Evidence supporting the use of: Stinging Nettle
For the health condition: Bladder Infection

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Synopsis

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

Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) has a long history of use in traditional herbal medicine for a range of urinary disorders, including bladder infections (cystitis). In European and Western herbal traditions, nettle leaf and root have been used as diuretics, believed to promote urine flow and "flush out" the urinary tract. This traditional use is documented in several herbal pharmacopeias and ethnobotanical sources. However, clinical research specifically evaluating stinging nettle’s efficacy for treating bladder infections is limited and mainly indirect.

Some laboratory studies indicate that stinging nettle may have mild anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects. However, these properties have not been robustly demonstrated in human studies targeting urinary tract infections. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) acknowledges the traditional use of nettle as an adjuvant in minor urinary complaints, but emphasizes that such uses are based on long-standing practice rather than clinical evidence.

In summary, while stinging nettle is traditionally used to support urinary tract health—including for symptoms associated with bladder infections—there is minimal scientific validation specifically for this purpose. Its use is therefore primarily justified by historical and traditional practices rather than modern clinical evidence.

More about Stinging Nettle
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Products containing Stinging Nettle

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