Nettle plant: phenotypic description‑health importance

Phenotypic description

Nettle, or fire plant, is widespread in the Arab world in the Al-Sham, Egypt, and The Arab Maghreb. The plant's original homeland is the United States of America and Europe. There are two types of nettle, a small type with a height of about 50 cm, and a large type with a height of about a meter. The nettle stem is square-sided and its leaves are heart-shaped with serrated edges. The stem and leaves are covered with stinging glandular hairs, which hurt the hand and cause itching when touched, and this is the reason for calling it fire.

The plant blooms between June and July, and gives small green unisexual flowers. The flowers are gathered in a flattened inflorescence. The fruits produce fine, dark yellow seeds

For more information about nettle, watch the attached video [x].

The health importance of nettle or fire plant

- Burn treatment

Nettle tincture mixed with a large amount of hot water is used as a compress to treat first-degree burn. The burn in which, only the skin becomes red. The affected person also drinks five drops of the tincture in a table spoon at the same time.

- Joint treatment

Nettle extract is used to treat gout, rheumatism, and arthritis. The plant contains acetylcholine and serotonin, which increase the efficiency of blood circulation, which relieves pain. ‏ ‏

- Treatment of paralyzed limbs

Nettle ointment is used to massage paralyzed limbs resulting from a burst artery in the brain. Nettle ointment is made by boiling an amount of nettle herb with animal fat

- Treating anemia and bleeding

Nettle juice or puree is used to treat anemia, internal bleeding in the lung, resulting from pulmonary tuberculosis. It is also used to treat bleeding in the digestive system. And bleeding results from gastric and intestinal ulcers, hemorrhoids, the urinary system, or uterine bleeding. It is also used to stop bleeding from the nose, by dipping a piece of cotton in the juice until it is saturated. then stuffing it in the (bleeding) nostril.

- Promoting prostate health

Eating nettle regularly helps protect men from the problem of prostate enlargement, which they may experience as they age. However it is not effective in treating the prostate after it has enlarged. It is useful as a preventive measure only

- Improving menstrual disorders

Eating nettle improves menstrual disorders. Nettle contains many elements and active compounds that have a significant positive effect on women’s health and the female reproductive system. It reduces premenstrual symptoms, cramps and pain associated with the menstrual cycle. It reduces the feeling of bloating during menstruation. It reduces the frequency of heavy menstrual cycles. It reduces the annoying symptoms associated with menopause in women

- Improving the birth process

Eating nettle decoction at the time of childbirth reduces severe childbirth pain. It protects against severe bleeding during childbirth. It stimulates the production of breast milk after birth.

‎- Treatment of diseases of the circulatory system

Root extract is used to treat atherosclerosis and high blood pressure. The root extract is prepared by boiling a table spoon of chopped roots in two cups of water for ten minutes. ‏

Nettle tea is used to treat anemia and heart weakness. It is also used to reduce increased blood pressure in atherosclerosis. Nettle tea is prepared by mixing a spoonful of dry nettle powder with a cup of boiling water. Stir the mixture well and cover, leave for a quarter of an hour to obtain a homogeneous mixture. Filter the mixture and keep only the infused liquid. When used, add a spoonful of honey or sugar to the soaked liquid as desired, and it is preferable to eat it warm.

- Treatment of skin diseases

Nettle tincture (3 drops) is used three times daily for chronic skin lesions accompanied by itching (eczema, etc.). Nettle tincture is prepared from the root, stem, leaves, and flowers of the herb. The content used fpr preparing tincture is 20 grams of the herb in 60 grams of pure water in an airtight bottle. The mixture leaved in a hot place for 14 days.

- Treatment of diarrhea

Nettle seed emulsion is used to treat diarrhea in children, by adding a teaspoon of seeds and peels to a cup of water. The herb emulsion is prepared from the stem, leaves and flowers, by mixing two teaspoons of minced stem, leaves and flowers for every one cup of water, and drinking two cups of it a day.

- Strengthening hair

Nettle vinegar is used to strengthen hair and compensate for hair loss by rubbing the scalp daily with a cloth dampened with it. Nettle vinegar is made by boiling 200 grams of minced herb in a liter and a half of water for half an hour. Then filter the mixture and store it in a bottle for use when needed.

 ‏- Other uses

Nettle tincture is used to treat syphilis and various types of cancer. Nettle juice is used to treat gout, diabetes, and milk production when breastfeeding. The. Root extract is used to treat disorders of digestion and phlegm secretion in the chest - wet cough. It is also used in cases of renal colic (sand and kidney stones) or gout and watery effusions (eczema) in the body.

References

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9253158/pdf/main.pdf