Á¦  ¸ñ :   stinging nettle

###STINGING NETTLE(Urticaria Didoica½û±âÇ®, ¿Ü±¹»ê) - use with sawmetto/pygeum

 

@THE BENEFITS OF THE USE OF STINGING NETTLE IN HERBAL PREPARATIONS

MEDICINAL QUALITIES OF STINGING NETTLE

 

Stinging nettle is an astringent, diuretic, tonic, anodyne, pectoral, rubefacient, styptic, anthelmintic, nutritive, alterative, hemetic, anti-rheumatic, anti-allergenic, anti-lithic/lithotriptic, haemostatic, stimulant, decongestant, herpatic, febrifuge, kidney depurative/nephritic, galactagogue, hypoglycemic, expectorant, anti-spasmodic, and anti-histamine.  --Ç×Áø±ÕÈ¿°ú.

 

Nettle leaf is among the most valuable herbal remedies.  Because of its many nutrients, stinging nettle is traditionally used as a spring tonic.  It is a slow-acting nutritive herb that gently cleanses the body of metabolic wastes.  It is one of the safest alteratives, especially in the treatment of chronic disorders that require long-term treatment.  It has a gentle, stimulating effect on the lymphatic system, enhancing the excretion of wastes through the kidneys. 

 

Nettle¡¯s iron content makes it a wonderful blood builder, and the presence of vitamin C aids in the iron absorption.  As a hemetic (an herb rich in iron), this is an excellent herb for anemia and fatigue, especially in women.  It ¡°promotes the process of protein transanimation in the liver, effectively utilizing digested proteins, while simultaneously preventing them from being discharged through the body as waste products.¡±

 

Stinging nettle is beneficial during pregnancy due to its rich mineral value and vitamin K, which guards against excessive bleeding.  It is also a good supplement to strengthen the fetus.  It is used during labor to ease the pains, and will increase milk production in lactating women. Stinging nettle is often recommended for pre-menstrual syndrome because of its toxin-ridding activity.  When the liver is sluggish, it processes estrogen slowly, contributing to the high levels that cause or aggravate PMS.  It acts as a restorative remedy during menopause, and the astringency of the herb helps in excessive menstrual flow.

 

As a diuretic, stinging nettle increases the secretion and flow of urine.  This makes it invaluable in cases of fluid retention and bladder infections. It is also anti-lithic and nephridic, breaking down stones in the kidneys and gravel in the bladder.(ºñ´¢±â°è°á¼®¿ëÇØ-Á¦°Å-¼Òº¯À¸·Î ¹èÃâ) 

 

The leaves of the fresh nettle plant are stimulating, thus making it a powerful rubefacient.(¹ßÀûÁ¦)

 

Arthritis, bursitis, rheumatism, gout(3 to 6g of dried nettle leaf -3ȸ, ²úÀÎ ¹°¿¡ 10ºÐ°£ ¿ì·Á³»¾î ¸¶½É), and tendonitis have all been treated successfully with urtification.  In a group of eighteen patients with joint pain treated with the topical use of the nettle sting, all except one respondent were sure that the therapy had been very helpful, and several considered themselves cured. However, there are other, less painful ways of treating arthritic diseases using stinging nettle.  Boron(È£¸£¸ó¿¡ ¿µÇâ-»À¿Í°üÀýº¸È£ÀÛ¿ë) is a trace mineral essential for healthy bones.  James A.  Duke states in his book The Green Pharmacy, ¡°The recommended beneficial dose of boron is 2-3 milligrams daily.  An analysis of stinging nettle provided to me [James Duke] by the USDA scientists shows that it contains 47 parts per million of the mineral boron, figured on a dry-weight basis.  That means that a 100-gram serving of stinging nettle, prepared by steaming several ounces of young, tender leaves, could easily contain more than the 2-3 milligram recommendations.  According to the Rheumatoid Disease Foundation, boron is effective because it plays a role in helping bones retain calcium.  It also has a beneficial influence on the body¡¯s endocrine (hormonal) system, and hormones play a role in helping the body maintain healthy bones and joints.¡±

