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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Joanna
Thank you!!! I have terrible seasonal allergies, and we’ve just bought 10 acres of bare land with lots of stinging nettles. 😉
Roseann Hampton
I’m going to give this a try for my husband who has outdoor allergies! Thanks for sharing with us at The Blogger’s Pit Stop!
Justina
Jacqueline, do you know if I could make up this tincture and add red raspberry leaf in as well to use in place of my “pregnancy tea” I force myself to chug down daily. I really hate the taste, if I could make a tincture and reap the same medicinal benefits, seems like a big win for me. (The “preggers tea” is just equal parts stingy nettles and red raspberry leaf.)
Mandy
Hello Jacqueline,
You mentioned that there were no side effects–do you know if this is safe for people who can’t take Ibuprofen? My husband has health conditions / medications that prevent him from using Ibuprofen, but he also has allergies and takes Benadryl ( not every day, but often) and I would like to eliminate that if possible!!
Anu Kurian
Hi Jacqueline,
I have been following your blogs for couple of years now. I logged in today to check for natural allergy relief for my 10 year old son. He has severe runny nose , sneezing and itchy eyes. I prefer natural solutions whenever possible hence looking for natural remedies that can actually help. It would be great if you can help with some suggestions.
Regards,Anu.
Jacqueline
Hello, Anu!
I am sorry to hear about your 10 year-old son’s severe allergies.
I can share natural remedies I have on the blog, but we also do something else to that addresses the root cause and not just the symptoms.
On the blog at the bottom of this post are a whole list of natural antihistamines:
https://deeprootsathome.com/popular-otc-benadryl-diphenhydramine-now-with-a-dementia-warning/
and this:
https://deeprootsathome.com/complete-guide-side-effect-medicine-cabinet/ (see the section for Upper Respiratory/Chest/Sinus/Allergies)
But the foundational thing we all do here is detox with TRS, a daily spray into the mouth.
Have you heard of TRS or read Avalyn’s Story? https://deeprootsathome.com/avalyns-story-how-trs-a-safe-heavy-metal-detox-can-help-you-and-your-child/
This will explain how TRS addresses things like Lyme, thyroid, asthma and allergies, regressive autism, mold, sleep and seizure disorder, hormonal imbalance, bedwetting and stuttering in children and other autoimmune diseases (like chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, and diabetes) from underlying toxins and metals: https://deeprootsathome.com/heavy-metals-need-to-go-they-are-food-for-viruses-bacteria-fungi/
Allergies will dissappear when we remove the underlying irritating metals.
Vaccinations and Tylenol (of all things) have been found to cause allergies and the symptoms you describe:
https://deeprootsathome.com/vaccinated-unvaccinated-healthier/
https://deeprootsathome.com/tylenol-increases-asthma-risk-70-percent/
I do complimentary coaching by email or phone with every order through my link ❤ https://inspiredhealthtrs.cosevatrs.com/
If this is interesting, you can get back with me! If not, no worries!
Blessings,
Jacqueline
Christi
Hi Jacqueline!
Since finding your website, I reference it for almost every home remedy I can think of. I LOVE it here!
Quick story and question.
I’ve very much neglected my potted plants outside, so they are pretty much potted weeds now. I have one close to my front door, and the weeds are flowing over! Haha! Well, my son brushed by one yesterday, and (I think he over reacted) he collapsed in pain! I quick did a Google lens picture, and it came up with stinging nettle. I know I’ve seen some good things about that, either here or in ‘The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies,’ so I treated him, then got to searching here.
My other son has bad Eczema during the fall and winter months. The ONLY thing that I’ve found to help is a strong prescription steroid, and I would like to not continue to use that on him, so often/ at all.
It’s late October here. In your article, it says pick the leaves before flowers appear in midsummer. Now I’m questioning whether or not this potted weed, lol, is actually stinging nettle. These don’t look like they’ve flowered yet, and I’d like to make the tincture with the leaves, if it actually is stinging nettle. Can you give me advice on how to know for sure?
Jacqueline
Hi, Christi, thank you for your kind words!
Yes, you can ID nettles here: https://www.wildedible.com/wild-food-guide/stinging-nettle
Let me know if you want to treat him for his eczema. I have a way that always works and it is natural.
Blessings,
Jacque
Christi
Of course I want to know!
Linnette
Can the tincture still be used if left fir more than 6 weeks?
Jacqueline
Hi, Linnette, yes. It depends on the tincture, though. I have let elderberries extract for a years and the results is amazing, but for nettles, 5 – 6 weeks is the very maximum.
Each post states the length of time that is correct.
I hope that helps,
Blessings,
Jacque
Linnette
What happens to the Nettle tincture after 6 weeks. I just found one I forgot about and it’s been like 3 months. To the trash with it?
Jacqueline
Hi, Linette,
I think the time of 6 weeks is because whatever you can get out is all extracted around that time. Berries and some othrs can go longer easily. If your tincture is a higher proof vodka, it is fine because it will keep from molding unless there is herb above the level of the vodka. Nettle leaves can turn black and look horrible, and so I just state 6 weeks, but they are likely good if not above the fluid level.
I hope that helps!
Blessings,
Jacque
Abby
Hi. A few years ago I began waking up with a terrible runny nose. After about 6 months I went to an ENT and he said I had chronic rhinitis. I’ve never had allergies before. He put me on a nose spray regime basically for the rest of my life he said. Needless to say we butted heads because he thought that was good enough. I wanted to know why it just all of a sudden happened and how to get to the bottom of it. The walls were thin as well and I heard him telling the person in the next room the exact same thing. I only take the nose spray when my nose starts running and take the weakest OTC available, not the steroid he prescribed. So after that long story, haha, do you think this would help with that?
Jacqueline
It is very possible the nettles will really help. It has been shown in studies to help a lot!
But I would try this first (add TRS) to see if that helps! https://deeprootsathome.com/novel-way-to-locally-prevent-harm-after-nasal-swabs/ Xlear is helpful locally in the nasal passages and TRS will detox you there as well and work specifically on that area.
Also if you are still using TRS, keep taking it consistently – it should mitigate your allergies to a large degree at some point as you get cleaner (detox) that allergen.
Lastly, here is a capsule with nettle and it works directly on the respiratory system. https://amzn.to/3C6p4yh
I hope that helps.
Blessings,
Jacque
Abby
Thank you so much! I just prepped my Xlear bottle with the TRS spray so I will start tonight. Is it ok to do the nasal spray and still do the TRS spray in my mouth as well or is that too much?
Jacqueline
Hi, Abby,
Yes, you will have broader coverage with both, which is best. We’ve found we feel pretty confident when out in public and thank God for His gifts to keep us strong.
It is no guarantee, though, because God is sovereign.
Sending peace,
Jacque