 Nettle, or better known as Stinging Nettle. The stems are nasty little buggers that have some stinging chemicals that are none too pleasant to come in contact with. Hey you want me to drink this as a tea? Y'all crazy? Well once it's in your cup, thankfully all of those stinging qualities are nullified. So this is all supposed to be good for me right? You bet you're sweet bippy! And today on eccentric nature we're talking all about the health benefits of Stinging Nettle Tea. Pain and Arthritis Benefits Nettle Tea is a great anti-inflammatory that helps with a variety of different pains, especially achy joints. And there have been various studies backing this up too. The Arthritis Foundation says Nettle Tea may help the pain associated with osteoarthritis. Studies also show that Nettle Tea can work alongside various non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to help reduce the amount of NSAIDs that people are taking. Now as to whether it can actually reduce the NSAIDs you're taking, the jury's still out on that. Urinary Tract Health It doesn't matter if you're a man or a woman and those who are yet to make up your mind. Urinary tract problems can stop you in your tracts. Nettle is a natural diuretic and can help flush out evil bacteria and toxins from your system. It's especially beneficial for the urinary condition called BPH or Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. In fact, a 2013 study found Nettle helped lower BPH symptoms in men. More on that later. A 2014 study on rats and molecular medicine also showed that Nettle can reduce calcium oxalate crystals in the kidneys. And why do you want to prevent calcium crystals? Well because it helps reduce the possibility of kidney stones. That's another condition that's none too pleasant for anybody who's experienced it. I've got some friends who've had it. It's not fun. Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. BPH or Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia is better known as an enlarged prostate and it's responsible for causing lots of urinary problems. But thanks to Nettle T you can look that BPH straight in the eye and say Mosey on from here cowboy you're not welcoming this saloon anymore. Does that work without the cowboy hat? Kind of feel like I need one. Studies on Nettle have shown that it can help BPH symptoms compared to a placebo. And in combination with Sol Palmetto one study showed that it was as effective as the BPH medication Finasteride. And a study published in the Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal showed that patients who use Nettle T showed a significant decrease in the size of their prostate and a lessening of their symptoms as well. Heart Health. Nettle contains various minerals large amounts of vitamin A and C, beta carotene and other carotenoids as well as great flavonoids like Quercetin and Kempferol. All of these babies are great boosters of red blood cell production, help prevent anemia, lower the risk of cardiovascular problems and can help lower blood pressure too. A study in the Scientific World Journal found that Nettle T has phenolic compounds that can help lower blood pressure and reduce strain on the heart. Nettle T's anti-inflammatory properties can also help reduce the risk of heart disease. Antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. A study in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology found that Nettle T may help prevent infections. Researchers also found that Nettle T was excellent to preventing ulcers caused by alcohol consumption. Now this does not by any means mean that you should consume excess alcohol just because you're having that cup of Nettle T. Yeah, I see what you're thinking. Does that even make sense? I see what you're thinking. Nettle T has even been shown to inhibit the nine dastardly microorganisms that cause various health problems in humans. These include big name diseases like tuberculosis, malaria, chickenpox, measles and even things like ringworm and athlete's foot. Eye health. Alright, now I've already mentioned that Nettle T contains beta carotene and vitamin A which as many people know is known to protect eye health. But did you know? A study in food science and nutrition found that Nettle leaves have ten times more carotenoids than wheat or barley flour. Impressive. Yeah it is until you put it next to basil which has three times the amount of vitamin A that Nettle has. So well at least Nettle has more potassium, calcium and vitamin K so take that basil. Allergies and hay fever benefits. This is another big winner for Nettle T. Its anti-histamine properties are one of the first things that introduced me to Nettle T in singing Nettle in the first place. A study in vital therapy research found that Nettle extracts hold off those enzymes that trigger allergic responses in people. That means it can not only help with hay fever type allergies as backed up by another 2017 study but it could also help limit things like hives and eczema as well. Now all this said the NCCIH says they still need more evidence to officially declare that stinging Nettle and Nettle T are truly effective for allergies. Alas, what doesn't mean you can't give it a shot. It could work for you. I'm saying. Other possible benefits. Now there are a variety of other benefits that anecdotal evidence and limited research says could be helped by Nettle T so let's do the old round up and see what's in the corral. When did this become the wild west Nettle show? These benefits include mental acuity, shiny hair, help with acne, anemia and various digestive ailments like constipation, diarrhea and upset stomach. It's also supposed to stop evil oxidative stress that breaks down your cells and also help with various feminine issues like menopause symptoms, regulating menstrual flow and helping with milk production for nursing mothers. So don't you worry little lady, Nettle T is going to send those bandits back in. Does it work without the hat? Let me know in the comments down below. Maybe we'll just add one in the graphics. Finally there's limited research that shows that Nettle T can lower blood sugar levels and help with diabetes. So how do you make Nettle T? It's really very simple. Add one or two teaspoons of dried Nettle to some boiling water then wait five to ten minutes. And voila! Frankly by itself it's not the best. I really find it tastes better when it's combined with other herbs. A simple blend of Nettle and Fennel is actually quite wonderful though it really works well blend with any number of other herbs as well. Side effects. Now as I mentioned Nettle T can lower your blood pressure so if that's something that's not good for you then there's a possibility of it causing fainting, drowsiness or dizziness. While it has many benefits for women there isn't much evidence for or against saying how it will affect them during pregnancy. So you just need to be careful about the amount you use when you're pregnant. There have also been limited reports about people having stomach aches after having Nettle T but again these were very limited cases. While Nettle T won't cause these problems it's important to remember that stinging Nettle is that prickly leaf that can cause some nasty burning, itching and rash problems. So if you're picking and handling fresh leaves to make your Nettle T please just do so carefully. There are also those usual precautions you should make sure to consult your doctor with on if you're on medications like blood thinning drugs, diuretics, alpha blockers, anti-inflammatory drugs, blood pressure drugs and finasteride. Basically anything that I said Nettle T helps you with as you normally don't want to have Nettle T at the same time as prescription drugs without some medical advice. Another rare possibility is that Nettle could affect estrogen levels and in rare cases caused one male to develop breast tissue and a female who developed nipple discharge. So if anything like this starts happening to you just stop the Nettle T, consult a doctor. So this may sound like a lot of side effects but really most of these are rare cases that won't affect most people or can be avoided just by being smart about how much Nettle T you're having. Generally it's suggested like many herbal teas to have only three cups of Nettle T per day. In that amount any side effects you might experience will quickly subside once you stop using the tea. Hey that's it, all you need to do now is be kind, take care of each other and enjoy some Nettle T and be careful if you're handling those stinging Nettles. They are not fun when they sting you.