Tea leaves and tea drink date back thousands of years. It is believed to have started in China, where tea was used for medicinal purposes. Today, people drink tea for many reasons, including its taste, relaxing properties, and health benefits. One of the popular herbal teas is nettle tea.
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What is nettle tea?
Nettle is a shrub that grows in Northern Europe and Asia. Its scientific name is Urtica dioica. The plant has beautiful, heart-shaped leaves and yellow or pink flowers, but the stem is covered in stiff, fine hairs that release sticky chemicals when touched.
The leaves, stem or root of the nettle plant can be crushed and turned into powder, cream, tea, etc. While people have been using it as an herbal medicine for centuries, new research is also confirming many of the health benefits of stinging nettle and nettle tea.
Nettle tea benefits
Today, people drink tea for many reasons, including its taste, its stimulating or relaxing properties, and its health benefits. One of the popular herbal teas is nettle tea.
1. Detoxification of the body
The presence of various useful nutrients in the nettle plant makes this plant an ideal detoxifier for the body and it is known as a plant that completely cleanses the body of toxic substances. According to Ethnopharmacology magazine, the nettle plant causes the neutralized toxic substances in the body to be eliminated quickly due to its diuretic properties. This plant helps the nutrients to be well absorbed in the intestine and the digestion process is carried out slowly, thus preventing the accumulation of dangerous toxic substances. Also, by stimulating the lymphatic system in the body, it helps the body get rid of the toxic substances in the kidney.
2. Help with pregnancy
Nettle tea is often recommended to women who have painful labor. Since nettle plays a role in blood coagulation, it prevents excessive bleeding in these people. In addition, it is effective in stimulating milk production and breastfeeding more easily. In one of the studies, the nettle plant has been mentioned as a medicinal plant for pregnancy and childbirth.
3. Increasing women’s health
One of the most important properties of nettle is to help women’s health. This plant can reduce painful premenstrual symptoms such as cramping and bloating. It can also reduce menstrual bleeding due to vasoconstriction. This plant makes transitions easier for women who are going through menopause and acts as a tonic, so hormonal changes during this period will not be uncomfortable.
4. Improve the circulatory system
The combination of vitamin C and iron in nettle has made it a suitable stimulant for the production of red cells. Vitamin C increases the absorption of iron in the intestine, and iron is one of the important components of hemoglobin. By increasing red blood cell (RBC) count and increasing blood circulation, wounds heal faster and body organs more easily receive the oxygen necessary to boost energy levels. For this reason, nettle is often recommended for fatigue or a type of anemia characterized by general muscle weakness, fatigue, cognitive problems, and headaches.
5. Anti-inflammatory property
Stimulating property of nettle makes it effective for treating various inflammations. One of the studies conducted in Germany showed that the nettle plant can treat rheumatoid arthritis and chronic muscle pain. In addition, nettle tea or its herbal supplement can cure gout.
6. Bone strengthening
Nettle tea provides a large amount of calcium, magnesium and iron needed by bones. It also has a lot of vitamin D and vitamin K that help absorb calcium. As you know, calcium is necessary to maintain density and strengthen bones. On the other hand, the magnesium stored in the bone supports the bone against stretching and causes calcium absorption. Magnesium deficiency is associated with osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a chronic disease that causes bone weakness and fragility. Also, iron deficiency causes bone loss.
Maybe you have not heard the name of the element (boron), but you should know that it is one of the important substances in nettle. Boron maintains the content of calcium in bones. Therefore, consumption of nettle can help to slow down the onset of osteoporosis.
When you combine this property with its hormone-regulating properties, you’ll find that nettle helps regulate bone health and check its condition. This magical herb really does it all.
7. Treatment of respiratory diseases
Nettle can help treat various respiratory diseases such as hay fever, asthma and seasonal allergies. Therefore, the specific compounds in the nettle extract can significantly reduce the allergic reaction. Studies have shown that regular consumption of nettle tea in Australia has been linked to asthma treatment for generations.
8. Maintaining heart health
It makes sense that this herb can have a positive effect on heart health. Nettle has vitamins and minerals that strengthen heart function. This plant is a rich source of vitamins A and C, beta-carotene and other carotenoids. The properties of nettle can prevent anemia due to its high content of vitamin C and iron, which boosts the production of red blood cells. Also, nettle contains the flavonoid quercetin and kaempferol, which can help lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
The tea made from this wonderful plant is a rich source of iron and potassium that can help relax blood vessels and contribute to the health of the blood circulation process.
Research shows that regular consumption of nettle tea can help reduce systolic blood pressure and eliminate stress and pressure on the cardiovascular circulation system.
9. Improve prostate health
Prostate enlargement and its cancer are among the most serious factors related to men’s age, and it has been proven that nettle consumption is effective in treating this problem by preventing prostate enlargement. Although the root of this plant can prevent the enlargement of the prostate, it cannot return it to its previous state or shrink it. The combination of palm with nettle root can help reduce the frequency of urination, but remember to consult your doctor before using this herb.
