nettles-- side effects?

[Guest guest]

What does anyone know about the side effects of nettles? Is it safe

to consume on a daily basis?

[Guest guest]

It's a vegetable. You mean like eating it like spinach?

Or consuming a lot of the freeze dried, which ppl take for allergies? That's

the only thing that has formic acid left.

 

ann

 

 

What does anyone know about the side effects of nettles? Is it safe

to consume on a daily basis?

 

 

 

 

.

 

__,_._,__

 

----------

 

 

 

Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.9.2/372 - Release 6/21/06

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

, " ecowiselife "

<ecowiselife wrote:

>

> What does anyone know about the side effects of nettles? Is it safe

> to consume on a daily basis?

>

Nettles are considered safe, however they can cause urticaria due to

contact (well, duh) and can have the side effects of possible slight

stomach upsets and fluid retention. They can also affect the menstrual

cycle and may contribute to miscarriage, so should be avoided in

pregnancy and not used for a long duration during lactation.

See: http://www.umm.edu/altmed/ConsHerbs/StingingNettlech.html

Regards,

Lea.

[Guest guest]

Lea,

 

I would call into question the cautions that are listed on that

website. I have used Nettles both as a medicine and a food and never

seen any side effects. Furthermore, nettles leaf is a diuretic and

so I find it hard to believe there could be fluid retention.

 

I have included a monograph from my forthcoming book. I hope you all

find this helpful.

 

All the best,

Thomas

 

Nettle

Urtica dioica, U. urens and others

Urticaceae

Urticae Dioicae Herba

 

Other names: Stinging Nettle, Dwarf Nettle

Qi and Flavor: salty, bland, slightly acrid, sweet, cool

Channels entered: liver, lung, urinary bladder

Actions: diuretic, antirheumatic, tonic, astringent

Functions & Indications: Promotes urination, clears heat and leaches

out dampness for accumulation of dampness anywhere in the body with

symptoms such as premenstrual water retention, urinary difficulty,

edema and stiff joints. Also used for phlegm-damp obstructing the

nasal passages. Nettle disinhibits water through bland percolation

and its cool nature clears heat. Its slightly acrid nature helps to

disperse damp accumulation and address phlegm-damp obstructing the

nasal passages.

Expels wind-dampness for obstruction of the channels by dampness

causing pain and poor mobility of the joints. Also expels wind-heat

from the skin for rashes that are damp and hot in character. Nettle

is slightly acrid has a slightly acrid flavor and is cool in nature.

It enters the channels and expels wind-dampness impediment. Due to

its coolness it is especially appropriate for hot conditions but can

be used in cold conditions with the appropriate formulation.

Cools and nourishes the blood for excessive menstrual bleeding or

mid-cycle spotting, coughing of blood, nosebleeds or blood in the

stool. Nettle is sweet in flavor and cool in nature. It enters the

blood gently cooling and nourishing to help stop bleeding syndromes

due to blood vacuity or heat entering the blood.

Softens hardness for the treatment of nodes and stones including

scrofula, urinary calculi, and gallstones. Although this herb is not

used much for this application any more, it does have a long history

of use for this application. Nettle is salty and slightly acrid in

flavor and cool in nature. It softens hardness and I frequently use

it as an adjunctive medicinal for swollen hard lymph nodes.

Cautions: If Nettle is consumed with only scant amounts of water it

will not have as strong action as a diuretic. The Commission E warns

against using Nettle as a diuretic when fluid retention is caused by

cardiac or renal failure.

Dosage and Preparation: 9-30g in decoction or infusion, 4-9ml in

tincture, 3-6g powdered extract

Good quality is a dark green color and as whole as

possible. There should be little stem (<10%) and completely lacking

any large fibrous stems.

Major Combinations: With Plantain and Uva-ursi for hot painful

urinary disorders.

Combine with Yerba Santa for phlegm-fluids obstructing the nasal

passages.

Combine with chuan bei mu, yu zhu, and Grindelia for blood vacuity

with blood streaked sputum.

Combine with Yerba Mansa and bai zhi for wind-damp impediment with

pain especially in the knees and elbows.

Combine with California Figwort, Red Root, and huang qin for swollen

hard lymph nodes. If there is considerable redness or fever add

Echinacea, jin yin hua, and lian qiao.

