Femme Organics Stinging Nettle (Powder)

Plant Description

Stinging nettle is the name given to common nettle, garden nettle, and hybrids of these plants. Originally from the colder regions of northern Europe and Asia, this herbaceous shrub grows all over the world today. Stinging nettle grows well in nitrogen-rich soil, blooms between June and September, and usually reaches 2 to 4 feet high.

Stems are upright and rigid. Leaves are heart shaped, finely toothed, and tapered at the ends, and flowers are yellow or pink. The entire plant is covered with tiny stiff hairs, mostly on the underside of the leaves and stem, that release stinging chemicals when touched.

What's It Made Of?

Stinging nettle products are usually made from the leaves and stems, and sometimes the roots. Root preparations are used to relieve symptoms of BPH.

Available Forms

Stinging nettle is available as dried leaf, freeze-dried leaf, extract, capsules, tablets, and as root tincture (a solution of the herb in alcohol), juice, or tea. It also comes in the form of an ointment or cream that can be applied to the skin. The root appears to have different pharmacological effects than the leaves.

How to Take It

Pediatric

Although stinging nettle is available in many combination formulas to treat colds, asthma, and allergies in children, a specific safe and effective dose for children has not yet been established. Talk to your doctor before giving stinging nettle to a child, so the doctor can determine the proper dose.

Adult

Stinging nettle is used in many forms, including as teas, tinctures, fluid extracts, and creams.

• Nettle Leaf is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the family Urticaceae
• Urtica dioica, often known as common nettle, stinging nettle (although not all plants of this species sting) or nettle leaf, or just a nettle or stinger, is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the family Urticaceae.
• Stinging nettle leaves have a mildly bitter flavor. The taste is almost like spinach, with a touch of Italian parsley. This product’s herbaceous aroma makes it an ideal ingredient for wellness teas and shampoos.
• Stinging nettle has a variety of applications. It can make tasty herbal teas, soups, smoothies, and stir-frys. It is also a typical ingredient in DIY skin care products, as well as shampoos.
• Stinging Nettle Leaf (botanical name: Urtica dioica L.) is a high-quality, organic herb that is known for its pleasant herbaceous taste and slightly bitter aroma. It is a common ingredient in teas, soups, stews and more.
• The nettle is a plant with stinging hairs in the family Urticaceae. The nettle leaf is one of the oldest and popular plants in Europe. It was used for centuries by druids and after them apothecaries.
  
• It's composed with chlorophyll, histamine, gallic acid, formic acid, tonic acid, glucoquinin, acétyllcholine.
  
• The rich and natural composition of the nettle leaf allows it to be one of the most complete living organism.
  
• Product from organic agriculture.

More Uses
It can be added directly into culinary dishes including soups, stews, rice, and smoothies. Nettle powder can also be infused as a nutritive nettle tea, blended into herbal vinegars, or macerated as nettle leaf extract.

Nettle has been used worldwide for centuries in a variety of countries and cultures. It has been eaten as a wild food plant, applied topically to the skin, and drunk as an herbal tea. It was used extensively for its fibers and was woven into cloth. Nettle fibers were considered to be high quality and comparable to flax or hemp in Northern Europe.

Precautions

The use of herbs is a time-honored approach to strengthening the body and treating disease. However, herbs can trigger side effects, and can interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For these reasons, you should take herbs with care, under the supervision of a health care provider.

Stinging nettle is generally considered safe when used as directed. Occasional side effects include mild stomach upset, fluid retention, sweating, diarrhea, and hives or rash (mainly from topical use). It is important to be careful when handling the nettle plant because touching it can cause an allergic rash. Stinging nettle should never be applied to an open wound.

Because nettle can alter the menstrual cycle and may contribute to miscarriage, pregnant women should not use nettle.

DO NOT self treat with nettle for BPH. See your doctor to receive a diagnosis and to rule out prostate cancer.

There is some evidence that stinging nettle may raise blood sugar and interfere with diabetes management. There is also evidence that it can lower blood sugar. Patients with diabetes should monitor their blood sugar closely when using stinging nettle.

Stinging nettle can have a diuretic effect. If you have kidney or bladder issues, speak with your provider.

Possible Interactions

Antiplatelet and anticoagulant drugs (blood thinners)

Stinging nettle may affect the blood's ability to clot, and could interfere with blood-thinning drugs, including:

• Warfarin (Coumadin)
• Clopidogrel (Plavix)
• Aspirin

Drugs for high blood pressure

Stinging nettle may lower blood pressure, so it could strengthen the effects of these drugs:

• ACE inhibitors: Captopril (Capoten), Elaropril (Vasotec), lisinopril (Zestril), fosinopril (Monopril)
• Beta-blockers: Atenolol (Tenormin), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), propranolol (Induran)
• Calcium channel blockers: Nifedipine (Procardia), amlodipine (Norvasc), verapamil (Calan, Isoptin)

Diuretics (water pills)

Because stinging nettle can act as a diuretic, it can increase the effects of these drugs, raising the risk of dehydration:

• Furosemide (Lasix)
• Hydrocholorothiazide

Drugs for diabetes

Stinging nettle may lower blood sugar, so it could strengthen the effects of these drugs, raising the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).

Lithium

Stinging nettle may have a diuretic effect and may reduce the body's ability to remove this drug.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

In a scientific study of patients with acute arthritis, stewed stinging nettle leaves enhanced the anti-inflammatory effect of diclofenac, an NSAID. Although this effect can reduce pain, talk to your doctor before taking or using stinging nettle if you also take NSAIDs.

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