 

Stinging nettle acts similarly to dandelion leaf, promoting the elimination of uric acid from joints with an alkalizing diuretic activity(ÀÌ´¢È¿°ú). In an open multi-clinical trial of 219 patients with arthritis, nettle leaf was compared with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) therapy, demonstrating a similar reduction in pain and immobility, with excellent tolerability.  In an article by Rob McCaleb in 1998 it states, ¡°In an open randomized study, singing nettle given in combination with a sub-therapeutic dose of an anti-inflammatory drug was as effective as a full dose of the drug alone for arthritis pain relief.  Forty patients experiencing acute arthritis took part in the study, with half taking the full 200 mg standard dose of the prescription drug diclofenac.(±Þ¼º°üÀý¿°¿¡ µðŬ·ÎÆ䳫°ú °°Àº È¿°ú)  The other subjects took 50 mg of diclofenac along with 50 g of stewed nettle leaf.  All subjects ate the same foods during the study and only those with uncomplicated medical histories were included, based on very specific criteria.

 

  Researchers used both objective and subjective tests to measure effectiveness.  The results were impressive: a combination of 50 g nettle leaf with one-quarter of the normal dose of diclofenac was just as effective in relieving pain as the full dose of the drug alone.  The authors noted ¡®50 mg diclofenac is unlikely to produce such a profound effect.¡¯ Previous research has shown that doses of 75 mg diclofenac are inadequate for arthritis pain relief.¡±

 

A study conducted by the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon found positive evidence of freeze-dried nettle leaf for treating hay fever, asthma, seasonal allergies, and hives(Á¦1Çü¾Ë·¹¸£±âÄ¡·á). Australians have been using nettle for years as a treatment for asthma, but Americans didn¡¯t catch on to this until about 1990.  ¡°In a double-blind placebo-controlled randomized study of 98 patients with allergic rhinitis the effect of a freeze-dried preparation of Urtica dioica was compared against placebo.  Based on daily symptom diaries and the global response recorded at the follow-up visit after one week of therapy, U.  dioica was rated higher than placebo in relieving symptoms.¡±

 

In an open 14-day clinical study, 32 patients diagnosed with myocardial or chronic venous insufficiency(½ÉºÎÀü, Á¤¸ÆºÎÀü) were treated with 15 ml of nettle herb juice three times daily.  ¡°A significant increase in the daily volume of urine was observed throughout the treatment, the volume in day two being 9.2% higher than the baseline amount in patients with myocardial insufficiency and 23.9% higher in those with chronic venous insufficiency.  Minor decreases in body weights and systolic blood pressure were also observed.¡±

 

As a styptic (an arrestor of local bleeding), stinging nettle is an effective remedy for nose bleeds.  It can be applied locally or sniffed.  The astringency of stinging nettle proves its usefulness in hemorrhoids, diarrhea, and bleeding in the urinary organs.  It also treats mouth and throat infections.  Nettle leaf is useful to correct symptoms of gastrointestinal excess, such as gas, nausea, and mucus colitis.  It is also used as an anodyne to relieve the pain of burns and scalds.

 

Numerous studies conducted mostly in Germany have shown the root to have a beneficial effect on enlarged prostate glands.  There have been several clinical trials that have demonstrated the efficacy of stinging nettle in treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) stages I and II.  A combination of nettle root and saw palmetto berries was found to be equal to the generic prescription drug finasteride, without side effects. These studies suggest that the root extract may inhibit interaction between a growth factor and its receptor in the prostate.  However, it has been observed that the herb does not reduce the size of the already enlarged prostate.  ¡°In a randomized, reference-controlled, multi-center, double-blind clinical trial 543 patients with stage I and II BPH compared therapeutic equivalence between finasteride and a combination nettle root/saw palmetto fruit extract.  For 48 weeks, patients were given 2 capsules of the herb combination or 1 capsule of finasteride per day.  The primary variable was the change of the maximum urinary flow after 24 weeks of therapy.