10. Skin care and relief of skin ailments
One of the properties of nettle is to help skin care. Due to its antihistamine, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and pain relief properties, nettle has a successful history in the treatment of skin disorders such as eczema and acne. Nettle seems to reduce redness and swelling, soothe itchy skin, speed up healing, and heal scars.
To use these wonderful properties, you can use nettle tea or brew it and after it cools down, apply the resulting liquid directly on your skin.
Using nettle extract for the skin can reduce all types of facial acne and prevent bacterial infection. It also reduces the appearance of scars and spots and has anti-aging effects by reducing facial wrinkles and age spots.
11. Alleviation of sensitivity
In a natural state, when your skin touches the stinging nettle plant, this plant will cause a skin allergic reaction. But nettle tea relieves sensitivity. Research shows that the plant extract inhibits inflammatory reactions associated with seasonal allergy symptoms.
Stinging nettle is often used as a natural treatment for hay fever, and people who have used an extract of the plant say that the effects of the stinging nettle plant were greater than those of anti-allergy drugs and reduced most of the symptoms of the disease.
12. Enhance immune function
The nettle plant has a variety of compounds that strengthen the immune system, such as flavonoids, carotenoids, vitamin A and C. These antioxidants protect immune cells against damage that can weaken the body’s immune system. Research shows that nettle plant extract boosts the immune response and increases the activity of immune cells.
Nettle also stimulates the immune system’s T-cells to fight infections and other disease-causing pathogens in the body.
13. Strengthen digestion
Excessive inflammation can interfere with digestive health and cause the growth of harmful bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. Regular consumption of nettle tea, which has anti-inflammatory properties, helps regulate digestion, treat constipation, treat diarrhea and stomach problems. When the balance of bacteria and other microbes in the gut, known collectively as the microbiome, is maintained, you will be protected against a wide range of diseases such as diabetes, cancer and autism.
14. Suitable for some problems
Nettle extract supplement is recommended to reduce nausea and diarrhea as well as the effects of menstruation and menopause.
15. Urinary tract health
Stinging nettle may help flush out harmful bacteria from the urinary tract. It can benefit people with urinary problems, including benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which causes the prostate gland in men to become enlarged and can cause pain or other problems with urination.
According to a 2013 study, men with BPH who took nettle extract had fewer symptoms than those who did not.
16. Arthritis and pain
Nettle has been used throughout history to treat muscle pain and inflammation, especially arthritis. The Arthritis Foundation suggests that nettle tea may reduce inflammation and pain associated with arthritis.
17. Blood sugar management
Nettle has shown promising effects on blood sugar levels. One of the properties of nettle tea is to help the pancreas make or release more insulin, a hormone that lowers blood sugar.
In a well-known 2013 study, stinging nettle leaf extract lowered blood sugar and A1C in a group of people with type 2 diabetes taking insulin as well as oral diabetes medications.
18. The power of polyphenols
Nettles are rich in phytochemicals called polyphenols. A review of research on polyphenols suggests that these powerful compounds may play a role in the prevention and management of chronic inflammation-related diseases such as diabetes, obesity, cancer, and heart disease.
In particular, the polyphenols in nettle extract have exciting potential for the treatment of breast cancer and prostate cancer. Herbs like nettle also contain powerful antioxidants, which protect the body from aging and cell damage.
Nettle tea recipe
You can buy nettle tea in bulk or tea bags, but you can also grow or harvest the leaves yourself. With fresh leaves, choose the ratio of nettle to water required according to your taste, but generally two cups of water for every one cup of nettle leaves is suitable.
How to prepare nettle leaf tea
Add water to the leaves.
Boil the water.
As soon as the water boils, turn off the stove and leave the mixture for five minutes.
Strain the mixture using a strainer.
Add a little honey, cinnamon or stevia if you like.
Just start with a cup of nettle tea to make sure you don’t have any bad reactions to it.
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Warnings
Be sure to talk to your doctor before trying any new herbs or supplements. Even natural foods and drinks such as herbal teas can cause allergic reactions or conflict with certain medications. Some herbs and supplements can be harmful for people with certain health conditions.
Conclusion
Many people feel that drinking tea is only because of its properties. Enjoying a warm cup of tea may provide you with a moment of relaxation. Of course, considering the nutritional and health benefits of nettle tea, choosing it may be a smart tip for your daily life.
| ⚠️ Pay Attention Please! This article was prepared by an expert. But this is for general information only. Before any action, it is necessary to consult a doctor. Beneficially is not responsible for any damages or losses! |
source:
- https://senchateabar.com/blogs/blog/nettle-tea
- https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/herb/stinging-nettle
- https://poosh.com/benefits-of-nettle-tea/
- https://www.health.com/stinging-nettle-7254874
- https://ensosuperfoods.com/blogs/supergreens/top-nettle-leaf-benefits
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