While stinging nettle may sound like a dangerous plant, it can be prepared into a supplement with potential benefits against inflammation, allergies, and arthritis. Although it is considered safe, stinging nettles has its risks and side effects as well.<\/p>\n
Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica<\/i>) is an herb native to parts of Europe, Africa, Asia, and North America. Civilizations as old as Ancient Greece used this plant for its medicinal properties, though our modern names for it come from the Anglo-Saxon \u201cnoedl\u201d (needle) and the Latin \u201curtica\u201d (to burn) [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Stinging nettle has been used as a food, fabric, medicine, and cosmetics for thousands of years. Its wide array of uses includes everything from enhancing male health to easing nasal congestion [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Touching the leaves of a wild stinging nettle can cause skin irritation. However, when processed for consumption, the nettle\u2019s stinging hairs are crushed, cooked, or boiled in a way that eliminates their stinging abilities and makes them safe for consumption [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Stinging nettle contains multiple bioactive compounds responsible for its health and antioxidant effects. These include [R<\/a>]:<\/p>\n Stinging nettle root has a significantly different chemical profile than the leaves<\/b>, with about half the quinic acid and almost no caffeic acid by comparison. However, the roots also contain some compounds not found in the leaves, such as fatty acids, plant sterols, secoisolariciresinol, vanillin, and scopoletin [R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n The compounds in nettle root may protect against heart disease, affect the brain, and reduce cholesterol. The root is also particularly effective against benign prostatic hyperplasia<\/b> [R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\nSnapshot of Stinging Nettle<\/span><\/h3>\n
Proponents:<\/b><\/h4>\n
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Skeptics:<\/b><\/h4>\n
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Components<\/span><\/h3>\n
Bioactive Compounds of Leaves<\/h4>\n
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Bioactive Compounds of Root<\/h4>\n