If you have allergies you might get symptoms like an itching or swelling sensation in the nose and eyes, sneezing, a runny nose, watery eyes, and difficulty breathing.

There are many antihistamines available to treat the symptoms of allergies, but these are often costly, and may cause adverse reactions in some people. One remedy that is inexpensive, natural, and safe is nettle tea.

What Are the Causes of Allergies?

The most common cause of allergies is pollen from grass and trees. During the spring and summer, plants release pollen into the air. When you breathe in the airborne particles, they may cause your body to react negatively.

If you are allergic to pollens, your body tries to protect itself by making antibodies, which fight off foreign substances. These antibodies can produce chemicals such as histamine, which is the main culprit behind the irritating symptoms of allergic rhinitis (allergies).

As your body tries to fight off the histamine, it produces mucus so your nose runs, and your bronchial passageways become obstructed. This means that your nose, throat and chest are blocked, so you may find it difficult to breathe.¹

How Can Nettle Tea Help?

Although nettles can cause allergic skin reactions if you touch the leaves, they are particularly useful in alleviating the symptoms of allergies if you drink them in tea. Nettle tea can ease symptoms such as congestion, difficulty breathing, runny noses, and coughs.²

In a 1990 study by the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon, doctors studied the effects of nettles on people with allergic rhinitis. Researchers split the test subjects into two groups, giving one group a nettle preparation and the other a placebo.¹

The group that took the nettle preparation reported fewer allergic reactions than those that took the placebo. Another study by the Herbal Science Group shows that nettles can block histamine receptors and reduce inflammation in people who suffer from allergic rhinitis.³

Nettle leaves contain natural antihistamine and anti-inflammatory properties. These work in the body to block the histamine receptors, which means you don’t experience such a strong reaction to pollens. This can help to reduce your hay fever.

How to Take Nettle Tea for Allergies

If you have allergies or respiratory problems, nettle tea can effectively reduce symptoms such as itchy, watery eyes, inflammation, and sneezing. Drink 2-3 cups of tea a day throughout the hay fever season to alleviate symptoms of allergies.⁵

Although nettles are a natural and safe alternative to antihistamines, you should speak to a health care professional before using them if you have a preexisting medical condition, or if you are pregnant or nursing.

What to read next

• How to make nettle tea
• Is nettle tea safe to drink?

References
¹ http://herbalmusings.com/nettelsome-allergies.htm
² Church, Bill. West Virginia Medicinal Plants, Trees, & Shrubs, A Field Guide. Lulu.com, 2004
³ Roschek, B., Fink, R. C., McMichael, M. and Alberte, R. S. Nettle extract (Urtica dioica) affects key receptors and enzymes associated with allergic rhinitis. Phytotherapy Research, 23: 920-926. doi: 10.1002/ptr.2763, 2009
⁴ Warren, Piers. 101 Uses for Stinging Nettles. United Kingdom: Wildeye, 2006
⁵ Tilford, Gregory L.; Gladstar, Rosemary. From earth to herbalist:An earth-conscious guide to medicinal plants. Mountain Press Publishing, 1998

How Can Nettles Help Your Hair?

Nettles can prevent hair loss¹, remedy dandruff problems, and soothe the scalp.² People have used these nutritious plants for hundreds of years in food and drink, as well as in oils, lotions, and infusions for the skin and hair.

If your hair is thinning or you are going bald, you may want to consider drinking nettle tea. Research by R. Hartmann shows that nettles can block DHT, which is a hormone that is responsible for hair loss and male pattern baldness.

The nettles are particularly effective at blocking DHT if they are combined with the herbal extract pygeum. Because hair grows in cycles, you may need to wait a few months to see significant results.¹

If you have dry, dull hair, or an itchy scalp, nettle oil can also do wonders for your hair and skin. You can massage the nettle oil into your hair and scalp one hour before shampooing or leave it on overnight.

