Nettle
Nettles are members of the genus Urtica in the family Urticaceae.
The most prominent member of the genus is the Stinging nettle Urtica dioica, native to Europe, Asia, and North America. The genus also contains a number of other species with similar properties, listed below. However, a large number of species names that will be encountered in this genus in the older literature are now recognised as synonyms of Urtica dioica. Some of their names survive as subspecies names.
All the species listed below share the property of having stinging hairs, and can be expected to have very similar medicinal uses to the stinging nettle.
The sting of the ongaonga or tree nettle, Urtica ferox, of New Zealand has killed horses, dogs and at least one human.
The family Urticaceae also contains some other plants called nettles that are not members of the genus Urtica. These include the Wood nettle, Laportea canadensis, found in eastern North America from Nova Scotia to Florida, and the False nettle, Boehmeria cylindrica, found in most of the United States east of the Rockies. As its name implies, the false nettle does not sting.
Species in the genus Urtica, and their primary natural ranges, include:
- Urtica angustifolia; China, Japan, Korea
- Urtica cannabina; Western Asia from Siberia to Iran.
- Stinging nettle, Urtica diotica; Europe, Asia, North America
- Ongaonga or tree nettle, Urtica ferox; New Zealand
- Urtica hyperborea; Himalayas from Pakistan to Bhutan, Mongolia and Tibet, high altitudes.
- Scrub nettle, Urtica incisa; Australia
- Urtica laetivirens; Japan, Manchuria
- Urtica parviflora; Himalayas (lower altitudes)
- Roman nettle, Urtica pilulifera; Europe
- Urtica platyphylla; China, Japan
- Urtica thunbergiana; Japan
- Hedge nettle (Stachys spp.) and Dead nettle (Lamium spp.) which are in the Lamiaceae or mint family,
- Devil's Nettle, which is another name for Yarrow,
- Carolina horsenettle (Solanum carolinense) in the Solanaceae
- Spurge nettle (Cnidolscolus stimulosus) in the Euphorbiaceae family.
- Sea nettle (Chtysaora quinquecirrha) which is a jellyfish.
Economic Uses
Nettle stems are a popular raw material used in small-scale papermaking.
The tops of growing nettles are a popular cooked green in many areas, and are exceptionally high in protein. Some cooks throw away a first water to get rid of the formic acid, while others retain the water and cook the nettles straight. Nettle tops are sold in some farmers' markets and natural food stores.
Urtication, or flogging with nettles, is the process of deliberately applying stinging nettles to the skin in order to provoke inflammation. An agent thus used is known as a rubefacient (i.e. something that causes redness). This is done as a folk remedy for rheumatism, as it provides temporary relief from pain.
Reference
Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (2000;93:305-9) -- randomised trial of urtication for arthritis
Remedy
The traditional remedy for nettle stings is rubbing with the leaf of the dock plant, Rumex obtusifolus, which often grows beside nettles in the wild.