Commentary: The genus name, Urtica, comes from the Latin urere,

meaning ~{!.~}to burn~{!/~} from the sensation one gets from rubbing against

the plant. The species name, dioica, comes for the dioecious or two-

housed owing to the fact that the plant has a separate male and

female plant. It has been speculated that the common name, Nettle,

comes from ~{!.~}noedl~{!/~}, meaning ~{!.~}needle~{!/~}.

This plant is commonly eaten as a spring vegetable. It is very high

is many nutrients, mainly minerals, and is an excellent source of

nutrition. Because of it~{!/~}s high mineral content it is good for those

with anemia. It should be noted however, that although this herb is

used as a nourishing tonic in the Western tradition, this practice

should be used with care. There is a danger of damaging yin if large

quantities of tea are consumed and there is a significant diuretic

effect.

This plant is found in the writing of many famous masters

of our past including Dioscorides, Hippocrates, Hildegard von

Bingen, and Paracelsus. Of these authors it was Dioscorides writing

that seemed to favor the plant most with a long list of ailments it

should be used for including promoting menstruation, softening, anti-

flatulent, diuretic, cancerous ulcers, burns, furuncles, growths,

swollen glands, sprains, nosebleeds, spleen complaints, pleurisy,

pneumonia, asthma, facial ringworm, and oral diseases.

Many Native American tribes used Nettle as a medicine most

of which mimics what is written in the main body of the monograph.

However, there are a few interesting uses that I have included for

historical context of the importance of this medicine. The Iroquois

of Upstate New York and southern Quebec used the plant with dried

snake blood for ~{!0~}witching medicine~{!1~} [Moerman p.579]. When treating

pain, the Hesquiat of Coastal British Columbia used the fresh plant

and rubbed it on the affected area, stinging the skin and causing a

counter-irritation and if there was swelling and arthritis the

leaves and roots were steamed and applied as a poultice. The

Hesquiat were not the only people to use the plant in this counter-

irritant manner, other tribes included, but are not limited to,

Kwakiutl (chest pains), Nitinaht (arthritis), Okanagan-Colville

(arthritis), Northern Paiute (arthritis), Thompson (arthritis),

Carrier (arthritis), Chehalis (arthritis), Cowlitz (paralysis),

Klallam (soreness and stiffness), Kashaya Pomo (rheumatism and other

such pains), Quileute (rheumatism), Quinault (paralysis). The uses

of this plant are far-reaching and the uses are not necessarily

medicinal. Many native peoples have used the fibers from the stem

for making rope, twine, fine thread, fishing nets, bow strings,

clothing, etc. Many tribes used the plant in ceremonies. The

Okanagan-Colville of the Northwest made and tea to be drunken while

~{!0~}sweathousing~{!1~} and used it to wash the skin and hair, so as to

cleanse the body. They also would take a bath in a decoction made

from the plant to protect them from witchcraft [Moerman p. 580].

Both the seeds and root have significant medicinal use but

are not included in this monograph. Both the seed and root have

nourishing properties, especially the seed. The root is used in a

similar way to the herb as explained above.

 

 

, " Lea Starck "

<leabun1 wrote:

>

> , " ecowiselife "

> <ecowiselife@> wrote:

> >

> > What does anyone know about the side effects of nettles? Is it

safe

> > to consume on a daily basis?

> >

> Nettles are considered safe, however they can cause urticaria due

to

> contact (well, duh) and can have the side effects of possible

slight

> stomach upsets and fluid retention. They can also affect the

menstrual

> cycle and may contribute to miscarriage, so should be avoided in

> pregnancy and not used for a long duration during lactation.

> See: http://www.umm.edu/altmed/ConsHerbs/StingingNettlech.html

> Regards,

> Lea.

>

[Guest guest]

Thomas,

Very interesting. Thankyou. Do we get " mates rates " on a copy of

your upcoming new book? Embarassingly enough, my first qualification

was a degree in western herbal medicine, but I went on to study CM

and rarely use western herbs these days. There is probably a reason

that fluid retention is listed, but I'd rather not wade through all

the studies listed with the monograph on that site to find out why,

and after what you say its probably one of those outcomes that is

dubious. (Herbal medicinal caveats can be that way sometimes.) I

consider nettle to be a food plant, so figured it was probably

fairly safe, but you never know what amount people are planning to

take, or in what form.

