Stinging Nettle Root

Is Stinging Nettle Rott Good For Prostate Problems?

Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica and the closely related Urtica urens) has a long medicinal history. In medieval Europe, it was used as a diuretic (to rid the body of excess water) and to treat joint pain.Some studies suggest that stinging nettle is comparable to finasteride (a medication commonly prescribed for BPH) in slowing the growth of certain prostate cells. However, unlike finasteride and beta-sitosterol, this herb does not decrease prostate size.

Stinging nettle has fine hairs on the leaves and stems that contain irritating chemicals, which are released when the plant comes in contact with the skin. The hairs, or spines, of the stinging nettle are normally very painful to the touch. When they come into contact with a painful area of the body, however, they can actually decrease the original pain. Scientists think nettle does this by reducing levels of inflammatory chemicals in the body, and by interfering with the way the body transmits pain signals.

General Uses

Stinging nettle has been used for hundreds of years to treat painful muscles and joints, eczema, arthritis, gout, and anemia. Today, many people use it to treat urinary problems during the early stages of an enlarged prostate or Benign Prostate Hyperplasia . It also has been  used to treat prostatitis,  urinary tract infections, allergic rhinitis, or in compresses or creams for treating joint pain, sprains and strains, tendinitis, and insect bites.

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

In Europe Stinging Nettle Root is used widely to treat tha prostate enlargement. Studies in people suggest that stinging nettle, in combination with beta-sitosterol, is very effective at relieving symptoms such as reduced urinary flow, incomplete emptying of the bladder, post urination dripping, and the constant urge to urinate. These symptoms are caused by the enlarged prostate gland pressing on the urethra. The effect may be because it contains chemicals that affect hormones (including testosterone and estrogen), or because it acts directly on prostate cells. 

Osteoarthritis

The leaves and stems of nettle have been used historically to treat arthritis and relieve sore muscles. While studies have been small, they suggest that some people find relief from joint pain by applying nettle leaf topically to the painful area. Other studies show that taking an oral extract of stinging nettle, along with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), helps people reduce their NSAID dose.

Hay fever

One preliminary human study suggested that nettle capsules helped reduce sneezing and itching in people with hay fever. In another study, 57% of patients rated nettles as effective in relieving allergies, and 48% said that nettles were more effective than allergy medications they had used previously. Researchers think that may be due to nettle's ability to reduce the amount of histamine the body produces in response to an allergen. To confirm nettle's antihistamine properties more studies are needed. Some doctors recommend taking a freeze-dried preparation of stinging nettle well before hay fever season starts.

Blood Sugar and Blood Pressure

Preliminary animal studies indicate that nettle may lower blood sugar and blood pressure. However, more research is needed to determine whether this is also true in humans.

Composition

Stinging hair of nettle contains formic acid, histamine, and acetylcholine. Leaves of nettle contain provitamin A, vitamin B1, K, xanthophylls, and sistosterin and ashes of nettle contain 6,3% ferric oxide, potassium, calcium, and silicium 

Normally we find stinging nettle in supplements  usually made from the leaves, stems and roots. Root preparations are used to relieve symptoms of enlarged prostate.The root appears to have different pharmacological effects than the leaves.