Stinging nettle is a plant with a paradox.
When you touch it, it hurts you.
When you ingest it, it helps you.
How can that be possible?
In this article, you'll discover the health benefits of stinging nettle, learn how to use it safely, and understand why this powerful plant is a key ingredient in Cosmic Hue tea.
What is Stinging Nettle?
Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) is a perennial flowering plant found throughout Europe, North America, northern Africa and parts of Asia. You can find it in wet woodlands and disturbed areas.
You'll know it by its heart-shaped leaves with jagged edges and tiny hairs on the stems and under the leaves. These hairs act like small needles, injecting chemicals when touched, causing burning and a rash.
Despite these stings, many cultures throughout history have used stinging nettle. Ancient Egyptians used it for joint pain, Roman soldiers rubbed it on their bodies to stay warm in cold Britain, and Native Americans used it for pain relief and to make fishing nets and ropes.
Nutritional Profile
This simple plant has many vitamins, including A, C, K, and B vitamins. It's also rich in minerals like iron, calcium, magnesium, and potassium, often having more of these than many vegetables we grow.
Stinging nettle also contains plant compounds called polyphenols, flavonoids, and carotenoids, which act as antioxidants. These work together with the vitamins and minerals to help your body heal and stay healthy.
This rich mix of nutrients explains why nettle has been used across the world for centuries to treat many health issues, from inflammation and allergies to urinary problems and low blood iron.
This is why stinging nettle is one of the key ingredients in Cosmic Hue tea blend, which works to support gut health, immunity, and overall wellbeing.
Key Health Benefits of Stinging Nettle
Anti-inflammatory Properties
Stinging nettle contains compounds that help fight inflammation in your body. Research shows nettle can block several paths that cause inflammation, reducing the chemicals that lead to pain.
For people with joint pain or arthritis, nettle may help. Many users say they have less pain and move better when they use nettle regularly. It works both when drunk as tea and when put directly on painful areas.
Nettle may also help with skin problems caused by inflammation. It can change how your immune system responds, making it have potential for conditions like eczema and hives. Regular use may help reduce flare-ups and improve skin health.
Natural Relief for Allergies
If you have seasonal allergies, stinging nettle might become your new favorite remedy. Nettle works as a natural antihistamine, helping to block the receptors that trigger allergy symptoms like sneezing, itching, and watery eyes.
One scientific study found that 58% of participants said nettle worked better than a placebo in relieving their allergy symptoms for hay fever (allergic rhinitis).
The compounds in nettle help stabilise mast cells, preventing them from releasing histamine and other substances that cause inflammation.
Blood Sugar Regulation
Stinging nettle shows promising effects on glucose metabolism, making it potentially helpful for those concerned about blood sugar levels.
Traditional healers have long used nettle to support metabolic health, particularly in cultures with plant-based medicine systems. Modern research now confirms these traditional uses, with studies showing nettle's ability to help maintain healthy blood sugar levels when used regularly.
The blood sugar regulating properties of nettle work through multiple ways, including improved insulin signalling and reduced absorption of glucose in the digestive tract. These combined effects make nettle a valuable plant ally for metabolic wellness.
Urinary and Prostate Health
Stinging nettle has a long history of use for supporting urinary tract health and addressing prostate issues.
Clinical research demonstrates that nettle improves urinary flow and reduces the need for night time bathroom trips in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). These benefits stem from nettle's ability to inhibit certain enzymes and receptor activities that contribute to prostate enlargement.
Nettle also functions as a mild diuretic, helping to flush toxins from the urinary tract while supporting kidney function. This gentle cleansing action makes it valuable for maintaining overall urinary health, not just for addressing specific conditions.
Cardiovascular Benefits
Nettle helps regulate blood pressure through multiple mechanisms, including its effect on the renin-angiotensin system that controls blood pressure.
Studies have shown that nettle extracts can relax blood vessel walls, improving circulation and potentially lowering high blood pressure when used consistently. This vasodilating effect improves blood flow throughout the body, supporting heart health and reducing strain on the cardiovascular system.
