Urtica dioica, known as common
nettle, is typically called stinging nettle, because chemicals in the
hairs or spines on the leaves and stems cause skin irritation and pain
when touched. People have used nettle for medicinal purposes since
ancient times, according to the University of Michigan Health System.
Nettle root is available in liquid extract, dried extract in capsule
form and as a tea. Consult with a qualified health care practitioner
before beginning any herbal therapy, particularly if you have a serious
health condition.
Reliable scientific evidence indicates that nettle root has
substantial health benefits for men with mild cases of benign prostatic
hyperplasia, according to the UMHS. BPH is a non-cancerous disorder in
which the prostate gland becomes enlarged, causing problems with
urination. Nettle root reduces symptoms and inhibits further growth of
certain prostate cells, although it does not decrease prostate gland
size. It appears to work by affecting hormones or acting directly on the
prostate, according to Adventist Healthcare. Nettle root extract can
improve urine flow, allow more complete bladder emptying, and decrease
the need to get up during the night to urinate. Nettle root is widely
used in Europe to treat BPH, according to Adventist Healthcare. The UMHS
notes that standard dosage for treating BPH is 120 mg of a concentrated
root extract in capsules twice daily. Nettle root also is available in
combination with extracts of saw palmetto or pygeum, other herbs shown
to be beneficial for men with BPH.
Nettle root extract shows potential benefits for men with
prostate cancer as well. A study published in the February 2000 issue of
"Planta Medica" found that Urtica dioica root extract inhibited
proliferation of human prostate cancer cells in the laboratory.
Some popular over-the-counter hair loss treatments, such as
Provillus and Procerin, include nettle root extract. Some prescription
hair loss treatments, such as Propecia, use finasteride, a drug commonly
prescribed for treating BPH. Men and women with pattern baldness, a
condition known as androgenic alopecia or androgenetic alopecia, have
elevated scalp levels of a hormone called dihydrotestosterone, or DHT, a
chemical by-product of the male hormone testosterone. Both finasteride
and nettle root appear to block production of DHT. Hair Loss Learning
Center cautions that no clinical controlled studies have proved the
effectiveness of nettle root for treating hair loss.
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