Part(s) Used: Herb
MEDICINAL: The plant is used for treating high blood pressure, gout, PMS, rheumatism, and ending diarrhea, scurvy, liver and prostate problems. Externally it is used as a compress to treat neuralgia and arthritis. It is a very high source of digestible iron. It also treats anemia, fatigue, edema, menstrual difficulties, eczema, enlarged prostate (especially when combined with Saw Palmetto), urinary tract problems, hay fever and allergies. It is very supportive during pregnancy. Use the infusion as a hair rinse to treat dandruff and to stimulate hair growth.
RELIGIOUS: Sprinkle nettle around the room to protect it. It is also burned during ceremonies for exorcism. Stuffed in a poppet and sent back to the sender of a curse or bad spell, it will end the negativity. Nettles gathered before sunrise and fed to cattle is said to drive evil spirits from them.
GROWING: As nettle is considered a bothersome weed, it is best to purchase this herb from a store. The spines on a nettle plant can cause painful stinging, so it is not a good idea to include it in your herbal garden.
Herbal Use: Nettle is stated to possess antihaemorrhagic and hypoglycaemic properties. Traditionally, it has been used for uterine haemorrhage, cutaneous eruption, infantile and psychogenic eczema, epistaxis, melaena and specifically for nervous eczema.(G2,G4,G6– G8, G32, G43, G50, G52, G54, G64) The German Commission E approved internal use of nettle leaf as supportive therapy for rheumatic ailments and as irrigation therapy for inflammatory disease of the lower urinary tract and prevention of kidney gravel; internal and external use for rheumatic ailments.(G3) The root is approved for difficulty in urination from benign prostatic hyperplasia.(G3)
Food UseNettle (herbs and leaves) is listed by the Council of Europe as a natural source of food flavouring (category 1) (see Appendix 3).(G17) Nettle is used in soups and herbal teas. Previously, in the USA, nettle has been listed by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) as a Herb of Undefined Safety.(G22)