzymes associated with allergic rhinitis.Phytotherapy Res.Jul;23(7):920-6.
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