The benefits of nettle tea sounds like an oxymoronic statement, especially if you’ve ever been stung by a nettle.
But then again, it’s said that the secret to a good life is the ability to make create some good out of bad situations…And if that isn’t said, then consider this a patent – if I see it written in some self-published e-book, I’ll be out for your blood.
Taking that dictum on board, I present you with today’s choice tea: nettle tea. We all know how horrible a thicket full of nettles can be when it comes to unprotected skin (that’s the bad situation, in case you haven’t noticed) but a nice mug of nettle tea (the good) presents an opportunity for vengeance, and a surprisingly long list of health benefits.
What is Nettle Tea?
Who was the first brave soul to decide to try and consume a nettle leaf? It’s lucky for us that they did, however, seeing as the jaggy little horrors can be very helpful. They’re the plant with a heart of gold and a steely exterior; they really crave love.
The ‘Stinging Nettle’ – official name Urtica diocia – is now popularly scoffed as part of salads, soups, stews and teas. Sometimes, the actual root is used to create tinctures and essences and sometimes even dried out to create a ‘tea’ as well.
Now, I can hear the tea purists getting irate. True, nettle teas aren’t derived from the Camellia sinensis plant (the ground zero of all authentic teas) and is often, therefore, labelled as a herbal tea or infusion – but as far as I’m concerned, something this jam-packed with goodies deserves to be ranked amongst the heavyweight champion teas.
I’ll fight you on this.
I absolutely will not fight anyone on this. Sorry.
So, let’s jump into a top 12 of the most prominent benefits.
12 Benefits of Nettle Tea
If you’ve experienced nettles the wrong way, the memory of the burning, the hives, the blisters may make you wary about sipping on nettle tea.
But as mean as this plant can be in the wild, when brewed and consumed as tea – it’s packed full of benefits, like…
Aids digestion
This is quite a common advantage amongst the varieties of tea on offer today; green teas and oolong teas are usually mentioned as the bigwigs for digestion issues, but nettle tea can more than hold its own.
A properly brewed nettle tea is rife with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory qualities (keep this in mind for later), both of which can work wonders on stomach upsets and complications – everything ranging from constipation, diarrhea, cramping, stomach pains and bacterial cultures hiding away in the gut.
It’s long been thought that a soothing, warm cup of nettle tea can act as a mild balm for most stomach issues. Just, uh… make sure the leaves ain’t raw.
Relief from pain and inflammation
I know if I keep you waiting any longer you’ll forget… As I was saying about the anti-inflammatory qualities of nettle tea: the reason nettles have been a popular source of natural medicine for centuries is due to the analgesic make-up and inflammatory aid offered by the little stingers.
You’d be surprised how effective a few sips can be when it comes to muscle pain, headaches and stiff bones. In fact, believe it or not, applying the actual nettle leaf to the area of complaint itself can prove to be quite successful, but I’ll understand your hesitation…
Promotes supple skin
You’re going to laugh at this, but not only are nettles bursting with antioxidants, they also pack a weighty antihistamine punch. I know, it sounds crazy given that contact with the raw leaf will provide the exact opposite result, but that’s the sign of a good defense.
For many skin conditions and skin allergies (particularly eczema and maladies of its ilk) nettle tea can provide a natural soothing substance to bring down the rough symptoms. This, plus the nutrients held in the leaves can promote overall healthy skin.
Fights acne
Speaking of healthy skin, here’s one natural acne remedy you may not be aware of: drinking nettle tea.
Although there hasn’t much research done on how stinging nettle tea helps to combat acne, there is tons of anecdotal evidence of people who’ve used nettle tea to get rid of acne.
We suspect the effectiveness has to do with the nettle tea’s anti-inflammatory nature and its powerful detox properties. Not to mention, it’s rich in skin-benefiting vitamins and minerals like calcium, potassium, magnesium, Vitamin C, Vitamin B complex, Vitamin E, and beta carotene.
Oh, and the beauty benefits don’t stop with the skin – stinging nettle has also been linked to thicker hair and reducing unpleasant scalp conditions like dandruff.
Keeps your ticker ticking
Stinging nettle leaves have been thought to have a positive effect over blood pressure – indeed some studies conducted with animals have shown a notable drop in blood pressure levels (although conscientious testing on humans has not yet taken place).
Some thinking on this positive effect is that the tea works as a diuretic – essentially promoting urination. A positive side effect of this is that blood pressure levels can lower as a result of some of the bodily shifts that take place during the diuresis process.
Got all that?
Basically, the thinking is that nettle tea can have a positive impact on high blood pressure –but, hopefully you don’t need me to tell you that this in no way makes it a viable medication or substitute for other blood pressure medicines or a healthier lifestyle in general. Maybe just try and wash down the odd cup of nettle tea after a meal!
Detox your kidneys
Almost as if I’d planned it… I arrive at the kidneys. As I mentioned above, nettle tea is a strong diuretic, meaning it helps to maintain a healthy regularity and flow of urine – something that’s particularly important for the older generations and anybody with a past history of, suffering from or at risk of kidney stones, urinary complications or some prostate issues in men.
A regular nettle tea intake has been shown to actively help purge toxins from the kidneys and urinary tract itself.
Just make sure you’re not stuck in the back of the car when you drain your thermos. That’s not a euphemism, I promise you.
