A'choo and you - lovely help from Nettle
"The pollen count, now that's a difficult job. Especially if you've got hay fever." ~ Milton Jones
Spring time is in the air and so are all those pesky pollens! Seeing the Earth come back to life after a long dark winter is amazing but feeling the effects of a runny nose and itchy eyes is not as fun. That is where nettle comes in.
HERB INFORMATION
The scientific name: Urtica diocia
Traditional name: Nettle
Genus: Urticaceae
Used part of the plant: Roots, stalk and leaves
Nettle is sometimes seen as the go-to herbal antihistamine. Studies have shown super antioxidant properties when the leaves are infused as well as included other constituents as quercetin (Otles & Yalcin, 2012).
TRADITIONAL USES*
Hay fever and other allergies
Arthritis, rheumatism
Benign proto static hyperplasia
Cardiovascular dis-ease
Goiter, simulates hair follicles
Inflammation
Nettle is micronutrient dense; constituents include vitamins and minerals as well as flavonoids, sterols, tannins, amino acids and lecithin to name a few.
A study of 69 patients with allergic rhinitis were given 600 mg of freeze-dried nettle lead daily to treat symptoms. Fifty-eight patients felt most of the symptoms were relieved and 48% stated that nettle relieved their symptom's better than over-the-counter medications (Urtica dioica, Urtica uerns (Nettle), 2007).
So, if you are looking to find allergy relief, you may want to look to Nettle to see what this little herb can offer you!
Precautions: This herb has diuretic and hypotensive qualities; it may lower blood pressure. If you take other medications that lower blood pressure, seek medical advice before using. We recommend that you consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The information is for educational purposes only.
References:
Semih Otles and Buket Yalcin, “Phenolic Compounds Analysis of Root, Stalk, and Leaves of Nettle,” The Scientific World Journal, vol. 2012, Article ID 564367, 12 pages, 2012. https://doi.org/10.1100/2012/564367.
Urtica dioica; Urtica uerns (Nettle). (2007). Alternative Medicine Review, 12(3), 280-284. doi:http://www.altmedrev.com/archive/publications/12/3/280.pdf