Health Benefits of Stinging Nettle

Stinging nettle is a flowering plant also called Urtica dioica that has been used medicinally for centuries. These days, stinging nettle grows all over the world. Though many people think first of the adverse effect the plant can have on the skin, when processed, stinging nettle has many beneficial therapeutic uses.

Can aid in detoxification

One massive advantage of stinging nettle is that it can support detoxification. The plant contains a lot of nutrients which makes it an excellent detoxifier. It’s known to cleanse the body of harmful toxins. Stinging nettle is also a diuretic in its natural state. It means that the toxins it neutralizes in the body also get eliminated right away. Stinging nettle is also known as an alternative that helps in enhancing the efficiency of the gut’s nutrient uptake. This ensures that all the digestive processes within the body operate smoothly. This, in turn, would prevent the buildup of harmful toxins. This plant can also stimulate the lymphatic system to eliminate toxins in the kidneys too.

Alleviates the symptoms of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia or BPH

Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a condition that has a lot of symptoms. The condition occurs when the prostate gland enlarges and then presses on the urethra. Because of this, you might experience a frequent urge to urinate, painful urination, and other bothersome symptoms. Fortunately, stinging nettle can alleviate these symptoms. Until now, doctors still aren’t sure why the plant eases the symptoms. But studies have shown that it contains distinct chemicals that may affect the hormones which cause the condition. When you take stinging nettle, it will also affect your prostate cells directly. Usually, you can use the plan in combination with other herbs to make it more effective.

Enhances the circulation of blood

Stinging nettle is rich in iron and vitamin C. Because of these components; the plant is excellent at stimulating the production of red blood cells. Vitamin C enhances the gut’s uptake of iron in the body. Iron is a vital component of hemoglobin. When the red blood cells in the body increase, this enhances the circulation of blood. This results in an increase in energy levels and faster healing of wounds. This plant is also recommended to relieve anemia and fatigue. Since vitamin C enhances the absorption of iron, it helps to alleviate the symptoms of both conditions. Also, stinging nettle contains a lot of potassium which is very beneficial to the body too.

Eases joint pain and osteoarthritis

If you have arthritis, you may be quite familiar with the pains that come with it. You may experience joint pain, especially in the knees, hips, hands, and even spine. This plant works well with other medications, so you don’t have to take too much of those pharmaceuticals. When you apply the leaf topically to the site of pain, this will help decrease the pain dramatically. Also, it can help treat osteoarthritis. Stinging nettle can also give relief when you take it orally. Studies have shown that the plant’s anti-inflammatory properties can also help fight against autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and more.

Help treat burns

Burns is traumatic to the body. When you get burned, your body needs to do a lot of things to heal itself. After a burn takes place, one of the most significant concerns to look out for is developing an infection. So if you have a burn, you need to find a way to speed up the healing to prevent any infection from happening. Usually, people apply Vaseline and other topical creams to burns. However, studies have shown that stinging nettle is even more effective than all these artificial remedies. This is mainly because of all the healing components the plant contains.

Reduces the effects of allergies

When the body starts to produce histamine, this means that it’s undergoing adverse reactions because of allergies. Usually, allergies can cause some irritating symptoms like itching, sneezing, and more. Here’s where stinging nettle can help you out. It has anti-inflammatory properties which can affect enzymes and receptors in allergic reactions. This helps to prevent the symptoms from getting worse. Stinging nettle can be a useful remedy for allergy relief. That is according to studies made using plant and placebo medicines. The leaves contain histamine, which may be the component that helps in the treatment of allergies and their symptoms.

Reduces bleeding

Another benefit of this fantastic plant is that it can help reduce bleeding. Products that contain stinging nettle can help reduce bleeding during surgery. Some studies have shown that the plant can also help reduce bleeding after having dental surgery. You may also use stinging nettle for internal bleeding cases. These include nose bleeding, bowel bleeding, uterine bleeding, and more.

Help treat eczema and other skin issues naturally

If you want to get rid of your eczema, then stinging nettle may be the answer to your problems. Eczema is an itchy and dry rash that can last for a long time. Remember that the plant has anti-inflammatory and antihistamine properties. This means that it may be a natural remedy for eczema. You can take stinging nettle orally to heal the condition from within. Or you can also use cream which contains the plant to relieve the redness and itchiness of your skin. You can also apply the extract of stinging nettle to the skin for other skin issues. Studies have proven that it can help prevent bacterial infections, therefore, reducing the severity of your skin conditions. Also, stinging nettle has antioxidant properties. So it can speed up the healing to reduce the appearance of blemishes and scars. The plant also promotes anti-aging to minimize the presence of the typical signs of aging.

Anti-inflammatory properties

Stinging nettle is a rubefacient and stimulant substance. This makes it extremely effective against different inflammatory conditions. This includes chronic muscle pain, arthritis, and more. Studies have shown that tea or even herbal supplements can effectively reduce inflammation. So you can use it to ease muscle pain, treat gout, reduce arthritis symptoms, and more.

Maintains heart and prostate health

Finally, the plant can also help you maintain the health of your heart and prostate. Research shows that regularly consuming stinging nettle can help in lowering systolic blood pressure. It can also relieve stress and tension in your cardiovascular system. As for the prostate, stinging nettle is very beneficial too. As men grow older, prostate cancer and enlargement become bigger risks. But regularly taking stinging nettle may help prevent the growth of the prostate and cancer cells. However, it can only help prevent the growth, but it won’t be able to reverse the growth once it has already happened.