Eases of benign prostatic hyperplasia
While we’re on the topic of prostate complications: one of the most common afflictions of the prostate that nettle tea has some positive effect over is benign prostatic hyperplasia.
This is, in essence, a condition that sees the prostate gland swollen or enlarged in some way to the point that it presses on the urethra, making regular/healthy urine flow difficult.
Aside from the diuretic side of things, many doctors believe that some of the chemicals in nettle tea can have an effect over the hormones that contribute to BPH in the first place. Indeed, the root of the nettle plant has been used to actively combat urinary issues for centuries and is often recommended for those suffering from or at risk of prostate cancer.
It’s also worth noting, while we’re down there, sexual activity can be inhibited or rendered painful due to prostate complications or swelling, including erectile dysfunction or difficulty maintaining an erection. And what else has been known to cause performance issues? That’s right: blood pressure complications, or rather the medications prescribed for them.
Maybe a healthy dose of nettle tea is all that’s required to put the proverbial lead back in the pencil.
Boosts testosterone levels
Speaking of pencil innuendos and their lack of lead: nettles have long been thought to have a significant influence over testosterone levels, with some studies in animals showing a large boost in sperm count as well as the general motility and fertility.
Nettle tea has fast become one of the most popular modern beverages for regular gym-goers or body builders, as testosterone levels play a huge part in muscle repair and energy levels during and after intense workouts.
It’s worth noting that the majority of this has been anecdotal to date, but there does appear to be a fairly solid suggestion of correlation between nettles and T-levels, the question is how much of a difference it can make as part of an active lifestyle.
And, of course, you know the drill about sex drive/libido and testosterone levels – I’ll leave something to the imagination.
Good for pregnant women
Time to even up the scales a little and give you some information that’s female-centric; and for once, it’s good news for pregnant women!
Because nettle tea is very rich in iron, it’s often consumed regularly by those suffering from anaemia or similar iron deficiencies. This can be particularly worrisome for pregnant women, who not only need as much energy and nutrition as they can shovel in (hey, you’re wife is right… She is eating for two now, so give her a break) but also to ward off any low iron levels passing through to the fetus.
Additionally, nettle leaves can function as a galactagogue when cooked or brewed properly. Yeah, I know that sounds like something from the new Transformers movie, but it’s much less dodgy than that.
A galactagogue is simply a food, drug or drink that promotes or increases the flow of a mother’s natural breast milk – meaning a regular intake of nettle tea can help get things ready for the little tyke’s arrival.
Now, there are natural worries about ingesting certain teas during pregnancy due to caffeine intakes and bodily reactions to particular ingredients.
The general rule of thumb for nettle tea is that it’s perfectly safe to drink throughout the second and third trimester, but to avoid drinking too much during the early days of pregnancy. This is due to a slight reaction to nettles which can cause uterine contractions.
Otherwise, get drinking!
Public awareness: bear in mind that peeing a lot is a natural part of pregnancy to begin with, so prepare for an increase in urinal activity if you plan to chuck some nettle tea into the mix.
Strength and fertility – a bonus
A quick half-note: some natal blogs actually recommend consuming nettle tea on a regular basis during the time leading up to conception – hey, maybe you can both share a pot! Get that prostate in fighting shape at the same time!
The nutrients and minerals packed into the humble nettle are thought to strengthen the uterus, as well as promote natural fertility.
Helps with bleeding issues
Many medicines (both over the counter and prescribed) that are used to prevent or halt bleeding, internal or otherwise, have an element of the stinging nettle leaf in their makeup.
It’s with this in mind that many serial tea-drinkers out there will recommend nettle tea for helping prevent nose bleeds, uterine bleeding, dental and gum bleeding or to generally inhibit the flow of blood if and when bleeding occurs.
This also ties in with the pregnancy side of things, as nettle tea has been known to aid with uterine cramps and heavy bleeding as part of the menstrual cycle or pregnancy discomfort.
Now, as ever with benefits which are intrinsically linked to serious medical conditions, it’s important to remember that this is in no way a substitute or rational treatment for severe bleeding – especially any that’s stemming from internal injuries or complications.
Think of it more as a preventative add-on to strengthen the body against bleeding issues. Always consult a medical professional first and foremost!
Combats osteoporosis
Another perhaps surprising tea benefit that you’ll run into quite often is bone and dental health improvements with certain teas – quite often greens and blacks.
However, because nettle tea is practically frothing over with Good Stuff™ (particularly calcium, magnesium and that iron we talked about earlier) it can help to slow down the deterioration of bones and prevent conditions such as osteoporosis from setting in as we age.
The older we get the more essential it becomes to ensure we’re getting a healthy, balanced intake of the required vitamins and nutrients; a relaxing cup of nettle tea makes for a nice first step.
Strengthens the immune system
The keystone of a healthy and robust immune system is a regular intake of vitamins and nutrients in order to maintain bodily health. With nettle tea, we’re getting a blast of flavonoids, carotenoids and a significant dose of vitamin C.
Couple that with the earlier mentioned antioxidant factor of nettle tea (can help to eradicate certain threats before the immune system has to step in to tackle them) and you’re giving your immune system a nice boost and taking some of the stress away from its day job.
If only our immune system could battle intense heat… The worst part is always waiting for a tempting cup of tea to cool down.
Okay, there it is – 13 solid reasons to get out there and reconsider your prejudiced view of one of the most hated plants of the wild. Be gentle with it and it’ll be gentle with you!