Stinging nettle

Urtica dioica

Known for its stinging hairs and nutritious leaves.

A nitrogen-loving perennial with opposite leaves and stinging hairs; young shoots are edible after brief cooking or drying.

Family: Urticaceae
Plant type: Perennial herb
Safety level (indicative): Caution

What the safety levels mean (expand legend)

Generally recognised as safe. Often a common herb with reasonable harvest and use; still read the specific warnings on the card.
Information. Primarily informational — details in the text and warnings below matter most.
Caution. Needs extra care (dose, duration, sensitive groups, interactions).
Risky. Significant risks — verify sources, contraindications and professional guidance.
Not for home experimentation. Not suitable to experiment with at home without knowledge and certainty.
High risk for internal use. Particular risk with internal use (e.g. alkaloids); avoid prolonged or irresponsible dosing.
Not specified. Level not filled in yet — rely on individual warnings and links below.

Safety — read before use

For this herb it is important to check warnings, mix-ups and cautions. Start with the Safety section.

Quick overview

A practical summary; details are in the sections below.

Safety grade: Caution·details
Scientific sources on the card: Yes — sources are listed with claims·Science section
When and what to harvest: Leaf — April–June
Full harvest section
Processing methods: Herbal infusion (tea), Culinary use, Syrup
All methods and recipes on the card
Topics and symptoms: Body cleansing (folk framing), Common cold — overall comfort, Constipation…
Topics section · Symptoms overview

Identification and mix-ups

Dioecious perennial with square stems bearing both stinging trichomes (hollow silicified needles) and shorter non-stinging hairs. Leaves opposite, ovate to lanceolate, cordate at base, serrate margins, stinging hairs on both surfaces. Male and female catkin-like inflorescences borne on separate plants.

Possible mix-ups and risks

Most likely confused with annual nettle (Urtica urens), which is monoecious with fewer stinging hairs and smaller, more deeply toothed leaves. Young shoots may superficially resemble white dead-nettle (Lamium album, Lamiaceae), which lacks stinging hairs and bears distinctly lipped white flowers.

Similar herbs

Dandelion
Často se objevují spolu v diskuzi o jarních „plevelových“ listech a zelených receptech.
Plantago lanceolata
Jarní zelen a „plevelové“ saláty; kopřiva žahavá, jitrocel ne — pozor na určení.

Topics and symptoms

More topics are in the symptoms and topics overview.

Body cleansing (folk framing)
Traditional· Traditional / cultural framing
Common cold — overall comfort
Traditional· Traditional / cultural framing
Constipation
Traditional· Traditional / cultural framing
Digestion
Traditional· Traditional / cultural framing
Fatigue and low energy
Traditional· Traditional / cultural framing
Heartburn
Traditional· Traditional / cultural framing
Immunity - informational context
Traditional· Traditional / cultural framing
Joints & mobility
Traditional· Traditional / cultural framing
Kidneys & urinary comfort
Traditional· Traditional / cultural framing
Liver & bile (folk framing)
Traditional· Traditional / cultural framing
Lymphatic heaviness and swelling sensation
Traditional· Traditional / cultural framing
Men's urinary comfort
Traditional· Traditional / cultural framing
Metabolism - gentle support
Traditional· Traditional / cultural framing
Scalp & hair
Traditional· Traditional / cultural framing
Skin
Traditional· Traditional / cultural framing
Topic
Spiritual· Symbolic / cultural framing
Topic
Traditional· Traditional / cultural framing

Sources

Identification
- Kew Plants of the World Online — Urtica dioica L.
Confusion risk
- EMA HMPC — Community herbal monograph on Urtica dioica L.; Urtica urens L., folium (EMA/HMPC/508015/2007) (2010)

Geographic occurrence

Czechia
Native range
Common along watercourses and nutrient-rich soils; meadows and forest edges.
Austria
Common (expected wild occurrence in the region)
Wave 1 (seed): broad range in Central Europe — verify with floras and national checklists.
Germany
Common (expected wild occurrence in the region)
Wave 1 (seed): broad range in Central Europe — verify with floras and national checklists.
Hungary
Common (expected wild occurrence in the region)
Wave 1 (seed): broad range in Central Europe — verify with floras and national checklists.
Poland
Common (expected wild occurrence in the region)
Wave 1 (seed): broad range in Central Europe — verify with floras and national checklists.
Slovakia
Common (expected wild occurrence in the region)
Wave 1 (seed): broad range in Central Europe — verify with floras and national checklists.
France
Common (expected wild occurrence in the region)
France: occurrence for the main European catalogue taxa — refine with national atlases / red lists.
Japan
Common (expected wild occurrence in the region)
Japan top 20: temperate and East Asian context — verify Japanese flora and cultivation.
Morocco
Common (expected wild occurrence in the region)
Maghreb top 20 — verify with atlases, national floras, and cultivated occurrence.
Canada
Common (expected wild occurrence in the region)
Canada / North America top 20 — verify with floras, naturalised populations, and cultivated spread.
Australia
Common (expected wild occurrence in the region)
Australia top 20: archaeophytes and endemics — verify with national floras and introduced-species references.
South Africa
Common (expected wild occurrence in the region)
South Africa top 20 — verify with atlases, fynbos, and savanna context.

Harvest

LeafApril–June
jaro
Region: Czechia
Notes: Best young shoots before flowering.

Storage

Drying(Leaf)
Store dry for 12–18 months in paper or a jar.
Light:
UV-sensitive — use a dark container.
Moisture:
Protect from moisture (mould).
Safety:
Stinging fades after drying; still observe hygiene when handling.
Refrigeration(Leaf)
Fresh leaves briefly in the fridge in a mesh bag.
Moisture:
Higher humidity shortens shelf life.
Safety:
Wash before use.

