Nettle (Urtica dioica) not only has a good range of vitamins and minerals, as do most herbal plants, but it also has a wide range of medicinal attributes including anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties which can make it useful for arthritic pain and other inflammatory conditions. It has very good antioxidant properties making it good for preventing free radical damage to the cells of the body. It has also been shown to be helpful for preventing prostate enlargement and/or cancer; it promotes antihypertensive activity due to its relaxant effect on blood vessels making it good for high blood pressure; it also has an antihyperglycaemic action which helps to reduce blood glucose levels and increase insulin levels making it of possible benefit to diabetics; it is a diuretic that can help with cleansing of toxins from the kidneys; it can be useful for anaemia due to it being a good source of both iron and vitamin C along with its ability to improve absorption of nutrients; it has been purported to assist hair growth via stimulation of the hair follicles; and nettle also has good antiviral properties.
A couple of leaves of nettle can be infused in boiling water to make a herb tea, or hair rinse, or added to cooking. When first picking nettle caution is recommended because it can cause skin irritation in some people, hence its other common name, stinging nettle.
