Perennial, erect herb with stinging hairs; leaves opposite, simple, coarsely toothed, narrowly heart-shaped; flowers small, greenish, in axillary clusters.

Antiparamecium (leaf extract); astringent, diuretic (which relieves rheumatism and edema), increases metabolic rate, anticancer, antidiabetes, antianemic, cholinergic and histaminic (plant); inflammatory (stinging hairs).

Tropical Plant Database
Plants for a Future
Henriette's plant info: Urtica dioica L., Urticaceae

Choline, betaine, various amino acids and plastoquinones (leaf); carotenes, vitamins, acetylcholine, histamine, formic acid and 5-hydroxytryptamine (plant).

Jaundice, kidney problems, bleeding of the uterus and nose, excessive menstruation, haemorrhoids, arthritis, rheumatism and eczema, as a diuretic (for relieving rheumatism and edema), astringent and as a substitute for thiazide treatment (without side effects) (plant); Externally, the plant is used to treat skin complaints, arthritic pain, gout, sciatica, neuralgia, haemorrhoids, dandruff etc.; as a tonic (flower and seed); for heart problems. Nettles have a long history of Use(s) in the home as a herbal remedy and nutritious addition to the diet. A tea made from the leaves has traditionally been used as a cleansing tonic and blood purifier so the plant is often used in the treatment of hay fever, arthritis, anaemia etc.

It may lower blood pressure and heart rate.
Leaf extract (IDS 23, Rheuma-Hek) reduces TNF-alpha & IL-1 beta in healthy humans induced by LPS. No effect on IL6 (Obertreis et al., 1996).

Chandel et al., Biodiversity in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in India.