Processing methods on this herb card

Herbal infusion (tea)(Leaf)Suitability: High suitability
Infusion or brief extraction in hot water; usually without long boiling.
Full method description (from the catalogue)
In the narrow sense, “tea” often means an infusion: you pour water just off the boil over the dried plant matter and let it steep for a few minutes. Temperature, steep time, and the herb-to-water ratio change both flavour and what dissolves into the liquid.
Compared with a decoction, heat exposure is shorter and gentler; tender leaves and flowers are often better as an infusion than with prolonged simmering. For each herb, always follow the plant card for suitable plant part, preparation, and safety notes — general rules never replace species-level judgement.
Traditional context for this method: yes·Scientific context for this method: yes
Briefly blanch after harvest when preparing raw.
Stinging nettle leaf tea
About 12 minBeginnerScience profile
Open recipe →
Culinary use(Leaf)Suitability: High suitability
Cooking, baking, seasoning as food — general category without therapeutic claims.
Full method description (from the catalogue)
Culinary use covers herbs as ingredients in dishes, drinks, or spice mixes. This overview does not evaluate medicinal effects — only reminds you about species intent, allergies, and heat treatment where needed (e.g. some fruits or plant parts).
Combining with alcohol, sugar, or long cooking changes outcomes; verify culinary sources.
Traditional context for this method: yes·Scientific context for this method: no
Nettle and potato soup
About 40 minIntermediateScience profile
Open recipe →
Syrup(Leaf)Suitability: Medium suitability
Decoction or infusion with sweetener and reduction; shelf life depends on sugar and storage.
Full method description (from the catalogue)
Syrups combine a herbal base with sugar or honey and often a short boil to concentrate and improve hygiene. Preservation depends strongly on water content, sugar level, and bottling practice.
Home syrups may fall under food rules; store in the fridge after opening per recipe.
Traditional context for this method: yes·Scientific context for this method: no
Young nettle leaf syrup
About 45 minBeginnerScience profile
Open recipe →

Traditional / spiritual use

Kept separate from science — entries are cultural or symbolic, not medical advice.

Related guides in the library

Space and home protection
Symbolism
Spiritual useSymbolism
In folk storytelling, nettle is often linked with protecting the home and with symbolically clearing a space.
Form:
symbolické
Claim strength:
Tradition
Source note:
Not medical advice.

Scientific notes

Each claim lists a study type and a source (URL or DOI) where available. Dose notes from the literature are informational only.

How to read evidence strength and study type labels

Labels summarise how the catalogue entry is tagged — they are not a medical verdict on efficacy. For every row, read the summary, limitations and source link.

Evidence strength

Evidence level not specified: The author did not grade the record; judge from the summary, limitations and source link.
Narrative / orientational literature: Descriptive or expert literature without controlled group comparison — context rather than proof of effect.
Weak evidence: Study or conclusion with major methodological limits; treat only as a pointer for further reading.
Preliminary findings: First or smaller studies — interesting direction, not the final word on efficacy or safety.
Moderate strength of evidence: Moderate strength by study design; sample and context limits still apply.
Stronger evidence: Stronger design or consistency of results within the study's stated limits.
Review article: A review summarises multiple sources; quality depends on review method and field.

Study type

Narrative / expert text: Expert text or overview without a classical study design.
In vitro study: Cell culture or test-tube experiment — does not show an effect in the body.
Animal study: Animal model — transfer to humans is not automatic.
Observational study: Observing groups without random treatment assignment; confounding is possible.
Clinical trial: Human clinical trial; sample size and control group matter.
Randomised controlled trial: Randomised controlled trials are among the stronger designs when well conducted.
Review study: A review aggregates multiple papers — quality depends on selection rules.
Systematic review: Systematic review with explicit search and selection methodology.
Meta-analysis: Statistical pooling of studies; outcome depends on input data and heterogeneity.
Regulatory assessment / monograph (EMA, WHO…): Regulatory body summary for a herbal product — different context from a single RCT; often about products, not home tea.
Expert monograph (herbal preparations): Structured literature summary for a plant or drug — quality depends on author and edition year.

The literature summarizes antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of isolated fractions from nettle leaves.
Review articleReview studyYear: 2020
Limitations: This is not treatment guidance; effects depend on preparation and dose.
Recent Advances in Urtica dioica Research
The EMA HMPC monograph summarizes the traditional framework for nettle leaf in herbal preparations; a home infusion does not have the same extract specification or dosing.
Review articleRegulatory assessment / monograph (EMA, WHO…)Year: 2024
Preparation form in the study: infusion
Active compound / focus: per the HMPC monograph
Limitations: Applying this to a specific cup depends on herb material, ratio, and steeping time.
Dose note (from literature): The text covers approved preparations, not a kitchen recipe.
EMA Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC) — European Medicines Agency
EMA: Final assessment report on Urtica dioica L.; Urtica urens L., folium

Images

D1 → Worker → R2 binding check (key dev/smoke/…).
Identification

Safety

What the warning types mean

The type on each warning helps group themes — it does not replace the separate severity badge.

Internal use: Risks from swallowing, extracts, duration of use or concentration for internal use.
Interactions / medicines: Possible effect on medicines or concurrent treatment — check sources and a professional.
Raw plant parts: Raw, unripe or poorly prepared plant parts can be dangerous.
Toxins and regulation: Toxic constituents or regulated compounds (e.g. in distillates).
Contact with the plant: Skin or mucosa irritation from contact with fresh plant or sap.
Allergy: Allergic reactions, often linked to family sensitisation.
Harvesting and contamination: Contamination, species mix-ups or harvesting from unsuitable places.

Stinging hairsModerate severityContact with the plant
Contact with fresh leaves and stems can cause skin irritation lasting several hours.