Tag: nettle_root

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How to make Nettle Tincture?

While many of us only think about our health nowadays when something goes wrong, traditional herbalism teaches us to actively tend to our body consistently throughout our life. We only appreciate health when we are ill. We should change that attitude for our own well-being.

Whether you need an earthy tonic tea, a hearty pesto, or a fresh green juice, nettle is there for you. Nettle (Urtica dioica) has been used for ages as a powerful spring tonic, to promote joint health and overall wellness.

If you feel yourself a budding herbalist, try to make a health-supporting tincture with nettle. Tinctures are alcoholic extracts of plants. They have a long history of use, and can easily be taken on the go.

This method is a simple way to make tinctures. We prefer using brandy or vodka when first starting out because their ratios of alcohol to water are appropriate for many herbs, so nettle too. If you want something extraordinary alcohol with a fruity smell, you can use Hungarian pálinka as well. You can make tinctures of nettle root and nettle leaves too. But be aware that they have different pharmacological effects!

If you don’t want to bother with stinging hairs of fresh nettle leaves, you can also use dried nettle in your tincture.

When using dried nettles, fill your jar ½ way and then cover all the way to the top with alcohol as a solvent. Then, put the cap on it, set it upright and label your jar:

  • What kind of alcohol you used, and the percent of alcohol by volume.
  • Whether you used fresh or dried herbs.
  • The name of the plant and plant part used.
  • The date you made the tincture.

Let the mixture macerate and shake the jar every day. Make sure the herbs stay covered with alcohol. Store it in a cool dark place.

After 4-6 weeks have passed, you can then press out your tincture. To start the pressing process, open your jar, put a muslin or cheesecloth over the top and then flip over the jar above a large bowl to drain out the liquid while separating the herb. Once all the liquid has gone into the bowl, you can then use both your hands to squeeze out any remaining liquid from the herb.

Next, pour that liquid (which is now your tincture) into a liquid measuring cup. Place your funnel in the mouth of your dosage bottle and carefully pour your liquid into it.

We suggest taking about ½-1 teaspoon (or 30-35 drops) of nettle tincture 3 times a day when you’re feeling like you need some joint support or a herbal tonic. Because of the alcohol content, doesn’t apply to children nor during pregnancy.

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Harvesting nettle root for men’s health

Growing out one’s facial hair for 30 days is called “Movember” or “No-Shave November,” and it’s meant to raise awareness worldwide for men’s health: prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention. Men are dying too young. Let’s bring a change!

Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) has been used as a medicinal plant for centuries. It is commonly used as a diuretic to rid the body of excess water and to treat painful muscles and joints, eczema, arthritis, gout, and anemia. The roots have different pharmacological effects than the leaves. Because nettle root can alter the menstrual cycle and may contribute to miscarriage, pregnant women should not use nettle root.

Nettle root is used widely to treat Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) and for reducing enlarged prostate, prostate cancer prevention, and helping urination in older men. For this use, the roots should be harvested in late fall.

How to harvest nettle roots sustainably?

The roots are found in two layers. Young roots that become next year’s crop will be on the soil surface. The thicker roots below are the ones that should be harvested. If you are lucky, the loose soil allows nettle roots to be pulled up easily. If not, use a spade to dig them out. Harvest no more than 1/3rd of the roots in any given area. This will ensure that next year’s harvest will be just as plentiful as this year’s. Settle the ground back after harvest to leave it undisturbed.

Shake your nettle roots to knock off most of the dirt. Using pruning shears or scissors, clip off the leaves and dead stems that remain attached to the roots. Fill a sink with cool water and swish the roots through the water to remove any additional dirt. Line a wicker basket with a towel, drain the cleaned roots in the basket for a few hours.

These freshly wilted roots can be used in nettle root extract. If you want to use the roots later, cut them into small pieces and dry them. The thicker the diameter of the root, the shorter the piece should be. It takes about 5 to 7 days to fully air dry. With a dehydrator, the roots will dry in approximately one day at 38-40 °C.

DO NOT self-treat with nettle root for BPH. It is important to work with a doctor and to make sure you have a proper diagnosis to rule out prostate cancer.

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Prostate Cancer Awareness with Nettle Root

Nettle root (Urticae radix) has specific medicinal properties that are unique from those of the other parts of the plant. It contains sterols (β-sitosterol), lignans, secoisolariciresinol and polysaccharide-proteins.

The perennial roots are creeping, so nettle multiplies quickly. It is quite difficult to kill unnecessary nettles out of your garden. Nettle grows and spreads by stolons, which form a network of yellow, lateral, creeping rhizomes. These rhizomes are double-layered, consisting of an upper layer of young runners and a deeper layer of thicker, more fibrous roots.

These robust roots are easy to harvest and store, and they offer a number of medicinal uses. Nettle roots are usually harvested in autumn, before the soil hardens by winter frost. Nettle is anti-asthmatic: the juice of the roots (or leaves) mixed with honey, will relieve bronchial and asthmatic troubles. 

Nettle root was first used in urinary tract disorders in the 1950s. Stinging nettle root extract is often used in over-the-counter supplements and herbal remedies, particularly those labelled for “men’s health”.

The root extract contains β-sitosterol, a plant phenol that has been shown to reduce urinary tract complications associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) – the enlargement of the prostate.

Studies in people suggest that stinging nettle, in combination with other herbs (especially saw palmetto), may be effective at relieving symptoms such as reduced urinary flow, incomplete emptying of the bladder, post urination dripping, and the constant urge to urinate. These symptoms are caused by the enlarged prostate gland pressing on the urethra (the tube that empties urine from the bladder). Scientists aren’t sure why nettle root reduces symptoms. It may be because it contains chemicals that affect hormones (including testosterone and estrogen), or because it acts directly on prostate cells. 

It is important to work with a doctor to treat BPH, and to make sure you have a proper diagnosis to rule out prostate cancer.