This should be done once a week to reduce inflammation and make hair shiny and glossy.¹

How to Make Nettle Tea and Nettle Oil

It is very easy to make nettle tea. Take the leaves of the nettle plant and wash thoroughly under cold water. Be sure to use gloves to avoid getting stung by the spines. Steep 1-3 teaspoons of nettles in boiling water for ten minutes, and drink three times a day. You can sweeten the tea with sugar or honey to taste.⁴

Nettle oil is made with nettle root extracts infused in extra-virgin olive oil. You should apply the oil directly on the hair or body, but not ingest it. This is one of the most potent nettle concoctions for skin and hair.¹

Pros of Using Nettles For Hair Conditions

Nettles are a natural alternative to prescription or over the counter products. There are very few side effects to ingesting nettles or applying nettle products to the skin and hair. In addition, nettles and nettle products are generally very cheap, so they can save you money in the long run. Furthermore, nettles grow everywhere, so they are easy to find.

Cons of Using Nettles For Hair Conditions

Although very few people exhibit side effects after ingesting nettles or applying them to the skin and hair, some people have reported minor issues. A few people have reported stomach problems after ingesting the plant.

In addition, there is a small chance that nettles may cause uterine contractions if they are ingested, so it may be prudent to avoid ingesting nettles if you are pregnant.⁵

Overall, nettles are an excellent remedy for a wide range of hair conditions. Many people with hair and skin problems see very positive results after using nettle tea, nettle oil, and nettle infusions.

Furthermore, they are natural and cheap, so they have few side effects and are very cost efficient. On a final note, nettles can also be good for your pet’s coat⁶, so they are a multi-purpose household herb for hair, skin and fur.

What to read next

• Nettle tea and weight loss
• Where to buy nettle tea

References
¹ http://www.articlesbase.com/hair-loss-articles/hair-loss-alternative-solutions-3347395.html
² Arrowsmith, Nancy. Essential Herbal Wisdom: A Complete Exploration of 50 Remarkable Herbs. Llewellyn Worldwide, 2009
³ http://www.hairlosslearningcenter.org/topical-hair-loss-treatment/nettle-root.asp
⁴ Young, Jacqueline. Complementary Medicine For Dummies. John Wiley & Sons, 2007
⁵ Castleman, M. The Healing Herbs. Schartz Books, Melbourne, 1991
⁶ Puotinen, C. J. The Encyclopedia of Natural Pet Care. McGraw-Hill Professional, 2000

Today, there is a rise in the interest of using nettle leaves by smoking it with the belief that it will also deliver the same benefits as well. Although it is a relatively new concept, you will find the method to be more and more popular as an alternative to smoking tobacco and cannabis.

Alternative to Smoking Tobacco

While there are really no scientific data to back up the claims of the benefits of smoking nettle leaves, a lot of people say that their their health have improved by doing so. In essence, it is an alternative to smoking tobacco, which is harmful to your health.

By smoking nettle leaves, you can reduce the risk of poisoning your body with tar and nicotine that tobacco will give you. Perhaps the best benefit you can receive from smoking nettle leaves is that it can help you kick the habit of smoking tobacco. Nowadays, people are turning to herbal alternatives as an option to replace cigarettes.¹

Alternative to Marijuana

Another reason why smoking nettle leaves has become immensely popular is that it has become a replacement for marijuana for recreational use. So, if you want the feeling of smoking without the negative effects of cannabis, smoking this herbal plant will be perfect for you.

Though nettle will not necessarily give you the buzz you are looking for in marijuana, it can be a better alternative than smoking pot.

Increase in Testosterone Levels

Another benefit that you can receive from smoking nettle leaves and the root is that doing so increases testosterone levels, which can be beneficial if you are suffering from lack of sexual drive.

If you are a woman going through menopause, you can find smoking nettle leaves to your advantage as well as. This can be helpful as the increase of testosterone levels will be able to help you in improving your sexual desire that oestrogen simply cannot fill.

