Stinging Nettle

1. Michael Cefole, PharmD Candidate 2017
Commonwealth Center for Holistic Herbalism
Week 6: 10/24/2016 – 10/27/2016
Herb of the Week: Stinging nettle

Common Name(s): Stinging nettle
Scientific Name: Urtica dioica, Urtica urens
Family: Urticaceae
Uses:
Orally: allergies, allergic rhinitis, UTIs, diuresis, nephrolithiasis, internal bleeding (i.e.,
ulcerations), epistaxis, anemia, and general tonic
Topically: musculoskeletal aches and pains, scalp seborrhea, oily hair, and alopecia
Safety:
Orally: generally recognized as safe (GRAS) when used up two 2 years
Topically: GRAS
Pregnancy: possible abortifacient and uterine-stimulant effect (Emma says its safe, so…)
Lactation: Emma says its safe
Efficacy:
Osteoarthritis: evidence to support oral or topical use; especially, OA of the thumb
Dosing/Administration:
Adults:
Poultice: the underside of a leaf cut from fresh nettle plant applied to the painful
area with gentle pressure for 10-30 seconds (moved twice), and applied twice daily
for 1 week.
Topical cream: 13.33% (w/w) stinging nettle extract (Liquid Phyto-Caps Nettle
Leaf®) in Lipobase® oil-in-water emulsion, used twice daily for 2 weeks
Children: Insufficient available evidence
Adverse Effects:
Orally: generally well tolerated when taken up to 2 years
Topically: generally well tolerated when taken up to 2 years
Interactions:
Drugs:
Antidiabetics: in theory, stinging nettle could cause hypoglycemia in diabetic patients
concurrently taking antidiabetic drugs. Stinging nettle has shown to modestly reduce blood
glucose levels in animal models.
Alcohol and other CNS depressants: theoretically, concomitant use of stinging nettle with
drugs with sedative properties may cause additive effects
Lithium: animal research suggests that stinging nettle has diuretic and natriuretic properties
– theoretically reducing lithium’s excretion.
Coumadin: stinging nettle contains high amounts of vitamin K; therefore, it is possible to
lower warfarin sodium’s effectiveness.
Foods:
None listed
Herbs/Supplements:
Antidiabetic herbs: in theory, stinging nettle could cause an additive effect with other herbs
that lower blood glucose levels. (e.g., alpha-lipoic acid, bitter melon, chromium, devil's claw,
fenugreek, garlic, guar gum, horse chestnut, Panax ginseng, psyllium, Siberian ginseng)
Hypnotic/sedating herbs: in theory, stinging nettle could cause an additive effect with other
herbs that have sedative properties. (e.g., 5-HTP, calamus, California poppy, catnip, hops,
Jamaican dogwood, kava, St. John's wort, skullcap, valerian, yerba mansa)
Lab Tests:

2. Michael Cefole, PharmD Candidate 2017
Commonwealth Center for Holistic Herbalism
Week 6: 10/24/2016 – 10/27/2016
Herb of the Week: Stinging nettle

None listed: I assume if it can theoretically interfere with coagulation, it is possible that
stinging nettle may alter an INR reading.
Diseases:
Diabetes, hypotension, renal insufficiency
Mechanism of Action:
Applicable parts: hairs, roots, leaves, and rhizomes
Anti-inflammatory effects: components found in the extract of the root. A fraction of an
aqueous extract containing polysaccharides demonstrated prolonged anti-inflammatory
activity in a rat paw edema test
Herbalist Experiences:
Historical:
• The Physiomedical Dispensatory, 1869 – “The root is a strong astringent, with moderately
stimulating and tonic qualities, of a sharp and rough taste. As a local arrester of bleeding, it
has few equals; and its infusion or tincture is of much power, used inwardly, for bleeding
from the nose, lungs, or stomach, and may also be used to excellent advantage in bleeding
from the bowels and passive menorrhagia. Some have used it in diarrhea; but it is suitable
only for low conditions and chronic forms of that malady. It is said to act well upon the
kidneys, but I have been unable to obtain any such impression from it; and can not
commend it in dropsy unless as a tonic and astringent with an excess of other agents, and
it is certainly an unsuitable article to use in febrile and acute nephritic difficulties. Dose of
the powder, from five to ten grains. A tincture may be made with two ounces to a pint of
diluted alcohol.”
Contemporary:
• Henriette – “Don't pick it where fecal bacteria thrive: behind the stables, next to the outdoor
loo, or beside the fence of the sheep, horse, cow or similar pasture…You can pick stinging
nettles off the compost heap, or from the pasture if it hasn't been in use for the last year or
so; but if you do, wait for three sunny days to minimize the nitrate content. There's nitrates.
There's nitrates in spinach, too. Spinach is the first real food they give to babies in France
... I do think the nitrate is bad for babies caution might be a tad overblown. But ... don't give
nettles to babies.”