 

  Urodynamic parameters such as average urinary flow, micturition (nighttime urination) flow, and micturition time were monitored as secondary variables.  An increase in urinary flow rate was observed in both treatment groups.  The average urinary flow increased, whereas the micturition time decreased in both groups to a similar extent.  The International Prostate Symptom Score decreased from 11.3 to 8.2 after 24 weeks and 6.5 at week 48 for the herbal group, and from 11.8 to 8.0 and to 6.2 at week 48 for the finasteride group.  Fewer adverse reactions were reported from the nettle root/saw palmetto treatment group than the finasteride group¡±.

 

A decoction of nettle is valuable in diarrhea and dysentery, with profuse discharges, and in hemorrhoids, various hemorrhages, and scorbutic affections.  It has been recommended in febrile affections, gravel, and other nephritic complaints.  The fresh leaves were found to show anti-tumoural activity in animal studies and strong anti-mutagenic activity.  Nettle leaves are high in antioxidants with vitamin activities and have high potassium to sodium ratio.  All this indicates it as an excellent natural source for protection against neoplastic diseases (tumors), cardiovascular disorders, and immune deficiency.

 

¡°A combined analysis of stinging nettle¡¯s traditional uses and demonstrated activities in clinical trials suggests that the root is a good pelvic decongestant, justifying its use in any condition that is affected by such a state, including passive menorrhagia, fibroids, and dysmenorrhea.¡± Applied externally and taken internally, stinging nettle tea is helpful for acne and eczema.  Warts rubbed with the freshly expressed juice disappear without any pain being produced. Stinging nettle has been found to treat Alzheimer¡¯s disease.  It contains considerable amounts of the mineral boron which can double levels of the hormone estrogen circulating in the body.  Estrogen has been found in several studies to help improve short-term memory and elevate the moods.

 

In the respiratory system nettles help clear catarrhal congestion.  The seeds are an excellent lung astringent, particularly useful for bronchitis, tuberculosis, and consumption.  They are recommended as a remedy for goiter and to reduce body weight.  They are also considered anthelmintic, expelling worms and other parasites.

 

The stimulating effect of stinging nettle is used as a rinse for the hair.  This will regenerate hair growth and restore original hair color.  It is used by the personal hair care industry in anti-dandruff products and scalp conditioners.  Clairol uses more than 40 tons of nettles a year as a hair conditioner. In addition, Russian studies show that nettle tea has anti-bacterial activity.  Mouthwashes and toothpastes containing nettle can reduce plaque and gingivitis.  Many oral health care products in health food stores contain nettle.

 

The following is a concise reference of the ailments stinging nettle treats:

*Congestion
   Coughs    Tuberculosis    Bronchitis    Lung congestion   Laryngitis   Consumption

*Joints/muscles
   Arthritis   Rheumatism   Gout    Bursitis   Tendonitis   Loss of muscular power    Paralysis

*Allergies
   Hay fever   Seasonal allergies   Asthma   Hives

*Neurological disorders
   Sciatica   Neuralgia   MS

*Spring tonic

*Circulation

*Hair
   Loss of   Restores color   Scalp Conditioner    Dandruff

*Stones
   Gravel from bladder   Kidney stones   Increase urine output

*Internal bleeding
   Excessive menstruation   Hemorrhoids   Ulcers   Lungs/stomach   Bleeding piles   Diarrhea/dysentery

*External bleeding
   Nose bleeds    Other

*Skin complaints
   Eczema   Acne   Insect bites   Chicken pox

*Urinary Tract Infection
   Bladder infection

*Women¡¯s complaints
   Increase lactation   PMS   Menopause   Prenatal/eases labor