Regards,

Lea.

, " "

wrote:

>

> Lea,

>

> I would call into question the cautions that are listed on that

> website. I have used Nettles both as a medicine and a food and

never

> seen any side effects. Furthermore, nettles leaf is a diuretic and

> so I find it hard to believe there could be fluid retention.

>

> I have included a monograph from my forthcoming book. I hope you

all

> find this helpful.

>

> All the best,

> Thomas

>

> Nettle

> Urtica dioica, U. urens and others

> Urticaceae

> Urticae Dioicae Herba

>

> Other names: Stinging Nettle, Dwarf Nettle

> Qi and Flavor: salty, bland, slightly acrid, sweet, cool

> Channels entered: liver, lung, urinary bladder

> Actions: diuretic, antirheumatic, tonic, astringent

> Functions & Indications: Promotes urination, clears heat and

leaches

> out dampness for accumulation of dampness anywhere in the body

with

> symptoms such as premenstrual water retention, urinary difficulty,

> edema and stiff joints. Also used for phlegm-damp obstructing the

> nasal passages. Nettle disinhibits water through bland percolation

> and its cool nature clears heat. Its slightly acrid nature helps

to

> disperse damp accumulation and address phlegm-damp obstructing the

> nasal passages.

> Expels wind-dampness for obstruction of the channels by dampness

> causing pain and poor mobility of the joints. Also expels wind-

heat

> from the skin for rashes that are damp and hot in character.

Nettle

> is slightly acrid has a slightly acrid flavor and is cool in

nature.

> It enters the channels and expels wind-dampness impediment. Due to

> its coolness it is especially appropriate for hot conditions but

can

> be used in cold conditions with the appropriate formulation.

> Cools and nourishes the blood for excessive menstrual bleeding or

> mid-cycle spotting, coughing of blood, nosebleeds or blood in the

> stool. Nettle is sweet in flavor and cool in nature. It enters the

> blood gently cooling and nourishing to help stop bleeding

syndromes

> due to blood vacuity or heat entering the blood.

> Softens hardness for the treatment of nodes and stones including

> scrofula, urinary calculi, and gallstones. Although this herb is

not

> used much for this application any more, it does have a long

history

> of use for this application. Nettle is salty and slightly acrid in

> flavor and cool in nature. It softens hardness and I frequently

use

> it as an adjunctive medicinal for swollen hard lymph nodes.

> Cautions: If Nettle is consumed with only scant amounts of water

it

> will not have as strong action as a diuretic. The Commission E

warns

> against using Nettle as a diuretic when fluid retention is caused

by

> cardiac or renal failure.

> Dosage and Preparation: 9-30g in decoction or infusion, 4-9ml in

> tincture, 3-6g powdered extract

> Good quality is a dark green color and as whole as

> possible. There should be little stem (<10%) and completely

lacking

> any large fibrous stems.

> Major Combinations: With Plantain and Uva-ursi for hot painful

> urinary disorders.

> Combine with Yerba Santa for phlegm-fluids obstructing the nasal

> passages.

> Combine with chuan bei mu, yu zhu, and Grindelia for blood vacuity

> with blood streaked sputum.

> Combine with Yerba Mansa and bai zhi for wind-damp impediment with

> pain especially in the knees and elbows.

> Combine with California Figwort, Red Root, and huang qin for

swollen

> hard lymph nodes. If there is considerable redness or fever add

> Echinacea, jin yin hua, and lian qiao.

> Commentary: The genus name, Urtica, comes from the Latin urere,

> meaning ~{!.~}to burn~{!/~} from the sensation one gets from

rubbing against

> the plant. The species name, dioica, comes for the dioecious or

two-

> housed owing to the fact that the plant has a separate male and

> female plant. It has been speculated that the common name, Nettle,

> comes from ~{!.~}noedl~{!/~}, meaning ~{!.~}needle~{!/~}.

> This plant is commonly eaten as a spring vegetable. It is very

high

> is many nutrients, mainly minerals, and is an excellent source of

> nutrition. Because of it~{!/~}s high mineral content it is good

for those

> with anemia. It should be noted however, that although this herb

is

> used as a nourishing tonic in the Western tradition, this practice

> should be used with care. There is a danger of damaging yin if

large

> quantities of tea are consumed and there is a significant diuretic

> effect.

