Omnia SanaCommon names in 28 European languages →
The complete database record: 4 documented constituents, 6 pharmacological actions, 10 traditional / indicated uses, with 16 cited sources.
Botanical Description
Tall, upright perennial herb with square stems and opposite, deeply toothed, heart-shaped to lance-shaped leaves covered in fine stinging hairs that inject formic acid and histamine on contact. Tiny, greenish, petal-less flowers hang in branched, drooping clusters from the leaf axils.[11]
Habitat & Distribution
Grows abundantly on nitrogen-rich waste ground, hedgerows, riverbanks, woodland edges and disturbed soil; native to Europe, Asia, North Africa and North America and now found nearly worldwide.[11]
Harvesting
Young leaves and tops are gathered in spring before flowering, when stinging is least severe and nutrient content highest, using gloves; the root is dug in autumn or spring; seed is collected when ripe in late summer. Cooking, drying or freeze-drying neutralises the sting.[11]
Key Constituents
Contribute to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action.
Thought to underlie the root's traditional use for BPH-related urinary symptoms.
The irritant compounds responsible for the fresh plant's sting; destroyed by cooking, drying or freeze-drying.
Pharmacological Actions
Traditional & Indicated Uses
inferred from anti-rheumatic action
inferred from anticancer action
more plants for cancer (anticancer research) →detailed sources →
inferred from immunomodulator action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from diuretic action
more plants for swelling / fluid retention →detailed sources →
inferred from diuretic action
more plants for urinary tract infection (uti) →detailed sources →
Traditional Use & History
Nettle leaf has a long tradition as a nutritive spring tonic, diuretic and anti-inflammatory remedy for joint pain and rheumatism, while the root has a well-documented traditional and modern use for the irritative urinary symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia; the seed has a lighter tradition as a kidney tonic.[11, 13, 14]
Preparations
Dosage
The EU herbal monograph on nettle leaf gives 2-4 g as a single dose for herbal tea, 3-6 times daily, for a daily dose equivalent to 8-12 g, in adolescents, adults and elderly; a 1:5 liquid extract at 30-40 drops 3-4 times daily and several dry extracts are also listed. Not to be used for more than 4 weeks, and not recommended under 12 years. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
Traditional and Commission E sources suggest around 600-1200 mg root extract daily for BPH-related urinary symptoms. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
Fresh plant causes stinging skin reaction (formic acid, histamine). Once cooked, dried, or freeze-dried, this is eliminated. Root tincture may interact with diuretics, antihypertensives, and antidiabetic drugs. Generally very safe in culinary and standard medicinal use. Avoid very high doses in pregnancy.
Duke (2002) rates stinging nettle as +++ and provides clinical evidence (score 2) for antiprostatitic activity (BPH - benign prostatic hyperplasia), consistent with Commission E approval for irritative urination symptoms associated with BPH. Dose: 4–6 g dried herb daily or 600–1200 mg root extract. The root preparations are used for BPH while leaf preparations are used for antiallergic and anti-inflammatory purposes. Duke also notes experimental antiarthritic and analgesic activity. Generally safe; the most common adverse effect is mild gastrointestinal upset (Duke, 2002).
