Urtica Dioica comes from the Latin uro which means “I’m on fire” and dioicaor “2 houses“, referring to the separation of the male and female plants. This name (ENG: stinging nettle) is very appropriate for a plant whose leaf is completely covered with stinging hairs. They are fine hollow tubes from which, among other things, formic acid is released when the tip breaks off. This is the cause of the blisters, burning spots and itching that we sometimes experience during a nature walk.
The nettle is a winter-hardy plant with a square stem that grows up to 2 metres high and grows in a well fertilized and humid spot (next to canals and forest edges). From July to October the bunches have hanging flowers. It seems to be a banal weed for many, but this plant has a range of applications:
- Before the introduction of cotton, its fibres were used for weaving fabrics or in paper production.
- The leaves and roots were used as natural green and yellow dyes.
- As a food source for many insects and since World War II also as food consumed by people as soup or spinach. The plant loses its thorniness after exposure to heat, which makes it possible to consume it as nettle soup or nettle tea.
- The Romans used the plant against the cold by crushing it in oil and smearing this mixture on themselves. They also used it as an aphrodisiac, against the common cold and animal bites.
- The Egyptians used the nettle as a treatment for arthritis and lumbago.
- In 1835, herbalist Vogel, thanks to the Indians, discovered that stinging nettles prevent scurvy.
- In the 17th century it was already established that the plant has astringent and hemostatic properties, making the tea popular to relieve heavy menstrual periods or to block bloody noses.
- Nettles contain a lot of vitamin C and iron and are therefore recommended to patients with anaemia.
Despite its reputation as a a witchweed, the nettle gains more and more commercial attention thanks to its nutritional and functional diversity. The plant is a source of vitamins and minerals and has an extensive range of fatty acids. Because of its high nutrient value, nettle is suggested for spring fatigue, reduced immunity, strengthening skin and hair, is good for the bones and is also helps with digestion.
Today the use of the plant extract is well studied for its antihyperglycemia, antiproliferative, anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties and is applied pharmacologically in rheumatism, eczema, allergic rhinitis and arthritis, diabetes, kidney stones, gout and joint pains or heart diseases.
- Ranjbari et al., “In vivo and in vitro evaluation of the effects of Urtica dioica and swimming activity on diabetic factors and pancreatic beta cells”, BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2016) 16:101
- Adhikri et al., “Comparison of nutritional properties of stinging nettle (Urticaria Dioica) flour with wheat and Barley flours”, Food Science & Nutrition 2016;4(1):119-124
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