*Anemia/fatigue

*Burns and scalds

*Enlarged prostate

*Pelvic decongestant

 

@HISTORY OF STINGING NETTLE

 

Stinging nettle is considered by many to be a bothersome pest, but the nettle has been used since ancient times as a source of food, fiber, and medicinal preparations.  In Denmark, burial shrouds made of nettle fabrics have been discovered that date back to the Bronze Age (3000-2000 BC). Europeans and Native Americans used the fibers from stinging nettle to make sailcloth, sacking, cordage, and fishing nets.  These fibers have also been used to produce cloth similar in feel and appearance to silky linen.  During World War I, the German Empire, plagued by textile shortages, used nettles as a substitute for cotton.  Captured German uniforms were found to be 85% nettle fiber.

 

Stinging nettle is one of the richest sources of chlorophyll in the vegetable kingdom.  A decoction of the plant has been used to produce a green dye for clothing for centuries.  At the beginning of the Second World War, a request by the British government was made for the collection of 100 tons of nettles, which were used for the extraction of this green dye for camouflage. This property has also been used commercially in Germany as a food coloring agent for canned vegetables.

 

In ancient Egypt reports are found of the use of nettle infusion for the relief of arthritis and lumbago pains.  A standard practice of flogging oneself with the fresh nettle plant, called urtification, was prescribed to treat such illnesses as chronic rheumatism, lethargy, coma, paralysis, and even typhus, and cholera.  This practice of urtification is known to many cultures and has been used for thousands of years.  The Roman soldiers are said to have brought their own nettle to the British Isles to treat their tired, painful legs on long marches in the cold and wet climate by urtification, thus stimulating the circulation. Documentation or anecdotal reports of its use in this way have been found among the Ecuador Indians, ancient Romans, and Canadian and American native tribes.

 

Hippocrates (460-377 B.C.) and his followers reported 61 remedies using nettle.  In the second century A.D., Galen, the Greek physician, recommended nettle in his book De Simplicibus as ¡°a diuretic and laxative, for dog bites, gangrenous wounds, swellings, nose bleeding, excessive menstruation, spleen-related illness, pleurisy, pneumonia, asthma, tinea, and mouth sores.¡± Two hundred years after Galen, Apuleius Platonicus (circa 400 A.D.), in his book Herbarium of Apuleius, added nettle combined with hemp or cannabis to ¡°treat symptoms of feeling cold after being burnt (shocked)¡±, and nettle by itself for ¡°cold injury¡±. Throughout the Dark Ages (fifth to tenth centuries) uses of nettle were expanded to include treatment of shingles, constipation, and ¡°dry disease¡±, which probably meant problems with the sinuses or lungs, mucous membranes, and skin.

 

The 16th century herbalist John Gerard used stinging nettle as an antidote for poison. In the seventeenth century, Culpeper, the astrologer-physician, recommended a nettle and honey extract as a gargle for throat and mouth infections, and claimed that nettles were helpful for ¡°bladder stones or gravel, worms in children, an antiseptic for wounds and skin infections, gout, sciatica, joint aches, and as an antidote to venomous stings from animals¡±. In the nineteenth century, Phelps Brown suggested nettle internally as a diuretic and tonic.  He hailed it as a remedy for dysentery, hemorrhoids, bladder and kidney stones, and used the seeds and flowers in wine for fevers.  It was also employed in cases of infant diarrhea and eczema.

