Nettle

Devil's Leaf; Devil?s Leaf; Nettle Tops; Stinging Nettle; Urtica dioica; Urtica species; Urtica urens

... The "above-ground" or aerial parts (flowers, leaves, and stems) of nettle may be a mild diuretic, which means it may promote the loss of water from the body. Such a diuretic effect may explain why the aerial parts of nettle were formerly used extensively to treat urinary tract conditions such as bladder infections. In Europe, they are still taken along with large quantities of water in a treatment called "irrigation therapy" to force fluids through the urinary system. Diuretics are also used to relieve high blood pressure. Recent studies of both humans and laboratory animals confirm that nettle''s aerial parts may increase the production of urine. Some of the animal studies also showed a decrease in blood pressure from nettle''s aerial parts, but the effect was slight and inconsistent. More effective diuretics are now available, but the aerial parts of nettle are still used to relieve conditions such as premenstrual swelling. They are approved in combination with drinking large amounts of water for treating urinary tract inflammation and for treating and preventing kidney stones by Commission E of the German Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices, the German governmental agency that evaluates the safety and effectiveness of herbal products. The United States does not have a comparable agency to evaluate herbal products. ...

?Stinging nettle Urtica dioica subsp. dioica Scientific classificati ...