Evidence supporting the use of: Nettle
For the body system: Bladder

Links: Go back one page, Tool main page, Ingredients list, Health conditions list, Body systems list

Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Nettle (Urtica dioica), also known as stinging nettle, has a long history of use in traditional herbal medicine for supporting urinary and bladder health. In European folk medicine, nettle leaf and root have been used as a mild diuretic, believed to promote urine flow and help flush the urinary tract. Traditionally, this was thought to help with symptoms such as urinary retention, mild inflammation, or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men, which can affect bladder function. However, most of these uses are based on longstanding tradition rather than rigorous scientific studies.

Modern research on nettle’s effectiveness for direct bladder support is limited. Some clinical evidence supports the use of nettle root for BPH symptoms, which can indirectly benefit bladder emptying in men, but this is distinct from direct support for overall bladder health or for women. Few studies have investigated nettle leaf or root for general bladder conditions, and there is insufficient scientific validation for its use specifically for bladder health in the broader population. Therefore, while nettle remains popular in traditional practice, especially as a mild diuretic, current evidence for its efficacy in supporting the bladder is modest and largely based on historical use rather than robust clinical research.

More about nettle
More about Bladder