Used as an infusion, decoction, extract, tincture and syrup.

From ancient Greece to the present, nettle has been documented for its use in treating coughs, tuberculosis, asthma, arthritis, intestinal complaints and skin problems.

Currently it is thought that polysaccharides (complex sugars) and lectins (large protein-sugar molecules) are probably the active constituents. The leaf has been shown to be anti-inflammatory by preventing the body from making inflammatory chemicals known as prostaglandins.

Nettle’s root affects hormones and proteins that carry sex hormones (such as testosterone or estrogen) in the human body; this may explain why it helps benign prostatic hyperplasia. This has been confirmed using extracts of the roots in double blind studies. A preliminary study reported that capsules made from nettle leaves had an antiallergy action in people.

Grieve's classic 'A Modern Herbal': 'Nettle is anti-asthmatic: the juice of the roots or leaves, mixed with honey or sugar, will relieve bronchial and asthmatic troubles and the dried leaves, burnt and inhaled, will have the same effect.'

'The seeds have also been used in consumption, the infusion of herb or seeds being taken in wineglassful doses. The seeds and flowers used to be given in wine as a remedy for ague. The powdered seeds have been considered a cure for goitre and efficacious in reducing excessive corpulency. Nettle is one of the best antiscorbutics. An infusion known as Nettle Tea is a common spring medicine in rural districts, and has long been used as a blood purifier.'

King's 1898 Dispensatory: 'Common nettle is astringent, tonic, and diuretic. A decoction is valuable in diarrhoea and dysentery, with profuse discharges, and in hemorrhoids, various hemorrhages, and scorbutic affections, and has been recommended in febrile affections, gravel, and other nephritic complaints.'

'A strong syrup made of the root, combined with suitable quantities of wild-cherry bark and blackberry root, forms an excellent remedy for all summer complaints of children, and bowel affections of adults. In cholera infantum and other summer disorders of children, with profuse watery or mucous discharges, the following treatment gives excellent results: Rx Specific urtica, ss; water, iii. Mix. Dose, a teaspoonful, every 1 or 2 hours. It is especially applicable in chronic diseases of the colon, with increased secretion of mucus.'

American Materia Medica, 1919 (Ellingwood): 'Urtica has been employed for the general purposes of an astringent, both internally and externally, in hemorrhages, ill-conditioned ulcers, and in chronic disease of the mucous membranes of the bronchi, bowels and urinary organs, and it is generally agreed to be an efficient remedy. It, however, appears to have a dynamic action, as in post-partum hemorrhage, suppression of the milk in nursing women, retrocedent eruptions, urticaria, jaundice, dropsy, ague and corpulency its influence in small doses is reliable.'

'In the treatment of eczema which includes the face, head and scalp, one case was entirely cleansed and anointed with olive oil leaving the oil on until the crusts could be softened and removed. Specific urtica dioica was added, two drams to an ounce of rosewater, and applied freely over the parts. The cure was very prompt, especially when the condition of the stomach and intestinal tract was made normal.'

'This agent is also used when there is excessive mucous discharge from the bowels, a drop or two at a dose. Persistent watery diarrheas are controlled by it.'

http://www.herbmed.org/Herbs/Herb130.htm#Category1Herb130:

54 TB patiends getting Urtica, Glycyrrhiza, Tanacetum, Mentha had improvement over the 58 controls Galitskii 1997

543 patients in double blind comparison of Sabal+Urtica or finasteride for nearly a year. Results were comparable for urine flow increase and symptom decrease. Sokeland 1997

Nettle leaf extract holds down immune reaction cytokines TNF-a and IL-1B in 20 healthy people taking it for 3 weeks. Effect confirmed in vitro. Teucher 1996

Sabal extract WS 1473 + Urtica extract WS 1031 improved symptoms for 2080 BPH patients in an open prospective study Schneider 1995

Among 626 hypertensive/diabetic patients, in Morocco, 2/3 use herbal medicine. Urtica dioica is among the most used by hypertension patients Ziyyat 1997

Traditional use of herbs for Salmonella Basaran 1996

Traditional use for rheumatoid arthritis. Urtica dioica leaf extract inhibits 5-lipoxygenase Obertreis 1996