Disadvantages

Since there really isn’t any data to support claims of smoking nettle leaves benefits, you can expose yourself to various dangers if you attempt to do it. For one, you never know if you are allergic to the plant or if there are irritants in it that can be harmful. If irritants are present when you smoke nettle, it might cause a choking risk.

Of course, the most obvious disadvantage of smoking nettle is that it negates the scientifically proven benefits of consuming it. In its dried form, nettle contains flavonoids (antioxidants), vitamin C and iron. When you burn these leaves and smoke them, the nutrients it contains are destroyed.

What to read next

• What is in nettle tea? A list of vitamins & minerals
• Got a few extra pounds? Nettle tea can help you drop them

References
¹ http://www.herbal-smoke.com/natural-smoking-herbs_2010.php

Nettle tea is made from stinging nettle plants, which grow wild as weeds in Europe and North America. Each nettle leaf is covered with millions of tiny hollow spines filled with a cocktail of formic acid, histamine, acetylcholine, and serotonin.¹

When you touch the nettle, the spines inject this potent combination deep into your skin, warning you to stay away from the plant. However, drinking nettle tea presents no risk of getting stung.

Those stinging chemicals are actually the source of nettle tea’s health benefits. For example, serotonin is a natural mood-enhancer, which could help you if you suffer from depression. Here is a list of all the vitamins and minerals in nettle tea.

A cup a day…

Drinking a cup or two of nettle tea every day is a good way to get your vitamins and minerals without needing to take supplement pills. This means that you avoid the chemical additives in supplement tablets as well as taking advantage of the other nettle tea benefits described below.

Nettle tea flushes your system

Nettle tea is a natural diuretic. This means that it helps your body to pass water more quickly, helping to reduce water retention and that “bloated” feeling. For example, if you eat too much or drink too much and your stomach feels tight, a cup of nettle tea can help this feeling go away more quickly.

Also, if you have a bladder or kidney infection, drinking nettle tea can help because it dilutes your urine which makes it less acidic and easier to pass.

Nettle’s diuretic benefits have been tested in a medical context. In a study carried out in Germany, men with a prostate condition that made it difficult for them to urinate were given either a placebo or nettle for one year. Those taking the nettle showed significant improvements in their condition.²

Nettle tea reduces inflammation

Nettle has long been used as a folk remedy for arthritis. A study on the effects of traditional remedies for arthritis showed that stinging nettle treatment reduced pain and helped arthritis sufferers to move their joints more easily.³ This is probably because nettles are anti-inflammatory, meaning that they reduce swelling.

You can get all the anti-inflammatory benefits of nettles by drinking nettle tea. Not only does this help relieve pain in your joints, it could also bring down swelling in other parts of your body, such as your lungs and airways, providing relief from asthma, hay fever, and allergies.

Nettle tea acts in a similar way to the anti-histamine drugs your doctor might prescribe for allergies, but it is an entirely natural remedy.

Nettle tea benefits for the skin

Your skin can also reap the benefits of nettle tea. Eczema and acne are both skin conditions that can be treated with nettles. Again, it is nettle’s anti-inflammatory properties that allow it to bring you relief from these irritating conditions.⁴

Nettle tea and women’s health

Finally, nettle tea can also relieve period pain. Like anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, nettle gently soothes your uterus, but doesn’t present the same risks of internal bleeding as those drugs.

The high vitamin K content of nettle tea also helps to control the flow, so that you don’t lose too much blood,⁵ and the diuretic effect will help to avoid the bloated feeling that often comes with that time of the month.

Drinking nettle tea

In addition to all the above benefits, nettle tea is fat-free, sugar-free and caffeine-free. Preparing nettle tea is simple, but collecting the stinging leaves takes a little care – wearing gloves is strongly recommended.

If you would rather not get up close to a stinging nettle, health food shops usually stock nettle tea in either dried leaf or capsule form.

