Nettle for women: medicinal properties, benefits, contraindications

For women, the use of various herbs is not as food additives, but for the sake of their medicinal properties can be an alternative to medical treatments. This also applies to nettles. It is considered to be a weed, or in extreme cases, herbs for making spring soups. But this herb is much healthier than it sounds, especially for women.

Peculiarities

The most common type of nettle is dioecious and it is used to treat various diseases. In total, there are more than 50 varieties of plants and each has specific properties. But they should be considered separately.

Botanical description

Stinging nettle is a herbaceous perennial, usually reaching a height of 70 cm. Under ideal conditions, the plant can grow up to 2 m. The stem and leaves are densely covered with stinging hairs. It is because of them that burns occur if you take hold of the grass with your bare hands.

The stem is elongated, not branched, hollow and usually straight. Deformation is sometimes possible if something is preventing the nettle from growing straight up. The stem is ribbed in cross-section, tetrahedral. Despite the fact that it does not branch out, in the second half of summer, shoots often begin to grow from the axils of the leaves, which are called axillary.

The plant, as the name suggests, is dioecious. Flowering begins in May or early June, depending on the region. The process ends in autumn. Paniculate, unisexual inflorescences are formed, like shoots, in the leaf axils. They are longer than leaf cuttings, the first of which are formed at the 7th to 14th node level. They are often found on axillary shoots. After flowering, inflorescences with pistils droop.

The flowers are very small, green, with a simple calyx-shaped perianth, which is densely covered with hairs. In staminate specimens, the perianth is synovial and dissected into 4 identical segments. There are 4 stamens in the flower, they are bent in the bud and sharply straighten when flowering. There is also an undeveloped ovary in the inflorescences.

Pistillate specimens have a free perianth of 4 leaves. After the flowering process, the two inner leaves grow to the size of the plant's fruit, and remain flat in shape. The outer sheets do not change. Pollination is due to the wind. The plant attracts urticaria butterflies for breeding, but this has almost no effect on the transfer of pollen from bush to bush.

Ovary always with sessile stigma, superior, unilocular. The fruits are dry, compressed. They are biconvex in shape, with only 1 seed inside. Fruit color is yellowish or light brown. It looks like an ovoid or oval nut no more than 1.4 mm in length.

Up to 22,000 seeds can be obtained from one plant. Fortunately, not all of them survive, mature and germinate.

What parts are used for medicinal purposes

Nettle for women (medicinal properties are presented for informational purposes only) are not entirely suitable. Only separate parts of the plant are harvested.

It is customary to use nettle leaves and roots as a medicinal raw material. I rarely use seeds, and they are not as effective as the rest of the plant.

The leaves are located on the stem of the plant opposite each other, have a long stalk. Both sides are the same, the shape of the plate is simple, ovoid and not dissected. Usually, the length of the sheet is no more than 17 cm, and the width is no more than 8 cm. At the cutting, the leaf has a recess 5 mm deep. The top of the leaf is pointed, and the edge is jagged. The color of the plate is dark green.

The leaves have coarse and stinging hairs. Occasionally it happens that they are absent, and the nettle does not burn, or only the stem, but not the leaves, burns.

Taproot, thick and difficult to break. The rhizome is horizontal, branched, long, slightly fibrous. The color of the washed raw materials is usually from light brown to dark yellow.

Collection

Nettle leaves and roots should be harvested at different times of the year. This is due to the fact that the maximum concentration of nutrients in different parts of the plant occurs in different periods of the growing season. Therefore, it will not work to prepare them at the same time, for example, during spring weeding.

Leaves	Roots
Harvested in late spring or early summer. Can be harvested in August, but the benefits of such raw materials will be lower.	Can be harvested in early spring or late autumn, just before the onset of cold weather.
It is advisable to cut the plant with scissors or a sickle, wearing rubber gloves.	It will not work to pull out the bush, you need to dig it out with a shovel. The green part can be cut off.

A dry, clear day is suitable for harvesting, not necessarily a warm one. It is advisable to choose an area with a favorable ecological situation. But the area just away from roads and factories is also suitable.

How to prepare

Nettle leaves and roots are harvested in a similar way. To save the collected green part of the plant for future use, you need to follow the instructions from 3 points.

1. Spread the collected leaves in an even layer on paper or a thick dry cloth.
2. Place in a shaded but well-ventilated area, should be sufficient for 3 days.
3. Remove dried raw materials in glass jars or paper bags. Alternatively, cotton bags can be used.

