
NETTLE (Urtica dioica)

There is an increasing amount of scientific evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of herbal medicine – including what is known as ‘gold standard’ research such as randomised controlled trials.
For me, traditional use and knowledge of herbal medicine passed down through the ages, plus personal experience of using and working with herbs and people, is at least as important as the scientists’ findings!
Here are just a few examples of positive clinical trials in recent years:
St John’s wort for mild-moderate depression 1, menopausal (particularly when combined with black cohosh) 2 and premenstrual symptoms 3, wound-healing 4
Ginkgo biloba for senile dementia and Alzheimer’s
disease 5, dizziness and tinnitus 6, poor memory 7
Black cohosh for menopausal symptoms including hot flushes 8,9
Boswellia serrata for osteoarthritis 10
Willow bark for low back pain 11
Nettle for urinary problems associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia 12
Hawthorn for reducing high blood pressure 13
REFERENCES
1. Berner, M.M., Kriston, L., Linde, K (2008). Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 4:CD000448.
2. Blohmer, J.U., Graubaum, H.J., Uebelhack, R et al (2006). Obstet Gynecol. 107 (2 Pt 1):247-255.
3. Asadi, N., Ghazanfarpour, M., Kaviani, M et al (2011). Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 113(1):84-85.
4. Emami, A., Khadivzadeh, T., Samadi, S et al (2010). J Altern Complement Med. 16(1):113-117.
5. Bornhöft, G., Matthiessen, P.F., Maxion-Bergemann, S (2008). Gerontol Geriatr. 41(4):298-312.
6. Borzenko, I., Hoerr, R., Napryeyenko, O (2007). Focus Altern Complement Ther. 12:26-27.
7. Clarke, J., Lloyd, J., Nathan, P.J., Stough, C (2001). Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 4(2):131-134.
8. Friede, M., Liske, E., Osmers, R et al (2005). Obstet Gynecol. 105(5 Pt 1):1074-1083.
9. Bai, W., Henneicke-von Zepelin, H.H., Wang, S et al (2007). Maturitas 58(1):31-41.
10. Alluri, K.V., Satish, A.R., Sengupta, K et al (2008). Arthritis Res Ther. 10(4):R85.
11. Cameron, M., Chrubasik, S., Vlachojannis, J.E (2009). Phytother Res. 23(7):897-900.
12. Safarinejad. M.R (2005). J Herb Pharmacother. 5(4):1-11.
13. Asgary, S., Naderi, G.H., Sadeghi, M et al (2004). Drugs Exp Clin Res. 30(5-6): 221-225.
Back to top