Scientific Name                                             Urtica dioica, Urtica urens                                          Family                                             Urticaceae                                          Other Common Names                                                  Bichu, Common Nettle,  Feuille d'Ortie, Graine d'Ortie, Grande Ortie, Great Stinging Nettle,  Nettle, Nettle Leaf, Nettle Seed, Nettle Worth,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                                          Caution  

Don't confuse stinging nettle with White Dead Nettle Flower.

                                   Stinging nettle is an herbaceous  plant that grows to 2-4 meters in height, and is characterized by  pointed leaves and white to yellowish flowers (91520, 93098).  Both the root and leaf are used for medicinal purposes. It was used as a  diuretic and laxative during the ancient period of the Greek physicians  Dioscorides and Galen (76447). It is listed in the European pharmacopoeia and is used as a wild edible plant in soups and other preparations (39801).                                 

Possibly Safe when  used orally and appropriately. Stinging nettle root 360-600 mg has been  used safely for up to 1 year (5093, 11230, 15195, 76406, 96744). ...when used topically and appropriately (12490).                                                             

PREGNANCY:  Likely Unsafe  when  used orally due to possible abortifacient and uterine-stimulant effects (4, 6, 19).                                                             

LACTATION:    Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using.                                                             

Orally, stinging nettle seems to be generally well tolerated. 

Orally: Constipation, diarrhea.
Topically: Contact with the raw plant causes itching, rash, and stinging.

Oral stinging nettle seems to improve glycemic control in patients with diabetes.

                                                                   Insufficient Reliable Evidence to Rate                                                                       

It is unclear if oral stinging nettle is beneficial for hay fever.

Although  there is interest in using oral stinging nettle for anemia, there is  insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of stinging  nettle for this condition.

Although  there is interest in using oral stinging nettle for asthma, there is  insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of stinging  nettle for this condition. (Admin note: Works for me if freeze dried OR as fresh herb tea)

It is unclear if oral stinging nettle is beneficial for BPH.

Topical stinging nettle has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear.

Stinging  nettle in a mouthwash solution has only been evaluated in combination  with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear.

Although  there is interest in using oral stinging nettle for gout, there is  insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of stinging  nettle for this condition.

It is unclear if oral stinging nettle is beneficial for Gulf war syndrome.

It is unclear if oral stinging nettle is beneficial in patients with hyperandrogenism.

Oral stinging nettle has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear.

Oral stinging nettle has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear.

Although  there is interest in using topical stinging nettle for myalgia, there  is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of  stinging nettle for this purpose.

Small  clinical studies suggest that topical stinging nettle may modestly  improve pain in patients with osteoarthritis. It is unclear if oral  stinging nettle is beneficial.

It is unclear if oral stinging nettle is beneficial for acute pain.

Oral stinging nettle has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear.

Although  there is interest in using oral stinging nettle for UTIs, there is  insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of stinging  nettle for this condition.

More evidence is needed to rate stinging nettle for these uses.

Research is limited; typical dosing is unavailable.

There is insufficient reliable information available about the standardization of stinging nettle.

  Interaction Rating Moderate Be cautious with this combination.     Severity MODERATE   Occurrence POSSIBLE   Level of Evidence                                                                                 B  (Lower quality RCT)    

Theoretically, stinging nettle might have additive effects with antidiabetes drugs.

  Interaction Rating Moderate Be cautious with this combination.     Severity MODERATE   Occurrence POSSIBLE   Level of Evidence                                                                                 D (In vitro or animal study)    

Theoretically, combining stinging nettle with diuretic drugs may have additive effects.

  Interaction Rating Moderate Be cautious with this combination.     Severity MODERATE   Occurrence POSSIBLE   Level of Evidence                                                                                 D (In vitro or animal study)    

Theoretically, stinging nettle might reduce excretion and increase levels of lithium.

  Interaction Rating Moderate Be cautious with this combination.     Severity HIGH   Occurrence POSSIBLE   Level of Evidence                                                                                 D   (Theoretical based on pharmacology)    

There is some concern that stinging nettle might decrease the effects of anticoagulant drugs such as warfarin.

Stinging nettle may lower blood glucose levels.
None known.   There is insufficient reliable information available about the presentation or treatment of overdose with stinging nettle.

After  oral administration of 20 mg of stinging nettle agglutinin in healthy  volunteers, 30% to 50% of the dose was excreted in the feces (76447).

The  applicable parts of stinging nettle are the above ground parts and root.  Stinging nettle root contains polysaccharides and fatty acids,  including (10E,12Z)-9-Hydroxy-10,12-octadecadienoic acid (11227, 11228, 11229, 76466).  Stinging nettle leaf contains several nutrients and active  constituents. The leaf is eaten as a food because of significant amounts  carotene, vitamin C, vitamin K, potassium, calcium, and magnesium (2, 8, 11, 19, 76425). There is about as much vitamin C and carotene in stinging nettle leaf as in spinach and other greens (5).  The leaf also contains beta-sitosterol and the flavonoids quercetin,  rutin, kaempferol, and others. The leaf also contains lectins, including  agglutinin (76448). The stinging nettle hairs of the leaf contain histamine, acetylcholine, and serotonin (12490, 76420, 76448).

Preliminary  evidence suggests applying stinging nettle leaf topically might relieve  arthritis pain by hyperstimulation, but the exact mechanism for this  effect is unknown (12490).