 

Stinging nettle has always been recognized for its tonic and nutritional value.  It is rich in vitamins and minerals and has traditionally been used primarily in the spring time to stimulate slow winter blood.  Its reputation for restorative powers for the sick has been particularly appreciated in poor and rural areas, especially since it is freely available from the fields and ditches.  There are reports of the Romans eating nettles as food and using it in the boiling of meat to tenderize it.  It is used as a pot plant, in a soup, a tea, and as an ale or beer.  Nettle is a traditional remedy for scurvy, anemia, and lack of energy.  This is due to its high level of iron, vitamin C, magnesium, and other nutrients.  The English poet, Campbell, complained of the little attention paid to the nettle in England.  He says, ¡°In Scotland, I have eaten nettles, I have slept in nettle sheets, and I have dined off a nettle tablecloth.  The young and tender nettle is an excellent potherb.  The stalks of the old nettle are as good as flax for making cloth.  I have heard my mother say that she thought nettle cloth more durable than any other species of linen.¡±

 

The infusion was found to be helpful in increasing milk production, both in humans and in cows.  It has been used freely as a gynecological aid by women of the North American aboriginal nations.  The juice is taken by pregnant women who are overdue to promote labor.  The tips of the plant were chewed during childbirth, as well as the infusion being drunk to relax the muscles.

 

Stinging nettle has been used throughout history as animal fodder, as vegetarian rennet in cheese making, and is still included in the Passover herbs.  The juice was used as a hair rinse and to stimulate hair growth.  The leaf was used as a snuff powder or as a local application for nosebleeds, excessive menstruation, and internal bleeding.  It is applied to burns and taken in syrup or tincture form to treat urticaria, or nettle rash.  It is, in fact, its own remedy.   Other uses have included the stems and leaves soaked in water and the water used as an organic pesticide, being applied to plants with mites or aphids. The plant enlivens and conditions the soil, speeding decomposition in compost heaps, and improves the health and vigor of plants.

 

Modern medicinal uses of nettle are not much different than that of the past.  People today still practice urtification, and clinical studies have investigated its use in treating many medical conditions, including allergic rhinitis, rheumatic complaints, eczema, anemia, bleeding (both internally and externally), and acute arthritis.  It is in demand as a treatment for benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), high blood pressure, and urinary tract infections.  It is used in treating skin eruptions and freeze-dried as a treatment for hay fever and allergies.  It is also being promoted as a textile product once again.

 

@DOSAGES & APPLICATIONS OF STINGING NETTLE

 

To use as an infusion (tea):  Pour one cup boiling water over 2-3 tablespoons leaves or plant and steep for 10-20 minutes or until desired temperature.  Drink 1-3 cups daily. 

To use a tincture (alcohol extract):  Put 15-20 drops (0.25-0.3 ml) in a small amount of water and take 2 times daily of the herb, or 30 drops (0.5 ml) 2-3 times daily of the root.

To use the juice:  Mix with an equal amount of water and take 1 teaspoon at a time.

To use as a decoction:  Take 2-4 fluid ounces as needed.

 

Encapsulated form: Take 2 capsules of 600 mg 2-3 times daily of the herb, or a total of 320 to 1,200 mg daily of the root. -- root extract capsule : 120mg Bid(to 600-1200mg)

 

To help prevent seasonal allergies or hay fever, two 300 mg nettle leaf capsules or tablets, or a 2-4 ml tincture, three times per day can be taken during allergy season.  For acute attacks, the freeze-dried encapsulated herb can be taken two capsules every five minutes until symptoms have diminished.  For hives, 1-2 capsules can be taken every 2-4 hours as needed.

 

An infusion, tincture, powder, or the fresh juice can be applied externally to cuts and wounds, hemorrhoids, to nostrils for nosebleeds, insect bites or stings, and to soothe and heal burns and scalds.  An ointment can also be applied, especially to hemorrhoids.

An infusion of the aerial parts can be taken to stimulate the circulation and to cleanse the system in arthritis, rheumatism, gout, and eczema.  Drink 1-3 cups a day.  A compress (a soaked cloth in the tea or tincture) can also be applied to painful arthritic joints, gout, neuralgia, sprains, tendonitis, and sciatica. 