Store the herb in a dark, dry place away from sources of foreign odors. Especially if it is decided not to keep it in a jar with a tight lid. Nettle retains its medicinal qualities for up to 2 years.

Qualitatively dried leaves do not lose their color, without brown spots, mold and easily crumble. They are also characterized by a herbal smell, without mustiness.

After digging up the roots, they are harvested in a similar way:

1. Rinse raw materials thoroughly. Sometimes it may be necessary to soak it in the basin for a short time.
2. Cut into small pieces. In the future, it will be more convenient to use the roots.
3. Spread out evenly on a cloth or paper in a dark, well-ventilated room.
4. The readiness of the product is checked for brittleness - if the roots begin to break easily and become hard, you can put them in a glass jar for storage.

They should also be kept in the dark, dry and away from foreign odors. They retain their properties as long as the green part - 2 years. After that, it is advisable to update stocks.

Composition

The stalks and leaves of the nettle contain a specific and even unique combination of substances.

Namely:

• formic acid;
• vitamin K;
• iron;
• carotene and carotenoids;
• vitamin C;
• galusic acid;
• phytoncides;
• calcium;
• B vitamins;
• chlorophyll;
• sulfur;
• magnesium;
• histamine;
• vitamin E;
• aluminum;
• potassium.

They are also very high in manganese. From 100 g of the green part of the plant, you can get 4 days of the substance.

The roots are also rich in various substances. The concentration of elements is lower in them, but this does not make the underground part of the nettle less useful.

So, in the roots there is:

• flavonoids;
• B vitamins;
• carotene;
• chlorophyll;
• retinol;
• molybdenum;
• iron;
• vitamin K;
• vitamin C;
• barium;
• tannins;
• sulfur;
• aluminum;
• manganese;
• organic acids.

The root is used in folk medicine at least as often as the green part. And they are often used at the same time as a mixture.

Medicinal and beneficial properties for women

Nettle (for women, medicinal properties can be useful at any age) has found application in traditional medicine. The plant is recommended for use in the following cases.

Disease	How does it help
With heavy menstrual bleeding	It helps to recover faster after blood loss, causes contraction of the uterus and accelerates its cleansing of blood and dead parts of the endometrium.
With uterine fibroids	In benign uterine tumors, nettle is recommended as a vasoconstrictor. Thus, blood flow to the myomatous nodes decreases blood flow, and they gradually dissolve. But this will only work with small tumors. If they are accompanied by heavy bleeding, nettle will be doubly useful.
With erosion of the cervix	Used as a healing and anti-inflammatory agent.
When breastfeeding	Regular consumption of nettle tea increases milk production and improves milk quality. It also increases hemoglobin levels, which can drop after a difficult birth.
During pregnancy	It is forbidden in the first trimester, as it can provoke a miscarriage. After consultation with a gynecologist, in the future, its use is permissible to prevent infections of the genitourinary system. Recommended as a remedy for anemia.

Some of these properties will also be useful for girls in adolescence, when the menstrual cycle has not yet been established and bleeding is irregular. Especially if they are more abundant than the norm.

Nettle is used topically as an infusion for rinsing the scalp to get rid of dandruff and strengthen hair. In addition, water extracts are sometimes used for washing to improve the condition of the skin.

Potential harm

For women, in addition to the medicinal properties of nettle, it is worth considering the possible harm from its use.

In addition to the fact that when you pick it yourself, you can burn your hands on the leaves and stems, you need to consider the following:

1. If the dosage is exceeded, diarrhea, nausea and digestive problems are possible.
2. Long-term use can be accompanied by dizziness and constantly high blood pressure.
3. In case of individual intolerance, the use of funds with nettle will cause all possible allergy symptoms - rash, itching, swelling, sore throat, runny nose and others.

If at least one side effect occurs, discontinue use and consult a doctor.

Contraindications

Nettle (for women, the healing properties are undeniable) is sometimes contraindicated:

Use is prohibited	You can take it, but in a limited way, you need a specialist consultation
1st trimester of pregnancy	2nd, 3rd trimesters of pregnancy
Severe kidney disease	Hypertension (nettle can increase blood pressure)
Bleeding due to cysts, polyps, and other tumors in the uterus other than fibroids	Simultaneously with taking drugs that improve blood clotting
Taking antidepressants, medication for insomnia	Together with medications for iron deficiency anemia
Thrombophlebitis, atherosclerosis, varicose veins, increased blood clotting
Individual intolerance

With low blood pressure, nettle remedies are allowed, but in limited quantities and it is important to monitor your well-being. With hypotension, it is not always helpful to raise your blood pressure.