As mentioned, nettle also functions as a natural diuretic without depleting potassium like some pharmaceutical diuretics. This gentle diuretic action helps reduce fluid retention and decrease the workload on your heart, contributing to overall cardiovascular health.
The combination of these cardiovascular benefits makes nettle a valuable addition to a heart-healthy lifestyle, especially when combined with an appropriate diet, exercise, and medical care as needed.
How to Use Stinging Nettle
One of the best ways to get the health benefits of stinging nettle is by brewing it as tea
To make the tea, add one to two teaspoons of dried nettle leaves to a cup of hot water and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes. The longer it sits, the more beneficial compounds will get into your drink.
Nettle tea has a mild, earthy flavour that most people find pleasant on its own. However, you can add honey or mix with mint for more flavour.
This powerful plant was specially chosen as a key ingredient in Cosmic Hue. In this tea, nettle works together with six other healing herbs to support gut health and boost immunity.
The use of nettle in Cosmic Hue is directly related to founder Manny's personal healing journey with Crohn's disease. He found that herbal teas helped his recovery and managed his symptoms.
For the best benefits, consistency matters. Regular use allows the beneficial compounds to build up in your body over time, providing ongoing health effects.
Potential Side Effects and Precautions
While stinging nettle offers many health benefits, some people should be careful when using it.
Pregnant women should avoid nettle as it may cause uterine contractions. Those with diabetes should watch their blood sugar levels carefully when using nettle, as it may make diabetes medications work stronger.
Nettle may interact with several medications, including blood thinners, blood pressure medications, diuretics, and NSAIDs. If you take any prescription medications, talk with your doctor about possible interactions before using nettle regularly.
When picking fresh nettle, always wear thick gloves and long sleeves to protect your skin from the stinging hairs. Cooking, drying, or steeping completely removes the sting, making the plant safe to eat or drink.
If you experience any unusual symptoms after consuming nettle, stop using it right away and talk to a healthcare provider. While allergic reactions are rare, they can happen, especially in people with existing plant allergies.
Conclusion
Stinging nettle stands as one of nature's most versatile medicinal plants. Despite its prickly reputation, it offers an impressive array of health benefits.
From powerful anti-inflammatory properties and natural allergy relief to support for blood sugar regulation, urinary health, and cardiovascular function, this nutritional powerhouse has rightfully earned its place in traditional medicine across cultures.
Please note this information is educational only, not medical advice. Cosmic Hue is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult your healthcare provider before making changes in your lifestyle.
References
Riehemann, K., Behnke, B., & Schulze-Osthoff, K. (1999). Plant extracts from stinging nettle (Urtica dioica), an antirheumatic remedy, inhibit the proinflammatory transcription factor NF-kappaB. FEBS letters, 442(1), 89–94.
Roschek, B., Jr, Fink, R. C., McMichael, M., & Alberte, R. S. (2009). Nettle extract (Urtica dioica) affects key receptors and enzymes associated with allergic rhinitis. Phytotherapy research : PTR, 23(7), 920–926.
Obanda, D. N., Ribnicky, D., Yu, Y., Stephens, J., & Cefalu, W. T. (2016). An extract of Urtica dioica L. mitigates obesity induced insulin resistance in mice skeletal muscle via protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A). Scientific reports, 6, 22222.
Men, Changping & Wang, Meng & Aiyireti, Maimaiti & Cui, Yuanshan. (2016). The efficacy and safety of Urtica dioica in treating benign prostatic hyperplasia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines. 13. 143. 10.4314/ajtcam.v13i2.17.
Testai, L., Chericoni, S., Calderone, V., Nencioni, G., Nieri, P., Morelli, I., & Martinotti, E. (2002). Cardiovascular effects of Urtica dioica L. (Urticaceae) roots extracts: in vitro and in vivo pharmacological studies. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 81(1), 105–109.
Tahri, A., Yamani, S., Legssyer, A., Aziz, M., Mekhfi, H., Bnouham, M., & Ziyyat, A. (2000). Acute diuretic, natriuretic and hypotensive effects of a continuous perfusion of aqueous extract of Urtica dioica in the rat. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 73(1-2), 95–100.