For  osteoarthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions, stinging nettle  above ground parts might work due to potential anti-inflammatory effects  (6500, 12490).  Preliminary clinical research shows that stinging nettle extract lowers  levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in  humans (76422).  Animal research shows that polysaccharides from stinging nettle root  extract can reduce inflammation by stimulating T-lymphocyte  proliferation, influencing the complementary system, or increasing the  release of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha (76464).  Cell culture research shows that stinging nettle root extract may  suppress human leukocyte elastase (HLE), a proteinase involved in tissue  destruction associated with chronic inflammation (76403).  Other cell culture research shows that stinging nettle leaf extract  inhibits phytohemagglutinin-stimulated production of interleukin-2 and  interferon-gamma (76400), reduces lipopolysaccharide-stimulated production of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta (76437), and inhibits NF-kappaB activation (76444).

Some  researchers think that stinging nettle leaf might be beneficial for  allergic rhinitis due to its quercetin content. Quercetin is thought to  have anti-inflammatory and mast-cell stabilizing effects. It decreases  histamine release from basophils and mast cells (483).  In clinical research, taking stinging nettle daily for 1 month reduced  interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) levels compared to placebo. However,  stinging nettle did not alter clinical symptoms of allergic rhinitis,  nasal smear eosinophil levels, or serum levels of IgE, interleukin-4  (IL-4), or interleukin-5 (IL-5), (96743).

Agglutinin,  a lectin derived from stinging nettle root, has been shown to inhibit  the binding of epidermal growth factor to its receptor in epidermoid  carcinoma cells (76467).  Epidermal growth factor receptor signaling plays a role in the cancer  cell proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and metastasis.

Cell culture research shows that lectins isolated from stinging nettle root extracts have fungistatic effects (76408, 76446).

Cell  culture research shows that lectins from stinging nettle can inhibit  human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), cytomegalovirus, respiratory  syncytial virus (RSV), and influenza A virus replication (76404).  Other cell culture research shows that stinging nettle agglutinin can  prevent the entry of HIV and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) into  target cells (76411).

Animal  research shows that giving an extract of stinging nettle above ground  parts intravenously can reduce blood pressure via diuretic and  natriuretic effects (76402).  Also, the leaf juice can increase urine output and slightly decrease  systolic blood pressure and body weight in people with venous  insufficiency (1, 11).

Stinging nettle seems to lower body temperature, and have CNS depressant and anti-seizure activity (4, 6, 11).

Some cell culture and animal research shows that stinging nettle leaf can increase the secretion of insulin from the pancreas (93100).   Other cell culture research shows that stinging nettle leaf extract  can inhibit peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-gamma  activity (94101). Additional cell culture research shows that stinging nettle above ground parts can inhibit alpha-glucosidase activity (94102, 94103).

There  is interest in using stinging nettle to stimulate breast milk  production. A very small clinical trial in lactating adults in Iran  shows that taking stinging nettle 15 drops orally three times daily for 4  weeks improves infant feeding frequency, the number of wet diapers,  defecation frequency, and diaper weight when compared with placebo drops  (115676).  However, milk production was not measured and it is unclear if the  people in the study had lactation insufficiency prior to enrollment.

There  is interest in using stinging nettle for prostate disease, including  benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer. Preliminary  research shows that an aqueous extract of stinging nettle leaves can  decrease adenosine deaminase activity in prostate tissue from patients  with localized prostate cancer (15196).  Animal and cell culture research shows that stinging nettle root  extract can reduce the proliferation of prostate cancer cells (11227, 76398).  In vitro research shows that lignans from stinging nettle root  interfere with the binding of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) to sex hormone  binding globulin (SHBG) (11228). The binding of DHT and SHBG stimulates the growth of prostate cancer (93099). By interfering with this binding, stinging nettle is believed to reduce prostate cancer growth.

Stinging  nettle root extract also appears to inhibit the binding of SHBG to its  receptor on the surface of prostate cells. By interfering with the  binding of SHBG to its receptor, stinging nettle root extract may  prevent estrogen-induced amplification of the androgen signal, which is  thought to promote hyperplasia (76435).

Stinging nettle contains beta-sitosterol (15196).  Laboratory research suggests beta-sitosterol might have  antiproliferative effects on the prostate, possibly by inhibiting growth  factors (11234). In animals, beta-sitosterol shrinks the prostate, but this has not been shown in humans (11759). Some preliminary evidence also shows that extracts of stinging nettle can inhibit prostate tissue growth (15196).

Aromatase  is an enzyme responsible for the conversion of androgens into  estrogens. Estrogens appear to be involved in the etiology of benign  prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Therefore, inhibition of aromatase could  improve BPH (76465). Some constituents of the methanol extract of stinging nettle root demonstrated weak-to-moderate aromatase inhibition (76403, 76447, 76461, 76466).

There is also some preliminary research showing that stinging nettle can inhibit 5-alpha reductase enzyme (76461).  This enzyme is believed to play a role in the pathogenesis of benign  prostatic hyperplasia. However, other preliminary research shows that  stinging nettle root extract does not inhibit 5-alpha reductase (70232).

Preliminary  research shows that stinging nettle root extract inhibits the  sodium-potassium pump in human prostatic hyperplastic tissue (76434, 76447). Inhibition of the sodium-potassium pump may reduce prostate cell metabolism and growth (76434).

5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitors,     Diuretics,   Hypoglycemic Agents  

See Monograph References  

Literature Review Current Through: 1/21/2026, Last Updated: 7/4/2026

The contents of this resource are not  intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis,  or treatment. Clinical input is needed from a qualified healthcare  provider before taking any supplement or starting any therapy. Do not  delay or disregard seeking medical advice or treatment based on any  information displayed in this resource.