> This plant is found in the writing of many famous masters

> of our past including Dioscorides, Hippocrates, Hildegard von

> Bingen, and Paracelsus. Of these authors it was Dioscorides

writing

> that seemed to favor the plant most with a long list of ailments

it

> should be used for including promoting menstruation, softening,

anti-

> flatulent, diuretic, cancerous ulcers, burns, furuncles, growths,

> swollen glands, sprains, nosebleeds, spleen complaints, pleurisy,

> pneumonia, asthma, facial ringworm, and oral diseases.

> Many Native American tribes used Nettle as a medicine most

> of which mimics what is written in the main body of the monograph.

> However, there are a few interesting uses that I have included for

> historical context of the importance of this medicine. The

Iroquois

> of Upstate New York and southern Quebec used the plant with dried

> snake blood for ~{!0~}witching medicine~{!1~} [Moerman p.579].

When treating

> pain, the Hesquiat of Coastal British Columbia used the fresh

plant

> and rubbed it on the affected area, stinging the skin and causing

a

> counter-irritation and if there was swelling and arthritis the

> leaves and roots were steamed and applied as a poultice. The

> Hesquiat were not the only people to use the plant in this counter-

> irritant manner, other tribes included, but are not limited to,

> Kwakiutl (chest pains), Nitinaht (arthritis), Okanagan-Colville

> (arthritis), Northern Paiute (arthritis), Thompson (arthritis),

> Carrier (arthritis), Chehalis (arthritis), Cowlitz (paralysis),

> Klallam (soreness and stiffness), Kashaya Pomo (rheumatism and

other

> such pains), Quileute (rheumatism), Quinault (paralysis). The uses

> of this plant are far-reaching and the uses are not necessarily

> medicinal. Many native peoples have used the fibers from the stem

> for making rope, twine, fine thread, fishing nets, bow strings,

> clothing, etc. Many tribes used the plant in ceremonies. The

> Okanagan-Colville of the Northwest made and tea to be drunken

while

> ~{!0~}sweathousing~{!1~} and used it to wash the skin and hair, so

as to

> cleanse the body. They also would take a bath in a decoction made

> from the plant to protect them from witchcraft [Moerman p. 580].

> Both the seeds and root have significant medicinal use but

> are not included in this monograph. Both the seed and root have

> nourishing properties, especially the seed. The root is used in a

> similar way to the herb as explained above.

>

>

> , " Lea Starck "

> <leabun1@> wrote:

> >

> > , " ecowiselife "

> > <ecowiselife@> wrote:

> > >

> > > What does anyone know about the side effects of nettles? Is

it

> safe

> > > to consume on a daily basis?

> > >

> > Nettles are considered safe, however they can cause urticaria

due

> to

> > contact (well, duh) and can have the side effects of possible

> slight

> > stomach upsets and fluid retention. They can also affect the

> menstrual

> > cycle and may contribute to miscarriage, so should be avoided in

> > pregnancy and not used for a long duration during lactation.

> > See: http://www.umm.edu/altmed/ConsHerbs/StingingNettlech.html

> > Regards,

> > Lea.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Interesting article, but strange the writer left out what are considered the

most effective forms -- juicing the fresh plant (which of course requires that

you live where it grows) or freeze-dried. Nutritious as the plant is, the formic

acid is destroyed in any other preparation, including drying. I have understood

in the past that it is that component which is necessary for allergy relief. But

Peter Holmes describes its silica content as comparable to that of horsetail.

Land sakes!

 

ann

 

, " ecowiselife "

<ecowiselife wrote:

>

> What does anyone know about the side effects of nettles? Is it safe

> to consume on a daily basis?

>

Nettles are considered safe, however they can cause urticaria due to

contact (well, duh) and can have the side effects of possible slight

stomach upsets and fluid retention. They can also affect the menstrual

cycle and may contribute to miscarriage, so should be avoided in

pregnancy and not used for a long duration during lactation.

See: http://www.umm.edu/altmed/ConsHerbs/StingingNettlech.html

Regards,

Lea.

 

 

 

 

 

 

----------

 

 

 

Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.9.2/372 - Release 6/21/06