What to read next

• How to lose weight with nettle tea
• Is nettle tea safe to drink?

References
¹ Warren, Piers. 101 Uses for Stinging Nettles. United Kingdom: Wildeye, 2006
² Phaneuf, Holly. Herbs demystified: a scientist explains how the most common herbal remedies really work. Da Capo Press, 2005
³ Evidence for the Efficacy of Complementary and Alternative Medicines in the Management of Osteoarthritis. Vijitha De Silva; Ashraf El-Metwally; Edzard Ernst; George Lewith; Gary J. Macfarlane; Posted: 05/11/2011; Rheumatology. 2011;50(5):911-920. © 2011 Oxford University Press
⁴ Church, Bill. West Virginia Medicinal Plants, Trees, & Shrubs, A Field Guide. Lulu.com, 2004
⁵ Arrowsmith, Nancy. Essential Herbal Wisdom: A Complete Exploration of 50 Remarkable Herbs. Llewellyn Worldwide, 2009

Really? Yes, really!  Definitely no caffeine.

Here is a big list of the vitamins and minerals in nettle tea.

However…

If you purchase pre-packaged tea (like herbal tea bags), it might actually be a blend of dried nettle leaves and other types of tea.  Those other types of tea might have caffeine so make sure you read the packet closely if you’re concerned about caffeine.

But if you’re drinking nettle tea made from fresh or dried leaves, there is definitely no caffeine.

What to read next

• A BIG list of the vitamins and minerals in nettle tea
• Nettle tea and allergies

Here is the list of vitamins and minerals found in nettle leaves, which get transferred into the nettle tea.

Vitamins found in nettle leaves (100g of fresh leaves)¹
Vitamin C    238 mg – Promotes immune system health
Vitamin E   14.4 mg – An antioxidant which also promotes healthy skin
Beta-carotene (Vitamin A)   5 mg – For healthy eyes, deficiency can cause blindness
Vitamin B3   0.62 mg – B vitamins boost energy levels by regulating metabolism
Vitamin B2   0.23 mg
Vitamin B6   0.068 mg
Vitamin B1   0.015 mg

Minerals found in nettle leaves (100g of fresh leaves)¹
Calcium   853 mg – Essential for bone health
Potassium   532 mg – Plays an important role in the nervous system
Magnesium   96 mg – Maintains energy levels
Phosphorus   75 mg – Essential for bone health
Sodium   16 mg – Plays an essential role in the nervous system
Iron   13 mg – Vital for blood health, prevents anemia
Manganese    3 mg – Works with calcium to ensure bone health
Zinc    0.9 mg – Important for immune system health
Copper   0.52 mg – Produces essential enzymes that allow organs to work properly
Selenium    0.0027 mg – Essential for thyroid function

Aside from all the vitamins and minerals, there is also:
Water   76.9 g
Protein   6.5 g
Fiber   5.3 g
Fat   1.6 g
Caffeine    0.0 mg (this is why nettle tea is caffeine free!)

As you can see, this is quite a long list and it helps to explain why nettle tea is so good for the body when each and every cup you drink contains all these different vitamins and minerals.

Interesting things about these vitamins, minerals, and more

Vitamin E
There are many different forms of vitamin E. But the one inside nettle is special because it is the one that the human body prefers, and is absorbed better by the body.²

Sodium & Potassium
Nettle tea has a very low ratio of sodium to potassium, which helps protect against cardiovascular diseases (heart disease) and cancer.¹

Caffeine
A common question is “does nettle tea contain caffeine?” As you can see, there is no caffeine in nettle tea because the nettle leaves, from which the tea is made, do not naturally contain caffeine.  If you are drinking a blend of nettle and other teas, you should check the packet to see if it is caffeine free.

Sugar
There is no sugar in nettle tea (unless you add it) so that makes it a great healthy drink which can help you lose weight.

