Are you interested in doctoring yourself?
Many of us who take an active role in our own health often desire to build our own natural medicine chest for minor and even advanced ailments, like taking elderberry tincture to stop a cold or flu, catnip and fennel tea for a colicy baby, or turmeric in place of Prozac or Ibuprofen. Today I’ll show you how to make an medicinal tincture from nettles.
Once again, Creator God has given us a plant for our healing!
The leaves of the Stinging Nettles plant have hair-like structures that sting and also produce itching, redness and swelling. However, once it is processed into a supplement, dried, freeze-dried or cooked, stinging nettle can be safely consumed. Studies link it to a number of beneficial health benefits.
Stinging nettle’s leaves and root provide a super wide variety of amazing nutrients, including (1):
• Vitamins: Vitamins A, C and K, as well as several B vitamins
• Minerals: Calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and sodium
• Fats: Linoleic acid, linolenic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid and oleic acid
• Amino acids: All of the essential amino acids
• Polyphenols: Kaempferol, quercetin, caffeic acid, coumarins and other flavonoids
• Pigments: Beta-carotene, lutein, luteoxanthin and other carotenoids
OTC Allegra and Claritin both block histamine receptors but have some nasty side-effects. Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) works similarly but with none of the side-effects. It’s an amazing herb.
How Nettles Work for Allergies & Hay Fever
Hay fever is an allergy that involves inflammation in the lining of your nose. Stinging nettle is viewed as a promising natural treatment for hay fever. This includes blocking histamine receptors and stopping immune cells from releasing chemicals that trigger allergy symptoms (
The ancient Greeks somehow knew nettles relieved symptoms of hay fever and allergies such as runny nose and head and chest congestion.
Nettles taken orally work by blocking histamine production preventing hay fever symptoms if taken when they first appear.. This study showed nettles regulate the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and prostaglandins. They also block proinflammatory COX-1 and COX-2 production. It’s interesting that the sting of their leaves cause great pain and inflammation when touched (before cooking or drying), but taken as a tincture or by capsule, they quickly put the fire of inflammation out!
Nettles also decrease Arthritis Inflammation & Pain
One recent study looked at pain relief using nettles in individuals with osteoarthritis of the hip or knee and found significant reduction in NSAID use. In other research, stinging nettle reduced levels of multiple inflammatory hormones (1)(2). Early Egyptians used nettle infusions for arthritis pain.
Unlike OTC antihistamines, stinging nettles do not cross the blood brain barrier, so there is no drowsiness or other nasty side effects.
Dr. Josh Axe says Nettles also work well for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and urinary issues.
More research is needed, but stinging nettle is also said to:
- Promote lactation
- Stimulate hair growth
- Help control blood sugar in patients with diabetes
- Reduce bleeding connected to gingivitis
- Treat disorders of the kidneys and urinary tract
- Provide relief from water retention
- Prevent or treat diarrhea
- Decrease menstrual flow
- Provide asthma relief
- Heal wounds
- Treat hemorrhoids
- Stimulate contractions in pregnant women
- Treat insect bites
- Treat tendonitis
- Treat anemia
WHERE TO PURCHASE:
No worries if you can’t forage local nettles. This is a good source of organic dried nettles. Lucidia has antihistamine capsules specifically for seasonal allergies. Nature’s Way brand is another capsule – the comments are full of positive feedback on it relieving allergies.
Nettle is known as a very safe herb and is commonly recommended by herbalists and midwives. It is commonly added to pregnancy teas (such as Earth Mama and Traditional Medicinals) due to it being such a gentle, nourishing herb with very few side effects.
What you’ll need to make Stinging Nettle Tincture
Ingredients
• Stinging Nettle, fresh or dried herb
• High-proof vodka (at least 80 proof) or brandy
Materials
• Gloves powder-free
• A canning jar with a tight-fitting lid
• A bowl or glass measuring cup with a spout
• A small funnel
• Labels
• Amber tincture bottles (with a glass dropper) for storing the tinctures
Making Stinging Nettles Tincture
• First step to creating this tincture is to gather your herbs. You can harvest nettles with gloves or purchase them dried.
• Nettles are often found growing abundantly in the wild throughout North America, but make sure to ID what you are harvesting first. Make sure it’s a no-spray area.
• Pick before the little flowers appear in midsummer.
If you are working with fresh nettles, I recommend wearing gloves and clothing to cover your skin to prevent the sting that itches and tingles for 4-6 hours.
• Rinse well with cool water to remove dust, but do not use any soap
• Chop/cut the fresh nettle tops and leaves small to increase surface area during the vodka extraction process
• For fresh nettles, fill your Mason jar 3/4 full and cover to 1″ from the top with alcohol
• When using dried nettles, fill your jar 1/2 way and then cover to 1″ from the top
• Cap tightly. Label your jar.
• Shake the jar every day out of the sunlight and store in a cool dark cabinet. As the mixtures sits, it macerates (extracts) the nettles’ medicinal properties.
Bottling your Tincture & Storage
• After ~4 weeks, you should bottle your tincture. Don’t let this particular tincture go past 5 weeks!
Pour off the tincture liquid into the large coffee filter or cheesecloth set over a strainer on the top of the large measuring cup.
Drain out the tincture while separating the spent herb. Squeeze out any remaining tincture from the herb.
Using a small funnel, fill your amber tincture bottles and cap with the glass medicine dropper.
Label and date.
Store in a cool dark place.
Vodka (80 proof/40%) tincture has an unlimited shelf life.
Dosage for Stinging Nettle Tincture:
Put 20-25 drops in a small amount of water and take 2 times daily of the herb. (source)
Using Dried Nettles as an Infusion (tea):
Pour one cup near-boiling water over 1-2 tablespoons dried herb and steep for 10-20 minutes or until desired temperature. Drink 1-3 cups daily. (source)
If I’m in a hurry, I just slowly chew a pinch of dried nettles to extract its properties 2-3 times a day when I’m heading outside to work in the yard or pollen is high. I also find relief when I go on a car trip where I’ve regularly suffered congestion.
More Supporting Studies here, here, and here.
“Native American women thought nettle tea during pregnancy strengthened the unborn child and eased delivery. “ ~Herb Lore
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Medical Disclaimer: I am no longer a practicing medical professional, and I am not doctor. I am a mother. I do seek scientific confirmation of the safety and effectiveness of the herbs and remedies I use. Using remedies is a personal decision. Nothing I say on this blog is intended to treat or prevent disease. Consult your own doctor.
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