Nettle Tea Health Benefits, Uses And Its Side Effects
Last Updated: Sep 12, 2020
While nettle tea is definitely not the first tea that many people go for, it is a delicious and beneficial beverage that can ease pain, soothe allergies, improve the immune system, protect the heart, optimize digestion, relieve inflammation and heal the skin, among others.
Nettle Tea
The nettle is a herbaceous flowering plant which is a subspecies of, and belongs to the Urtica genus. The nettle is a small plant and it rarely grows past five feet in height, but is has a huge variety of health benefits.
The nettle plant has stinging hairs called trichomes on their leaves and stems, which, when touched by humans, injects chemicals such as histamine into the human body, thus giving it the name ‘stinging nettle’. It is also due to this very reason that this plant also has colloquial names such as burn nettle, burn weed and burn hazel. Nettle tea is made from the leaves and stems of the nettle plant.
Nutritional Value of Nettle Tea
The nettle plant actually offers great nutritional value. A single cup of nettled tea contains around 30-35 calories. It has no sodium, fat, cholesterol, or sugar in it, but it provides a substantial amount of carbohydrates and protein.
Nettles tea also have minerals such as potassium, iron and silica. The stinging nettle is rich in antioxidants which protect your body from free radicals and other toxins.
Nutritional facts Per 1-cup serving
Health Benefits of Nettle Tea
Anti-inflammatory properties of nettle tea good for thicker, strong hair and hair regrowth. If your suffering from a common cold, cough, and allergies then you can start drinking nettle tea. It helps in controlling high blood pressure and blood sugar control. Start drinking nettle tea to flush out bad toxins from your body.
Its diuretic nature helps in joint pain and muscle pain. Even it is good for various skin conditions such as skin rash, eczema, and acne. Mentioned below are the best health benefits of drinking nettle tea. We also discuss the side effects of drinking of stinging nettle tea too much.
Nettle Tea Benefits for Kidneys Health
The most useful benefit of nettle tea has to do with its positive effects on the kidneys. As a powerful diuretic, nettle tea can help to stimulate healthy, consistent urination and flow rate. Many people suffer from Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, which can affect a number of urinary and sexual aspects.
Nettle tea has been shown to minimize those symptoms and improve prostate health, while also increasing the levels of testosterone in the body, which helps with certain sexual side effects of the condition. It can also help to prevent the development of kidney stones.
Nettle Tea Good for Heartburn
Regular consumption of nettle tea has been shown to reduce blood pressure levels. The anti-inflammatory components of nettle tea, as well as the potassium found in nettles can both help to reduce tension in arteries and blood vessels, promoting healthier circulation and oxygenating the body properly. This can lower chances of heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular complications.
Wash Your Hair & Face With Nettle Tea
Nettle tea has traditionally been used for skincare in many parts of the world. The analgesic and anti-inflammatory abilities of nettle tea can help relieve symptoms of acne, eczema, irritation and other blemishes on the skin.
The antioxidants contained in nettle tea can also help speed healing and prevent scarring from issues on the skin. To achieve these effects, the tea can either be drunk on a daily basis, or it can also be applied topically on the skin with a cloth.
Nettle tea Improves Digestion To Boost Immunity
The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nature of nettle tea makes it great for handling digestive issues, such as IBS, constipation, diarrhea and general stomach upset caused by bacterial imbalances in the gut.
Nettle tea can help to kill intestinal worms and parasites as well, bringing your gastrointestinal health back on track and promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria.
Drink Nettle to Boosts Immune System
The flavonoids and carotenoids found in nettle tea, along with the high concentration of vitamin C, all make this beverage an effective immune system booster. By freeing up your immune system from fighting that oxidative stress, nettle tea can work as your first line of immune defense.
Antioxidants present in nettle tea are powerful substances that can seek out and neutralize free radicals, the dangerous byproducts of cellular metabolism that can cause cellular mutation and chronic illness.
Nettle Tea Acts as Natural Remedies for Osteoporosis
There is a huge amount of healthy minerals found in nettle tea, including calcium, magnesium and iron, which not only makes this tea an excellent option for people suffering from anemia, but it also helps to prevent the gradual breakdown of bone mineral density as we age. This helps prevent the onset of osteoporosis.
Antiinflammatory Effect of Nettle Leaves to Reduce Pain
There are natural analgesic and anti-inflammatory compounds in nettles tea that have made them so popular throughout history. Whether using this tea to soothe the pain of a pulled muscle, a sore back, a headache, or any bump or bruise, you can often get relief before you finish your cup. External application of nettle tea can be just as effective, and more direct, but these effects are also felt when the tea is drunk.
Stinging Nettle Tea Treats Allergic Reactions
The chemicals and organic compounds found in nettles work as antihistamines. So if you have any kind of allergic reaction, drinking a cup of nettle tea will quickly and efficiently treat your allergies.
Uses of Nettle Tea
The most well-proven benefit of nettle tea is the positive effect it has on the kidneys. As a powerful diuretic, nettle tea can help to stimulate healthy, consistent urination and flow rate, as well as prevent the formation of kidney stones. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nature of nettle tea makes it great for handling digestive issues such as irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea, constipation, and other stomach-related issues. The flavonoids and carotenoids found in nettle tea, along with the high concentration of vitamin C, all make this beverage an effective immune system booster. There are natural analgesic and anti-inflammatory compounds in nettles that have made them so popular throughout history. Drinking a cup of nettle tea can help soothe aches and pains easily and quickly.
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Side-Effects & Allergies of Nettle Tea
Nettle tea is a beverage that does not generally have any side effects if taken in moderate doses. However, occasional side effects may include mild stomach upset, diarrhea, nausea, fluid retention, rash and sweating. Additionally, it is very important to administer caution while handling the nettle plant, because touching it bare handed can cause allergic rashes and reactions.
Cultivation of Nettle Tea
The stinging nettle has its origins in the cold regions of Asia and Northern Europe. Today, however, this plant grows all over the world. The stinging nettle need soil rich in nitrogen for its growth, and can mostly be found in areas that are not very well tended to, such as gardens, lawns and other areas such as construction sites. This plant can also be found in areas with moderate forest coverage, as well as open meadows.
References
- Asgarpanah J, Mohajerani R. Phytochemistry and pharmacologic properties of Urtica dioica L. Journal of Medicinal Plants Research. 2012 Dec 3;6(46):5714-9. [Cited 26 June 2019]. Available from:
- Gülçin I, Küfrevioǧlu Öİ, Oktay M, Büyükokuroǧlu ME. Antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiulcer and analgesic activities of nettle (Urtica dioica L.). Journal of ethnopharmacology. 2004 Feb 1;90(2-3):205-15. [Cited 26 June 2019]. Available from:
- Said AA, Otmani IS, Derfoufi S, Benmoussa A. Highlights on nutritional and therapeutic value of stinging nettle (Urtica dioica). Int J Pharm Pharm Sci. 2015;7(10):8-14. [Cited 26 June 2019]. Available from:
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