Did you know that stinging nettle has been doing the rounds as an effective herbal medicine for quite a while? Ancient times, to be precise! The people of ancient Egypt used it to treat lower backache, arthritis, while Roman soldiers used rubbed nettle leaf on them for staying warm, fighting the cold. When stinging nettle is processed as capsules or supplements – freeze-dried, cooked, or dried, it is safe for human consumption.
According to an article published on Huffingtonpost.ca, stinging nettle is beneficial because it is high in calcium, plant digestible iron, and vitamin A. Here are three proven benefits of nettle leaf capsules:
1. Helps in reducing inflammation
Chronic inflammation is detrimental to your health and therefore, you should choose nettle leaf supplements that come with several compounds to fight inflammation. In test-tube and animal studies, nettle leaf helped in cutting back numerous inflammatory hormones by intervening with their creation.
On human studies, taking nettle leaf medications or applying topical products proved to alleviate the symptoms of arthritis and painful inflammatory conditions. In a particular study on 27 people, the use of stinging nettle leaf reduced pain considerably and proved better than placebo treatment. In another study, nettle leaf supplement assuaged arthritis pain. More research is ongoing to prove the effectiveness of nettle leaf to alleviate pain and inflammation.
2. Comes with several essential nutrients
Did you know that nettle leaves as well as roots come with an array of essential nutrients? These include vitamins A, K, C, and many B vitamins. Nettle leaves are also rich in minerals like iron, phosphorous, calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium.
Nettle leaf capsules provide all essential amino acids. When it comes to fats, it includes palmitic acid, linoleic acid, oleic acid, and stearic acid. The capsules are also rich in pigments and polyphenols.
Moreover, most of these nutrients serve as antioxidants in your body to protect the cells against the free radicals, which are associated with aging, cancer, and other serious illnesses.
3. Helps in treating hay fever
Hay fever is a kind of allergy that results in inflammation in the inner lining of the human nose. When you take natural stinging nettle leaf supplements, it is the best way to treat hay fever. According to test-tube studies, the extracts of nettle leaf have the potential to slow down the process of inflammation that triggers seasonal allergies. The benefits include preventing immune cells and histamine receptors from discharging chemicals triggering allergic reactions or symptoms.
Then, human research shows that nettle leaves are equal or are just better at treating the symptoms of hay fever, compared to placebo. It is indeed true that nettle leaf is effective in the treatment of hay fever and a great natural remedy, but then, more human studies are required to prove its effectiveness. Always consult your doctor before taking nettle leaf supplements if you are plagued with hay fever.
Final words
Now that you know about the benefits of nettle leaf capsules, you can make an informed decision and take them if you have arthritis pain, inflammation, and hay fever. However, consult a physician before taking any supplements.
