Urtica dioica

Urtica dioica, often known as common nettle, burn nettle, stinging nettle, nettle leaf, or just a nettle or stinger, is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the family Urticaceae. Originally native to Europe, much of temperate Asia and western North Africa, it is now found worldwide. The species is divided into six subspecies, five of which have many hollow stinging hairs called trichomes on the leaves and stems, which act like hypodermic needles, injecting histamine and other chemicals that produce a stinging sensation upon contact ("contact urticaria", a form of contact dermatitis). The plant has a long history of use as a source for traditional medicine, food, tea, and textile raw material in ancient (such as Saxon) and modern societies.

Description

A herb that continues to grow year after year. It can be 1-2 m high. The leaves have stalks. They are opposite. The leaves are 4-15 cm long by 1-7 cm wide. They have a leaf like structure at the base of the leaf stalk. The leaves are pointed. The flowers are white or yellow. They have male and female flowers on separate plants. The plant has stinging hairs on the leaves and stems.

Edible Uses

Young leaves are cooked as a potherb or added to soups, and can also be dried for winter use. Nettles are highly nutritious, easily digested, and rich in minerals (especially iron) and vitamins (especially A and C). Harvest only young leaves — old leaves can be laxative — and wear stout gloves. Cooking or thorough drying neutralises the sting. Young shoots harvested in spring when 15–20 cm long, complete with the underground stem, are particularly good eating. The leaves are harvested commercially for chlorophyll extraction, used as green colouring agent E140 in foods and medicines. A tea made from the dried leaves is warming and, though bland on its own, can be added as a tonic to China tea. The juice of the leaves or a decoction of the herb can be used as a rennet substitute to curdle plant milks. Nettle beer is brewed from the young shoots.

Traditional Uses

The tender shoots and leaves are cooked and eaten as a vegetable. They can be used in soups and pasta dishes. The leaves are used for sarma in Turkey. They are rolled around a filling of rice or minced meat. The juice of the leaves is used as a rennet in preparing cheeses and junkets. The dried leaves are used as tea. The seeds yield an edible fatty oil. CAUTION: The older leaves can contain oxalate crystals. Raw leaves have stinging properties.

Medicinal Uses

Nettles have a long history as a home herbal remedy and nutritious food. Leaf tea has traditionally been used as a cleansing tonic and blood purifier, and the plant is used in treating hay fever, arthritis and anaemia. The whole plant is antiasthmatic, antidandruff, astringent, depurative, diuretic, galactogogue, haemostatic, hypoglycaemic and a stimulating tonic. An infusion is valuable for stemming internal bleeding and treating anaemia, excessive menstruation, haemorrhoids, arthritis, rheumatism and skin complaints including eczema. Externally it is applied to arthritic pain, gout, sciatica, neuralgia, haemorrhoids and hair problems. Fresh leaves rubbed or beaten onto the skin treat rheumatism through urtification — the intense irritation acts as a counter-irritant, drawing blood to the area to help clear rheumatic toxins, while the formic acid is thought to benefit affected joints directly. For medicinal use, the plant is best harvested in May or June as it comes into flower and dried for later use. Nettle leaf juice can antidote nettle stings, and an infusion of fresh leaves makes a soothing lotion for burns. The root has shown beneficial effects on enlarged prostate glands. A homeopathic remedy made from the leaves treats rheumatic gout, nettle rash and chickenpox, and is applied externally to bruises. The German Commission E approves Urtica dioica leaf for rheumatic ailments (internal use) and irrigation therapy, and the root for inflammatory disease of the lower urinary tract, prevention of kidney gravel formation, and urination difficulty from benign prostatic hyperplasia. The species merits further study for potential uses against kidney and urinary system ailments.

Known Hazards

The leaves of the plants have stinging hairs, causing irritation to the skin. This action is neutralized by heat or by thorough drying, so the cooked leaves are perfectly safe and nutritious. However, only young leaves should be used because older leaves develop gritty particles called cystoliths which act as an irritant to the kidneys. Possible interference with allopathic drugs for diabetes mellitus, hypertension. Central nervous system depression drugs (e.g. morphine, alcohol) may also interact with nettle. Avoid during pregnancy.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. In Nepal they grow from 500-4500 m altitude. They grow in moist areas. Garhwal Himalayas. It suits hardiness zones 3-9.

Where It Grows

Africa, Alaska, Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Asia, Australia, Austria, Balkans, Belarus, Belgium, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Britain, Bulgaria, Canada, Caucasus, Central Africa, Central Asia, Chile, China, Congo DR, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Europe*, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Himalayas, Hungary, India, Iran, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Mediterranean, Middle East, Moldova, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nepal, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Scandinavia, Serbia, Siberia, Sicily, Sikkim, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Tibet, Turkey, Türkiye, Ukraine, USA, Uzbekistan,

Cultivation

Prefers a soil rich in phosphates and nitrogen. Plants must be grown in a deep rich soil if good quality fibre is required. Nettles are one of the most undervalued of economic plants. They have a wide range of uses, for food, medicines, fibres etc and are also a very important plant for wildlife. There are at least 30 species of insects that feed on it and the caterpillars of several lepidoptera species are dependant upon it for food. Especially when growing in rich soils, the plant can spread vigorously and is very difficult to eradicate. It is said that cutting the plant down three times a year for three years will kill it. It is a good companion plant to grow in the orchard and amongst soft fruit. So long as it is not allowed to totally over-run the plants, it seems to improve the health of soft fruit that grows nearby and also to protect the fruit from birds, but it makes harvesting very difficult. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required. The leaves and young shoots are typically harvested in spring, before flowering, from early spring to late spring. Stinging nettle usually flowers from late spring to summer, around June to August (Northern Hemisphere). Stinging nettle grows quickly and can reach its full height within a single growing season, making it a vigorous and robust plant.

