Skip to content
Soul of Herbs
← Back to herbs

Urtica dioica

Stinging nettle

Caution

Known for its stinging hairs and nutritious leaves.

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

Family
Urticaceae
Plant type
Perennial herb
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.
Stinging nettle — botanical illustration of leaves, flower clusters and flower details.

Carl Axel Magnus Lindman, Bilder ur Nordens Flora (1917–1926). Botanical illustration; public domain.

Identification

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

A perennial herb with upright stems and opposite, stalked leaves. Mature leaves are coarsely toothed, drawn out into a long tip and usually heart-shaped at the base. Stems and leaves bear stinging hairs and shorter non-stinging hairs. Tiny greenish flowers form branched clusters in the leaf axils, usually longer than the corresponding leaf stalk. Male and female flowers are usually on separate plants. Compare several features when identifying it; stinging alone is not enough.

Possible mix-ups and risks

Small nettle (Urtica urens) is annual, usually with smaller leaves whose terminal tooth is similar in length to the side teeth. Its flower clusters are usually shorter than the corresponding leaf stalk and bear both male and female flowers. White dead-nettle (Lamium album) lacks stinging hairs; conspicuous white, two-lipped flowers distinguish it when flowering. Do not identify young, non-flowering plants solely by leaf resemblance or by testing whether they sting your skin.

Similar herbs

  • Dandelion

    They often appear together in discussions of spring "weed" leaves and green recipes.

  • Ribwort plantain

    Spring greens and "weed" salads; nettle stings, plantain does not — mind the identification.

Topics and symptoms

More topics are in the symptoms and topics overview.

Sources

Geographic occurrence

  • Czechia

    Native range

    Common along watercourses and nutrient-rich soils; meadows and forest edges.

  • Austria

    Common (expected wild occurrence in the region)

  • Germany

    Common (expected wild occurrence in the region)

  • Hungary

    Common (expected wild occurrence in the region)

  • Poland

    Common (expected wild occurrence in the region)

  • Slovakia

    Common (expected wild occurrence in the region)

  • France

    Common (expected wild occurrence in the region)

  • Japan

    Common (expected wild occurrence in the region)

  • Morocco

    Common (expected wild occurrence in the region)

  • Canada

    Common (expected wild occurrence in the region)

  • Australia

    Common (expected wild occurrence in the region)

  • South Africa

    Common (expected wild occurrence in the region)

Harvest

  • LeafApril–June

    spring

    Region: Czechia

    Notes: Best young shoots before flowering.

Storage

  • Drying(Leaf)

    Keep thoroughly dried leaves in a clean airtight container in a cool, dry, dark place. A fixed shelf life of 12–18 months is not established here.

    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)

    Here, herbal tea is prepared as an infusion: pour freshly boiling water over dried herbs or a herbal blend and steep for at least 5 minutes. BfR gives this as a hygiene rule, not a medicinal dose. Follow the specific product instructions, including a longer steeping time when stated. This rule for herbal infusions is not a general preparation guide for true tea (Camellia sinensis). 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

    Medicinal leaf preparations must not be used with allergy to the active substance or conditions requiring restricted fluids, such as severe heart or kidney disease. Because of insufficient data, EMA does not recommend them below age 12, during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

    Stinging nettle leaf tea

    BeginnerScience 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

    IntermediateScience 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

    BeginnerScience profile

    Open recipe →

Traditional / spiritual use

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

Related guides in the library

  • Protecting space as editorial symbolism

    Symbolism

    Spiritual useSymbolism

    Here we use nettle as a contemporary metaphor for personal boundaries. This is not a documented historical ritual or a claim that the plant protects or cleanses a space.

    Form:
    symbolic
    Claim strength:
    Symbolism
    Source note:
    Contemporary editorial interpretation; no historical source is established for this motif.

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 2010 EMA HMPC assessment covers nettle leaf (Urticae folium) and its preparations. It supports a traditional-use framework; the clinical studies available then were insufficient to establish well-established medicinal use.

    Review articleRegulatory assessment / monograph (EMA, WHO…)Year: 2010

    Preparation form in the study: Leaf: medicinal herbal tea and specified extracts

    Limitations: Leaf findings cannot automatically be transferred to roots, seeds, soup or syrup. The monograph includes medicinal herbal tea, but does not validate every home recipe.

    EMA Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC) — European Medicines Agency

    EMA: Final assessment report on Urtica dioica L.; Urtica urens L., folium

Images

The main photo is in the card header. More images will appear here when available.

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.

    Source

  • Medicinal leaf preparations: restrictionsHigh severityInternal use

    The EMA nettle-leaf monograph excludes use in people allergic to the active substance or with conditions requiring reduced fluid intake, such as severe heart or kidney disease. Because of insufficient data, use is not recommended in children under 12, during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. These restrictions concern medicinal leaf preparations.

    Source