Nettle

Urtica dioica

Monograph

1. Plant Family:
• Urticaceae, or nettle family ^[1]
2. Habitat & Cultivation:
• Urtica dioica is native to Europe (Eurasia) but as people have settled in North America, the plant has migrated that way and is found in many of the temperate and tropical regions of North America.  It is less likely to be found in the south but it can survive just about anywhere. ^[1]
3. Parts Used:
• Aerial parts, root ^[2]
4. Herbal Actions:
• Iron-building
• Astringent
• Diuretic
• Tonic
• Hypotensive
• Hypoglycemic ^[1]
5. Indications:
• Anemia
• Myalgia
• Osteoarthritis
• Eczema
• Hemorrhage
• Hyperglycemia
• Urinary flow issues/nocturia ^[2]
6. Plant Constituents:
• Chlorophyll, indoles (histamine, serotonin), acetylcholine, flavonol glycosides, vitamin C, protein, dietary fiber. ^[2]
7. System Affinities:
• Cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, urinary ^[2]  
8. Energetics:
• Cool, dry, stagnant ^[3]
9. Safety:
• Causes urticaria if applied topically. ^[2]
10. Interactions:
• May decrease the efficacy of anticoagulant drugs. ^[2]

Personal Experience

1. Organoleptics:
• The dried nettle is very dark green in color. It doesn’t smell very good, almost rancid. It smells extremely bitter!
2. Preparation Method:
• Tincture: 2.5 – 5 ml 3x/day (1:5 in 40%)
• Hot Infusion: 1 cup boiling water over 1 – 3 tsp dried herb, infuse for 10 – 15 mins. Drink 3x/day.
• Cold Infusion: 1 quart water over 1 oz dried nettle. Refrigerate overnight. According to Susun Weed, “A quart of nettle infusion contains more than 1000 milligrams of calcium, 15000 IU of vitamin A, 760 milligrams of vitamin K, 10% protein, and lavish amounts of most B vitamins.” ^[2]
3. Usage Notes:
• Cold infusion: I made a fairly strong batch of this. I used ½ an oz of nettle and left it for two nights instead of one due to being at a birth. It turned out almost black in color! It tastes alright; earthy and smooth and slightly bitter but just barely. I could see this being easy to add to fruit juices or smoothies since the taste is so mild.
• Hot infusion: The hot version is just as unoffensive and mild as the cold infusion. I would recommend this for clients who liked the taste of it. If they didn’t want to drink nettle tea all the time, I’d recommend the cold infusion since it seemed to pull more nutrients out, and mixed with other beverages.

Sources:

1. Zollinger, R. & Riccio, L. (2018). Week 8 Study Questions. Bastyr University: SP-18_MW5123-A Botanicals 3: Pregnancy.
2. Hoffmann, D. (2003). Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press.
3. Frawley, D. & Lad, V. (2001). The Yoga of Herbs. Twin Lakes, Wisconsin: Lotus Press.