It is widely used in natural medicine because it has many applications and produces few side effects. You’d be amazed at how many different things you can use stinging nettle for. This article will go over some of its applications to show you how useful it is.
Urtica dioica is the scientific name of stinging Nettle. It is more common in Europe, Canada, and the United States because it prefers moist soil. You should be aware that the leaves have some sharp hairs that can irritate skin. Avoid these areas. Serotonin is another chemical found in the leaf. We’ll discuss that more later.
1. Pain Reducer
You’ve probably experienced a headache after a long workday of completing deadlines. You may have experienced a stiff back after leaving PE class because you don’t exercise enough. You may have been sitting on the couch too long while binge-watching Netflix and your back hurt when you got up to refill your popcorn bowl.
You may need a cup of tea. A study published in Journal of Ethnopharmacology found that stinging-nettle contains natural anti-inflammatory and anesthetic compounds. The small hairs on the leaves of stinging nettle contain chemicals such as histamine and serotonin that help to reduce pain by stimulating nerve endings. This benefit can be obtained by steeping the nettle leaves in hot water, or by applying them directly to the area of pain.