Protein
The nettle is extremely rich in proteins. Actually, twice as much as spinach.¹

Amino Acids
Amino acids, are molecules that combine to form proteins which are the building blocks for your body’s cells, muscles and organs! They are also essential to the immune system’s ability to fight of diseases. Nettle leaves have lots of amino acids.

Anti-Coagulant
An anti-coagulant has been identified in nettle leaves. This substance is a derivative of heparin¹, which is used medically as a blood thinner to prevent the formation of blood clots.³

No Fat
It should be noted that the nettle tea does not have any fat! The small amount of fat in the nettle leaves will remain inside the green material and does not get transferred to the tea.

Why is all this important?

Now that you know what is inside nettle tea, you can without doubt appreciate why it is such a healthy drink.  All the vitamins and minerals work together to help the body stay healthy.  All this is scientific evidence that supports the use of nettle as a medicinal plant for conditions such as arthritis, allergic rhinitis, or benign prostatic hypertrophy.¹

What to read next

• Where To Buy Nettle Tea
• How To Make Nettle Tea

References
¹ Kavalali, G. M. et al. Urtica: The genus Urtica (Medicinal and Aromatic Plants – Industrial Profiles). CRC Press, 2003
² Rigotti, A. “Absorption, transport, and tissue delivery of vitamin E”. Molecular Aspects of Medicine 28 (5–6): 423–36. 2007
³ Guyton, A. C.; Hall, J. E. Textbook of Medical Physiology. Elsevier Saunders. p. 464. 2006

These days, there are many different birth control pills on the market that help regulate a woman’s monthly flow.  However, not everyone can or wants to take birth control pills.  Should they have to suffer?  No!  Nettle tea has been used by Indians and many other earlier cultures for centuries to help relieve hemorrhaging during a woman’s period and after childbirth, thanks to its high levels of Vitamin K.  The anti-inflammatory ingredients of nettle tea also assist with menstrual cramps.

For those women hoping to become pregnant, drinking nettle tea may help your system prepare for a baby.  Nettle tea is a powerful diuretic which will flush the drinker’s system.   Often, people find they are unable to get pregnant because their body is not “ready” due to toxins.  Flushing out your system will help!  Nettle tea also contains high levels of calcium, which support a woman’s ability to conceive.

While pregnant, it seems there is a large laundry list of food and drink items that should not be consumed (and those are usually the ones craved the most!).  These items are especially hard to cross off your list when they are part of your daily routine, such as with tea and coffee, both of which contain caffeine.  Consuming too much caffeine during pregnancy may lead to a low-birth weight baby.   Nettle tea, like most herbal teas, is naturally caffeine-free, meaning it is safe to drink during pregnancy, when the mother-to-be is craving a comforting cup of tea.  Additionally, nettle tea is packed full of nutrients, giving your energy deprived body a much needed boost.   Consumption of calcium (present in nettle tea) during pregnancy is extremely important as the growing fetus zaps the mother’s calcium supply, potentially leading to osteoporosis later on in life.

If you recently had a child and you are trying to breast feed but are having issues with your milk supply, nettle tea, once again, comes to the rescue.  It helps the lactating glands to produce more milk.  As stated before, nettle tea is naturally caffeine-free, which helps prevent an agitated baby, as not all caffeine is filtered out of the mother’s body before being consumed via the breast milk.

And for those women who have reached the end of their childbearing years and are going through menopause, consuming nettle tea can help regulate the hormones and blood sugar levels which cause acne, depression and mood swings.   And, regardless of the benefits, who doesn’t feel better after a hot cup of tea?

What to read next

• Is Nettle Tea Safe To Drink
• How To Make Nettle Tea

Of course, there are some tricks of the trade out there that are natural and still have a payoff for those looking to shed some pounds.  One such dieting secret is drinking nettle tea.

Nettle tea is a gentle diuretic, meaning it helps your body process and flush toxins from your system.  This flushing also helps remove “water weight” which might be giving you a bloated look.  And with less waste clogging up your insides, you will have more energy to hit that gym!  Speaking of energy, nettle tea is also packed with tons of vitamins and minerals to give you a natural boost, unlike the chemical high experienced from energy drinks which just fill your body with more toxins.  If you are not hungry, you are less likely to munch on things that are not so good for you.  Again, nettle tea comes to the rescue!  It contains serotonin and acetylcholine, both of which are natural appetite suppressants.

While nettle tea alone will not transform you overnight, it will help you in your journey to get and stay in your best physical shape ever!  Start brewing

What to read next

• Where to buy nettle tea
• Drinking Nettle Tea Can Help Keep Your Teeth Plaque Free

With a little research, though, it is easy to see what has been proven to work through the centuries and what is the latest fad.  Although, the newly discovered berry from the Amazon rainforest that promises to help you lose weight has only been out for a few years with no substantial research completed on it, there are real natural remedies out there that have been proven and will work for you.  One such gift from Mother Nature is nettle tea.

Nettle tea was used prior to the Middle Ages, but it became more mainstream when its diuretic benefits were discovered around that time.  As the years passed, the world came to respect the amazing qualities of nettle tea.  Early Indian women of America commonly used nettle tea to help stop bleeding after childbirth, a remedy that is still used today.

So, next time you need relief from a skin or respiratory ailment, want healthier hair or even help producing breast milk, what do you think you are going to lean towards?  A time proven treatment such as nettle tea which is cheaply available – even free in some places?   Or the newest, expensive fad pill (and who knows what that contains)?

What to read next

• Where to buy nettle tea
• What Are The Benefits Of Stinging Nettle Tea?

Imagine my surprise when, as an adult venturing into the holistic world, I learned that nettles are praised as bringing relief to an amazingly long list of ailments!   How can this prickly bush actually contain anti-inflammatory ingredients that help relieve acne and eczema when it used to make my skin so red and irritated?  Won’t drinking nettle tea sting the inside of my mouth and internal organs?  The answer is simply, “no”.

When the nettle leaves are boiled, the nettle “stingers” are destroyed, leaving behind a leaf chock full of minerals and vitamins that help relieve asthma, joint pain, menstrual cramps, skin ailments and even make your hair healthier and stronger!

Most herbalists recommend a safe consumption of two to four cups of nettle tea a day; anything more than that may cause diarrhea.  Additionally, you may want to build up to those two or four cups for that same reason – nettle tea is a powerful diuretic that flushes your system clean; your body needs to build up a tolerance to it!  And if you want to get your kids on the nettle tea healthy bandwagon, keep in mind that their dosage should be about half of the adults’ daily dosage or whatever their pediatrician recommends.

Again, because everyone is different, some people may experience a mild stomach ache after ingesting nettle tea (another reason why it is smart to start small in your dosage).  These cases are more often than not caused by an impure source of the nettle leaves.  A rash on the skin that appears after drinking nettle tea may be a sign of a nettle allergy.  This should be investigated with your doctor prior to consuming more tea (unless you like to scratch!).

As with any natural remedy, it is always best to get your doctor’s go-ahead prior to trying out nettle tea as everyone’s body and needs are different; you also need to check if drinking nettle tea will interact negatively with any current medication you are taking (natural or otherwise), especially if you are taking blood thinners.  Nettle tea is very rich in Vitamin K, which helps prevent blood clots, but causes issues for those on blood thinning medication.  The same goes for those taking medication for lowering blood pressure or managing diabetes; nettle tea will enhance these medications, causing blood pressure and sugar levels to dip dangerously low.

Above all, use common sense. If you try nettle tea and like, that’s great! But don’t drink in constantly.  And of course, if you have any negative reaction, stop and either reduce the amount of nettles or if it happens again, speak with your doctor.

What to read next

• How to make nettle tea
• Drinking Nettle Tea Can Help Keep Your Teeth Plaque Free