Traditional medicine recipes

Nettle (for women, the medicinal properties are described in this article) can be the basis for home remedies. One of the advantages of such products is that, when used correctly, they are completely safe. And another important feature of nettle preparations is that they can solve problems that are relevant only for women.

With heavy menstruation

In this case, freshly squeezed juice from the leaves is used. To prepare it, you need to follow simple instructions.

1. Chop leaves and roots. A meat grinder or blender is suitable for this.
2. Collect the resulting gruel in cheesecloth.
3. Squeeze all liquid through it.

The remedy should be taken during menstruation, 3 times a day before meals, 1 tsp. l. at a time. The course should be 7 days.

The remedy is not recommended for drinking with endometriosis, although it is not prohibited. If the state of health noticeably worsens while taking nettle juice, you must choose another herbal remedy and seek advice from a gynecologist.

With uterine fibroids

The disease should be treated under the supervision of a gynecologist, but the main treatment can and should be supplemented with folk remedies. To do this, a decoction is prepared from a mixture of seeds and roots of nettle.

1. 2 tbsp. l. the mixture is placed in an enamel bowl.
2. Pour 200 ml of water, not hot.
3. Bring to a boil over low heat. To speed up the process, it is better to cover the container with a lid.
4. Heat for 15–20 minutes until ½ of the liquid has evaporated.
5. Filter and cool. For straining, you can use a fine sieve or thick gauze.

You need to drink the product in 3 tbsp. l., 4 times a day, before meals. The course of admission is 3 weeks. Then they take a break for a month and repeat the course if necessary.

Leaves can be used instead of seeds, this will increase the effectiveness of the drug.

To increase the amount of breast milk

For these purposes, you can use not pure nettle, but herbal collection.

It includes:

• fennel;
• raspberry leaf;
• nettle.

Alternatively, you can drink tea from each plant separately, 1 week from raspberries, 1 week from fennel, and 1 week from nettle.

Prepare herbal tea in the following way:

1. Ingredients are taken in different quantities, mixed.
2. Measure 2 hours. l. mixtures.
3. Put in a kettle and pour 250 ml of boiling water.
4. Insist 7-15 minutes.

It is advisable to drink the drug no more than 2 times a day, 100 ml at a time. Each time the brew should be diluted with hot water. You can add some honey to the cup to taste.

Such tea can be brewed not only in a teapot, but also in a thermos. So it will turn out stronger and you will need to dilute it more.

During pregnancy

If the doctor has allowed and considers the intake of drugs based on nettle to be justified, tea should be prepared from the plant. You can use filter bags, you can buy grass in such a package at a pharmacy, or you can use the following recipe.

1. Take 2 tsp for 250 ml of water. l. chopped grass.
2. Put the raw materials into the kettle.
3. Pour boiling water over.
4. Leave on for 15 minutes.
5. Strain before use.

Tea should be drunk 200 ml per day, 1 time. It is advisable to dilute the drink in half with water before drinking. The course of admission should be 7 days. After that, take a break for another 7 days. Then the cycle is repeated.

With erosion of the cervix

At the initial stage of the disease, it can be cured by using sterile tampons and squeezed juice in the same way as for use with heavy bleeding. With erosion of the cervix, a tampon is moistened in juice and inserted into the vagina at night. The course of treatment should not last more than a month. If no improvement is noticeable after 14 days, you should consult your doctor and choose a different treatment regimen.

It is undesirable to consume nettle extracts at the same time inside, so as not to cause an overdose.

For rinsing hair

To make an infusion, you need to take 3 whole nettle plants, without a root. The grass should be poured with 1 liter. boiling water and leave for 1.5 hours. Before use, the plants are pulled out, some hot water is added if the product has cooled down, and the head is rinsed with infusion after washing. After that, it is advisable to dry the hair without using a hair dryer, just wipe it lightly with a towel.

The medicinal properties of nettle can be beneficial for people regardless of gender. But for women, it has a special meaning. This is one of those herbs that can help solve gynecological problems and not be harmful to health.

Video about the benefits of nettle

Useful properties of nettle for beauty and youth: