Posts Tagged ‘home remedies’

The Stinging Nettle as an Effective Home Remedy

A herbaceous flowering plant found in Asia, Europe, North America, and northern Africa, the stinging nettle grows tall in the summer (from 3 to 7 feet) and dies in the winter. It is what is known as a dioecious herbaceous perennial.

The flowers that it bears are small and green or brown in color. The leaves and stems of the stinging nettle are very hairy. Some of them are non-stinging and others are stinging. When the tips come off of a stinging hair, it transforms into a needle. The stinging needle injects chemicals into whatever it comes into contact with. The chemicals are made up of histamine, 5-HT or serotonin and acetylcholine.

The origin of the stinging nettle’s name was derived because the compounds create a sting causing itching and pain which can last from a few minutes up to as long as one week. If you were to brush up against a stinging nettle with bare skin you would probably come down with a rash similar to poison ivy.

The plant has some uses as a home remedy but it must be dried in order to reap its benefits. The raw leaves are too much of an irritant and should not be used before drying.

This small and delicate herb has properties that are astringent, diuretic and tonic. It can control bleeding, clear toxins and the leaves can slightly reduce blood pressure and blood sugar levels. The root of the stinging nettle has similar properties and is used to reduce prostate enlargement.

Taken internally, the leaves are used as a good home remedy for anemia, kidney stones, hemorrhaging (particularly of the uterus), heavy menstrual bleeding, arthritis, gout, hemorrhoids, rheumatism, allergies, prostate conditions, eczema and other skin ailments,.

As a tincture or in a salve, stinging nettle is an effective home remedy against external conditions as well. It has been used to treat the pain from arthritis, nosebleeds, gout, scalp and hair issues, hemorrhoids, burns and insect bites.

Home remedies can be very powerful treatments for a vast array of conditions. If you are unsure about their use, work with a qualified herbalist or holistic physician who can guide you.