Nettle Tea is a Natural Diuretic
Saturday, October 31st, 2009
Nettle tea has long been used as a natural diuretic for increasing the flow of urine and treating a variety of kidney, bladder and urinary tract conditions. This is perhaps the greatest of the nettle tea benefits.
In Germany, dried nettle is available by prescription when a safe, natural diuretic is necessary, and there have been numerous studies performed in the country to back-up this use. Animals fed stinging nettle leaves have shown an increase in the amount of urea and chlorides produced by the body.
It is believed that the high content of potassium found in dried nettle leaves contributes to their diuretic properties. Most chemical diuretics are known for leaching potassium from the body, but nettle increases the supply of this vital nutrient. Nettle tea has been used as a diuretic to treat various heart disorders, high blood pressure and chronic venous insufficiency.
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Nettle tea is made from the dried leaves of the stinging nettle plant, Latin name Urtica dioca, and also known as common nettle. This humble plant can be found growing in the wild in most temperate areas of the United States, Canada, Northern Europe and parts of Asia. It can be harvested from the wild for making nettle tea – with care, however. It comes by it’s name honestly and the tiny hairs on fresh leaves and stems can sting the skin. Dried leaves, however, pose no threat.