The nettle plant causes painful stings when it gets into contact with the skin. Most people usually dismiss it as a common weed and would pluck it out of their garden without a second thought. Although it doesn’t look like much, the plant has many health benefits. Therefore, people have been using this plant as a medicinal herb for centuries.
The nettle plant is rich in proteins, phosphorous, calcium, magnesium, and vitamins. It is available in many forms including, tablets, ointments, and creams but most people prefer to consume it in the form of tea. This article will outline some of the top nettle tea benefits.
Top Nettle Tea Benefits You Need to Know
1. Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) Symptom Treatment
BPH is characterized by an enlarged prostate gland. Its victims usually experience symptoms such as an increased urge to urinate, painful urination, reduced urinary flow, incomplete emptying of the bladder, and post urination dripping.
Nettle tea helps to alleviate most of these symptoms. Although doctors haven’t figured out how it is able to do this quite yet, many clinical studies point to the possibility that chemicals in the plant affect the hormones that cause the disease.
2. Arthritis and Joint Pain Relief
Those who suffer from arthritis experience joint pain in their knees, hands, hips, and spines. They often rely on nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to deal with the illness. But prolonged use of NSAIDs can lead to serious side effects.
Taking nettle tea alongside drugs can allow the patients to reduce the use of NSAIDs. Nettle has anti-inflammatory properties and is rich in minerals such as calcium, potassium, and magnesium. Apart from easing the pain, the herb helps to strengthen the bones.
3. Hay Fever Symptom Prevention
Nettle is a natural anti-histamine. It can help cure hay fever and other seasonal allergies. It also provides comfort when it comes to symptoms such as nasal congestion, sneezing, coughing, and itching. It affects key receptors and enzymes involved in allergic reactions.
Moreover, it can eliminate symptoms of hay fever if taken when the symptoms first appear. A global study conducted by the National College of Naturopathic Medicine revealed that the use of nettle as an allergy relief rated higher than placebos.
4. Premenstrual Syndrome Treatment
A sizable number of women in the world experience Premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Nettle tea contains vital elements that can effectively fight PMS providing fast relief for the many women affected by this discomfort.
Additionally, nettle tea benefits the body by eliminating bloating and cramps. It can significantly lower the blood flow during periods. The tea minimizes the discomfort that women experience during the crucial transitional phase by ensuring the hormonal changes aren’t too drastic.
5. Skincare
Skincare is one of the widely known nettle tea benefits. The herb has traditionally been used for this specific purpose in many parts of the word. It has analgesic and anti-inflammatory qualities that can help relieve symptoms of acne, irritation, eczema, and other harmful skin blemishes.
The antioxidants present in the tea can protect the skin from scarring and can help speed up the healing process. Other than drinking the tea, you can also wait for it to cool and use a cloth to apply it on the skin.
6. Immune System Boost
Nettle tea contains flavonoids and carotenoids and is high in vitamin C concentration. All these properties make the beverage a very effective immune system booster.
Nettle tea benefits the body by seeking out and neutralizing free radicals that can lead to chronic illness and cellular mutation. By helping the body to fight that oxidation stress, the nettle tea functions as the first line of immune defense. Thus, it can break the immune system free from negative agents.
7. Blood Circulation Improvement
One of the top nettle tea benefits is improving blood circulation. The herb is rich in iron and vitamin C. Vitamin C assists the digestive system to absorb more iron thus helping to increase the number of red blood cells.
Nettle also promotes the production of red blood cells in your body. Similarly, the beverage is also believed to provide relief from anemia or fatigue characterized by general muscle weakness, exhaustion, cognitive difficulties, and headaches.
8. Weight Loss Boost
Although no official research has been done to confirm nettle tea benefits on weight loss, the herb has cleansing properties that may assist the body to shed a few pounds by getting rid of unwanted metabolic waste. Reducing the waste stored in the muscle tissue and the lymphatic system helps the body to function more productively. Author Gillian McKeith recommends 3 to 4 cups of nettle tea a day in her book “Slim for Life” calling it a natural appetite resistant.
9. Testosterone Production Boost
While researching the negative effects of nicotine on sperm, researchers found that nettle significantly boosts sperm count, the normal morphology of sperm cells, and testosterone in mice. But the research is yet to be conducted on humans.
Some anecdotal reports claim that nettle replenishes the amount of testosterone in the body which usually diminishes during a body workout. Although not yet scientifically proven, nettle tea may help in boosting sex drive because of its ability to keep testosterone active.
10. Diabetes Amelioration
Preliminary research on the use of nettle tea in treating type-2 diabetes has been conducted. A 2011 study found that nettle can effectively help to decrease interleukin 6 (IL-6) and high sensitive c-reactive protein (hs-CRP).
Another study revealed that the same herb has a significant effect on levels of glucose in patients with type-2 diabetes. However, researchers only studied the effects of nettle tea alongside other oral anti-hyperglycemic drugs. Therefore, patients should only take the tea as a complementary form of treatment.
Final Word
There are many other nettle tea benefits including relieving symptoms of common cold, reducing inflammation, supporting proper liver function, promoting healthy gums, killing parasites and intestinal worms, and lessening symptoms of nausea. However, pregnant women should avoid it since it may affect their menstrual cycle and lead to a miscarriage.
Nettle tea can also cause side effects, especially when taken alongside other prescription drugs. You should always consult a health practitioner before using nettle in any form.
