Stinging Nettle Powder/Tea

Stinging nettle has been used for hundreds of years to treat painful muscles and joints, eczema, arthritis, gout, and anemia. Today, many people use it to treat urinary problems during the early stages of an enlarged prostate (called benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH).

1. Contains Many Nutrients

Stinging nettle’s leaves and root provide a wide variety of nutrients, including (1):

• Vitamins: Vitamins A, C
  and K, as well as several B vitamins
• Minerals: Calcium, iron,
  magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and sodium
• Fats: Linoleic acid,
  linolenic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid and oleic acid
• Amino acids: All of the essential amino acids
• Polyphenols: Kaempferol,
  quercetin, caffeic acid, coumarins and other flavonoids
• Pigments: Beta-carotene, lutein,
  luteoxanthin and other carotenoids

2. May Reduce Inflammation

Inflammation is your body’s way of healing itself and fighting infections.

However, chronic inflammation can inflict significant harm (6Trusted Source).

Stinging nettle harbors a variety of compounds that may reduce inflammation.

In animal and test-tube studies, stinging nettle reduced levels of multiple inflammatory markers by interfering with their production (7Trusted Source, 8Trusted Source).

In human studies, applying a stinging nettle cream or consuming stinging nettle products appears to relieve inflammatory conditions, such as arthritis.

For instance, in one 27-person study, applying a stinging nettle cream onto arthritis-affected areas significantly reduced pain, compared to a placebo treatment (9Trusted Source).

In another study, taking a supplement that contained stinging nettle extract significantly reduced arthritis pain. Additionally, participants felt they could reduce their dose of anti-inflammatory pain relievers because of this capsule (10Trusted Source).

That said, research is insufficient to recommend stinging nettle as an anti-inflammatory treatment. More human studies are needed.

3. May Treat Enlarged Prostate Symptoms

Up to 50% of men aged 51 and older have an enlarged prostate gland (11Trusted Source).

An enlarged prostate is commonly called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Scientists aren’t sure what causes BPH, but it can lead to significant discomfort during urination.

Interestingly, a few studies suggest that stinging nettle may help treat BPH.

Studies in people with BPH demonstrate that stinging nettle extracts help treat short- and long-term urination problems — without side effects (14Trusted Source, 15Trusted Source).

However, it’s unclear how effective stinging nettle is compared to conventional treatments

5. May Lower Blood Pressure

Nearly half of adults in the United States have high blood pressure (19Trusted Source).

High blood pressure is a serious health concern because it puts you at risk of heart disease and strokes, which are among the leading causes of death worldwide (20Trusted Source).

Stinging nettle was traditionally used to treat high blood pressure (21Trusted Source).

Animal and test-tube studies illustrate that it may help lower blood pressure in several ways.

For one, it may stimulate nitric oxide production, which acts as a vasodilator. Vasodilators relax the muscles of your blood vessels, helping them widen (21Trusted Source, 22Trusted Source).

In addition, stinging nettle has compounds that may act as calcium channel blockers, which relax your heart by reducing the force of contractions (21Trusted Source, 23Trusted Source).

6. May Aid Blood Sugar Control

Both human and animal studies link stinging nettle to lower blood sugar levels (26Trusted Source, 27Trusted Source, 28Trusted Source, 29Trusted Source, 30Trusted Source).

In fact, this plant contains compounds that may mimic the effects of insulin (31Trusted Source).

In a three-month study in 46 people, taking 500 mg of stinging nettle extract three times daily significantly lowered blood sugar levels compared to a placebo (30Trusted Source).

Despite promising findings, there are still far too few human studies on stinging nettle and blood sugar control. More research is necessary.

Other Potential Benefits

Stinging nettle may offer other potential health benefits, including:

• Reduced bleeding: Medicines
  containing stinging nettle extract have been found to reduce excessive
  bleeding, especially after surgery (32Trusted Source, 33Trusted Source).
• Liver health: Nettle’s
  antioxidant properties may protect your liver against damage by toxins, heavy
  metals and inflammation (34Trusted Source, 35Trusted Source).
• Natural diuretic: This plant may
  help your body shed excess salt and water, which in turn
  could lower blood pressure temporarily. Keep in mind that these findings
  are from animal studies (31Trusted Source, 36Trusted Source).
• Wound and burn healing: Applying
  stinging nettle creams may support wound healing, including burn wounds