Propagation

Sow seed in spring in a cold frame, barely covering it. Prick seedlings into individual pots when large enough to handle and plant out in summer. Division succeeds at almost any time in the growing season — plant divisions straight into their permanent positions.

Other Uses

Nettle can serve as ground cover that prevents soil erosion and improves soil quality through nutrient accumulation, while also attracting beneficial insects. A strong flax-like fibre from the stems — produced in less abundance than flax and more difficult to extract — is used for string, cloth and good quality paper, harvested as the plant dies down in early autumn and retted before extraction. Remaining plant matter provides biomass for manufacturing sugar, starch, protein and ethyl alcohol. Seed oil is used as an illuminant. The plant is an essential ingredient of 'QR' herbal compost activator, a dried powdered herbal blend that speeds bacterial activity in compost heaps. Leaves are a valuable compost addition and can be soaked for 7–21 days in water to make a nutritious liquid plant feed that also acts as an insect repellent and foliar feed. The growing plant raises the essential oil content of neighbouring plants, boosting their resistance to insect pests. Flies are repelled by nettles, and freshly cut stems placed in food cupboards exploit this effect. Plant juice or a decoction boiled in strong salt solution curdles milk as a rennet substitute; rubbed into leaky wooden tub seams it coagulates and seals them. Infused leaves make a hair wash used as a tonic and antidandruff treatment. A permanent green dye comes from a decoction of leaves and stems; a yellow dye from the root boiled with alum. Nettle flowers are attractive to pollinators and provide nectar and pollen. The leaves provide food and habitat for caterpillars and other insects, and the dense growth offers shelter for various invertebrates. Nettle is a dynamic accumulator, gathering minerals from the soil and storing them in bioavailable form useful as fertilizer or mulch improver.

Other Information

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. It is a popular food in hilly regions. It is sold in local markets and commercial shops.

Notes

Nettles especially the roots have been found to be useful for reducing prostrate cancer problems in men. Rich in polysaccharides, vitamins (β-carotene), iron, potassium, manganese, calcium, silicon, phosphate and vitamin C. Its leaves contain a large amount of essential fatty acids, such as α-linolenic acid and linoleic acid, essential amino acids and carbohydrates, carotenoids that include Omega-6 fatty acids, lutein, β-carotene. 75% of the total chlorophyll content is α-chlorophyll and 25% β-chlorophyll.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Achoka, Ain, Aluma, Ardica, Bichhu booti, Bichhua, Bichua, Bichubuti, Bicirgan, Bobatsi, Bolodzi makholo, Brandnetel, Brennesle, Brennnessel, Chichru, Ch'inch'ari, Chitchiti odghin, Dalgan, Deli isirgan, Derdinik, Dilgeles, Dzaluma, Eghinj, Gasgask, Gazada ut, Gazanga, Gerzinik, Gesges, Gewone brandnetel, Gezik, Gezink, Gezgezok, Gezok, Gharya shisnu, Gicirgan, Gizirkan, Hitha, Horriga lharcha, Horriga lharra, Hourrigua-iharcha, Irhawurhawu, Isiran, Isirgan, Isirganotu, Jamila, Jam jama, Jinch'ari, Jula, Juon, Kabarcik, Kalele, Kandali, Kari, Keyori, Kirays, Kopriva, Korvenoges, Krapiva, Kungsh, Kushak, Lardica sarvaggia, Mahlolo-abolodzi, Noges, Ortia, Ortiga, Ourtya, Patle sishnu, Pokriva, Pokrzywa, Polo, Polu, Raudnoges, Saag, Saddar, Sa-dug, Sadukpa, Sagoe, Sajilim, Sebabetsane, Sezonay, Sezonkay, Seezunkay, Sha zhi, Shouzhe, Siiloi, Sirgan, Sishnu, Sisni, Sisno, Sisnu, Sungri-surong, Tall nettle, Ububati, Urtiga, Urtio, Urzica, Velika kopriva, Xia di, Yagij, Za god, Zahoye, Zara, Zastisod, Ziiloi, Zocha, Zubuda, Zwa

References (192)

• Agarwal, R. & Chandra, V., 2019, Diversity of wild edible plants in the Mandal-Chopta forest, Uttarakhand. Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies 2019; 7(1): 89-92
• Aipeisova S.A., et al, 2019, Wild useful herbs of Aktobe Region (Western Kazakhstan). Ukrainian Journal of Ecology, 9(3), 329-331
• Ali, H., et al, 2011, Ethnobotanical profile of some plant resources in Malam Jabba valley of Swat, Pakistan. Journal of Medicinal Plants Research Vol. 5(18), pp 4676-4687
• Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 663
• Amin, M., et al, 2023, Edible wild plant species used by different linguistic groups of Kohistan Upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 19:6 p 14

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