Current Medical Investigations Urtica dioica has been found to have medicinal relevance in treating several types of ailments which include benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), arthritis, neuralgia and related conditions, chronic rhinosinusitis, cardiovascular disease, and urinary tract infections. However, U. dioica shows the most promise in treating BPH and has several clinical trials to support its use and prove its efficacy (Urtica dioica; Urtica urens (Nettle), 2007). In these trials it was found to relieve the symptoms that BPH causes in the lower urinary tract, including the constant urge to urinate, inadequate emptying of the bladder, reduced urinary flow, and post urination dripping. It has also been shown to reduce the size of enlarged
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It has, however, been proven to be effective in the few studies that have taken place. A study by Randall C et al. (2000) found that patients using U. dioica rated their pain and disability significantly lower after just one week of use, while the placebo group’s pain and disability levels remained largely unchanged. At the end of the study, some of the patients who used U. dioica reported that they preferred using the plant over the use of conventional analgesics and other pain relief …show more content…
The cream was a lipobase oil-in-water emulsion 13.33% (w/w) stinging nettle extract. The participants applied the cream on the affected areas twice every day for two weeks. Two of the 23 patients experienced some negative side effects including transient tingling and mild discomfort. However after the study was completed most of the participants wished to continue with the cream treatments because it alleviated their pain. The study found that stinging nettle can be helpful to people suffering from osteoarthritis not only by relieving pain but also by reducing inflammation. This reduction in inflammation is likely caused by the presence of polysaccharides and caffeic malic acid found in U. dioica, which have been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects in in vitro studies. (Wagner H et al., 1994)
These anti-inflammatory effects are why U. dioica has also been tested in its effectiveness in treating chronic rhinosinusitis, or rather, hay fever. The preliminary study done by Helms S. and Miller A. (2006) reported that 57% of their patients said that U. dioica was effective in treating the symptoms of their allergies, while 48% said that U. dioica was more effective than the allergy medications they were using or had previously used. While this result is promising, more research is required into this use of U. dioica before conclusions
It has, however, been proven to be effective in the few studies that have taken place. A study by Randall C et al. (2000) found that patients using U. dioica rated their pain and disability significantly lower after just one week of use, while the placebo group’s pain and disability levels remained largely unchanged. At the end of the study, some of the patients who used U. dioica reported that they preferred using the plant over the use of conventional analgesics and other pain relief …show more content…
The cream was a lipobase oil-in-water emulsion 13.33% (w/w) stinging nettle extract. The participants applied the cream on the affected areas twice every day for two weeks. Two of the 23 patients experienced some negative side effects including transient tingling and mild discomfort. However after the study was completed most of the participants wished to continue with the cream treatments because it alleviated their pain. The study found that stinging nettle can be helpful to people suffering from osteoarthritis not only by relieving pain but also by reducing inflammation. This reduction in inflammation is likely caused by the presence of polysaccharides and caffeic malic acid found in U. dioica, which have been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects in in vitro studies. (Wagner H et al., 1994)
These anti-inflammatory effects are why U. dioica has also been tested in its effectiveness in treating chronic rhinosinusitis, or rather, hay fever. The preliminary study done by Helms S. and Miller A. (2006) reported that 57% of their patients said that U. dioica was effective in treating the symptoms of their allergies, while 48% said that U. dioica was more effective than the allergy medications they were using or had previously used. While this result is promising, more research is required into this use of U. dioica before conclusions