Harvest Readiness
[12]
[12]
External Identifiers
References & Sources
- Durovic, S., Kojic, I., Radic, D., Smyatskaya, Y.A. and others (2024) 'Chemical Constituents of Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica L.): A Comprehensive Review on Phenolic and Polyphenolic Compounds and Their Bioactivity', International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25(6), pp. 3430. doi:10.3390/ijms25063430 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25063430 - Semwal, P., Rauf, A., Olatunde, A., Singh, P. and others (2023) 'The medicinal chemistry of Urtica dioica L.: from preliminary evidence to clinical studies supporting its neuroprotective activity', Natural Products and Bioprospecting, 13(1), pp. 16. doi:10.1007/s13659-023-00380-5 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13659-023-00380-5 - Esposito, S., Bianco, A., Russo, R., Di Maro, A. and others (2019) 'Therapeutic Perspectives of Molecules from Urtica dioica Extracts for Cancer Treatment', Molecules, 24(15), pp. 2753. doi:10.3390/molecules24152753 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24152753 - Ziaei, R., Foshati, S., Hadi, A., Kermani, M.A.H. and others (2020) 'The effect of nettle (Urtica dioica) supplementation on the glycemic control of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis', Phytotherapy Research, 34(2), pp. 282-294. doi:10.1002/ptr.6535 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.6535 - Chrubasik, J.E., Roufogalis, B.D., Wagner, H. and Chrubasik, S (2007) 'A comprehensive review on the stinging nettle effect and efficacy profiles. Part II: urticae radix', Phytomedicine, 14(7-8), pp. 568-579. doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2007.03.014 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2007.03.014 - Koch, E (2001) 'Extracts from fruits of saw palmetto (Sabal serrulata) and roots of stinging nettle (Urtica dioica): viable alternatives in the medical treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia and associated lower urinary tract symptoms', Planta Medica, 67(6), pp. 489-500. doi:10.1055/s-2001-16496 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2001-16496 - Azimi, H., Khakshur, A.A., Aghdasi, I., Fallah-Tafti, M. and others (2012) 'A review of animal and human studies for management of benign prostatic hyperplasia with natural products: perspective of new pharmacological agents', Inflammation & Allergy Drug Targets, 11(3), pp. 207-221. doi:10.2174/187152812800392715 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.2174/187152812800392715 - Bhusal, K.K., Magar, S.K., Thapa, R., Lamsal, A. and others (2022) 'Nutritional and pharmacological importance of stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.): A review', Heliyon, 8(6), pp. e09717. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09717 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09717 - Dhouibi, R., Affes, H., Ben Salem, M., Hammami, S. and others (2020) 'Screening of pharmacological uses of Urtica dioica and other benefits', Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology, 150, pp. 67-77. doi:10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2019.05.008 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2019.05.008 - Saponaro, M., Giacomini, I., Morandin, G., Cocetta, V. and others (2020) 'Serenoa repens and Urtica dioica Fixed Combination: In-Vitro Validation of a Therapy for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)', International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 21(23), pp. 9178. doi:10.3390/ijms21239178 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21239178 - Grieve, M (1931) 'A Modern Herbal'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=A%20Modern%20Herbal - Plants For A Future 'Urtica dioica (Stinging Nettle)'. Available at: https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Urtica+dioica Traditional / reference
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Urtica+dioica - Chrubasik, J.E., Roufogalis, B.D. and Chrubasik, S (2007) 'Evidence of effectiveness of herbal anti-inflammatory drugs in the treatment of painful osteoarthritis and chronic low back pain', 21(7), pp. 675--683. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Evidence%20of%20effectiveness%20of%20herbal%20anti-inflammatory%20drugs%20in%20the%20treatment%20of%20painful%20osteoarthritis%20and%20chronic%20low%20back%20pain - Schlichte, D.A. et al (2016) 'Efficacy of stinging nettle root extract for benign prostatic hyperplasia symptoms', 8(1), pp. 57--62. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Efficacy%20of%20stinging%20nettle%20root%20extract%20for%20benign%20prostatic%20hyperplasia%20symptoms - European Medicines Agency (HMPC) (2008) 'Community herbal monograph on Urtica dioica L.; Urtica urens L., folium'. Available at: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/final-community-herbal-monograph-urtica-dioica-l-urtica-urens-l-folium_en.pdf Traditional / reference
https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/final-community-herbal-monograph-urtica-dioica-l-urtica-urens-l-folium_en.pdf - Duke, J.A (2002) 'Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, Second Edition'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Handbook%20of%20Medicinal%20Herbs%2C%20Second%20Edition
Selected studies & references
All 14 studies in the Knowledge Finder →
This profile is assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database, which we curate by hand. How this site is built.