 

For prostate problems or BPH, 240 mg per day of the root extract in capsules or tablets can be taken.  If this is purchased from a commercial source, it will most likely be combined with saw palmetto or pygeum extracts. 

 

A tincture of the seeds can be used to raise thyroid function and reduce goiter, for skin problems, and in heavy uterine bleeding.  The regular seeds, in doses of 14 or 16, and repeated three times daily, are highly recommended as a remedy for goiter.

 

The juice can be obtained by liquidizing the whole fresh plant to make a good tonic for debilitating conditions, anemia, and to soothe nettle stings.  This is also prescribed for cardiac insufficiency with edema.  For warts, rub with the freshly expressed juice 3 or 4 times a day, continuing for 10-12 days. To help prevent balding, a tincture or infusion of nettle leaf can be taken.  As a rinse for dandruff, falling hair, and as a general conditioner, an infusion or decoction of the root can be taken.  The juice of the roots and leaves mixed with honey can relieve bronchitis.  An infusion can be taken to increase lactation in nursing mothers and for post-menopausal health.  Drink 1-3 cups a day

*Parasites

*Goiter/scrofula

*Debility

*Blood purifier/builder

*Metabolic disorders

*Fever/cold

*Ague

*Lupus

*Bladder infections

*Lowers blood sugar

*Raises blood pressure

*Gingivitis

*Scurvy

*Celiac disease

*Weight loss

 

##Constituents and Effects
Nettle root contains steroidal compounds, caffeic and malic acids, polysaccharides and a group of phytoestrogens called lignans. A combination of histamine, serotonin and choline on the hairs of the leaves and stems is responsible for the plant's skin-irritating properties. Nettles have possible antispasmodic, diuretic and expectorant effects; they also have anti-inflammatory qualities, which Blue Shield Complementary and Alternative Health attributes to their ability to inhibit the release of pro-inflammatory prostaglandins. Drugs.com -- which supplies peer-reviewed medical information to consumers -- reports that some nettle extracts have been shown to reduce prostate size and theorizes this is caused by nettles' ability to reduce plasma levels of a protein called sex hormone--binding globulin.-- also, you will anticipate a significant drop in weight. Nettle inhibits all 3: DHT, Aromatase and SGBH. for controlling Estrogen dominance ,take this in combination with Saw palmetto/Pygeum, DIM,

##Dosage and Precautions
Extracts made from nettle root are available in dried leaf, tincture and capsules. Capsules may be taken in dosages of 120 mg twice a day; the tincture may be used in the amount of 2 to 4 ml three times a day. You can also make a tea by pouring 2/3 of a cup of boiling water over 3 to 4 tsp. of the dried root and steeping for three to five minutes; you can drink up to 4 cups a day. Adverse reactions are uncommon, but include minor nausea, diarrhea and gastric pain. Consult your doctor before trying nettles

##Properties: An astringent, diuretic, tonic herb that controls bleeding, clears toxins, and slightly reduces blood pressure and blood sugar levels (leaves). The root has similar properties and in addition reduces prostate enlargement.
##Medicinal Uses:
Internally for anemia (leaves), hemorrhage (especially of the uterus), heavy menstrual bleeding, hemorrhoids, arthritis, rheumatism, gout, skin complaints (especially eczema), and allergies (roots, leaves); prostate enlargement (roots).
Combines well with Arctium lappa (See burdock) for eczema.
Externally for arthritic pain, gout, sciatica, neuralgia, hemorrhoids, scalp and hair problems, burns, insect bites, and nosebleed.
To treat infections of the urinay tract and kidney; bladder stones, prostatitis, rheumatism, and gout.
Germany's Commission E has approved the use of stinging nettle flowering plant to treat rheumatism, urinary tract infections, and bladder and kidney stones, and the use of stinging nettle root to treat irritable bladder and prostate problems.

´ÙÀ½±Û : pygeum,pumpkinSeedOil
ÀÌÀü±Û : Herb for Erec Dysfunct