Stinging Nettle herb is found in the United States mostly in forests, mountains, weedy, undisturbed areas and roadsides. Extracts of the stinging nettle roots have been used in Germany for the therapy of prostate disorders and rheumatoid arthritis . Extracts from stinging nettle contain a number of substances including caffeic acid, malic acid, polysaccharides and probably many other compounds including lectins, lignans, and phytosterols. Stinging nettle has been shown to be anti-inflammatory by preventing the body from making inflammatory chemicals known as prostaglandins. Stinging nettle’s root may affect hormones and proteins that carry sex hormones (such as testosterone or estrogen) in the human body; this may explain why it helps benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Freeze-Dried Stinging Nettle
Planetary Formulas


Dried stinging nettle leaf is traditionally used as a tonifier and for prostate health. When carefully freeze dried, additional properties are preserved which support the respiratory system. In vitro research of these constituents show partial inhibitory effects on the biosynthesis of arachidonic acid and leukotrienes.

This stinging nettle product is organically grown and processed in accordance with the California Organic Foods Act of 1990.

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Stinging nettle herb extract dosage
The recommended dose of stinging nettle extract is 50 to 150 mg twice daily.

Additional links of interest
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Quercetin has anti-inflammatory activity
Rye Pollen extract is used for prostate health
Saw Palmetto extract is the most commonly used for prostate enlargement
Sitosterol beta is a phytoestrogen
Stinging Nettle extract more research on this topic

Stinging nettle Research Update
The clinical evidence of effectiveness for stinging nettle root in the treatment of BPH is based on many open studies. A small number of randomized controlled studies indicate that a stinging nettle extract is effective in improving BPH symptoms.

Combined sabal and urtica extract compared with finasteride in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia: analysis of prostate volume and therapeutic outcome.
Sokeland J.
Urological Clinic of Dortmund, Training Hospital of the University of Munster, Germany.
BJU Int. 2000 Sep;86(4):439-42.
To test the hypothesis that in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), the outcome of drug therapy with finasteride may be predictable from the baseline prostate volume and that positive clinical effects might be expected only in patients with prostate volumes of > 40 mL, using a subgroup analysis of results from a previously reported clinical trial of finasteride and phytotherapy. A subgroup of 431 patients was analysed from a randomized, multicentre, double-blind clinical trial involving 543 patients with the early stages of BPH. Patients received a fixed combination of extracts of saw palmetto fruit (Serenoa repens) and nettle root (Urtica dioica) (PRO 160/120) or the synthetic 5alpha-reductase inhibitor finasteride. The patients assessed had valid ultrasonographic measurements and baseline prostate volumes of either </= 40 mL or > 40 mL. All 516 patients were included in the safety analysis. The results of the original trial showed equivalent efficacy for both treatments. The mean (SD) maximum urinary flow (the main outcome variable) increased (from baseline values) after 24 weeks by 1.9 (5.6) mL/s with PRO 160/120 and by 2.4 (6.3) mL/s with finasteride. There were no statistically significant group differences (P = 0.52). The subgroups with small prostates (</= 40 mL) showed similar improvements, with mean values of 1.8 (5.2) mL/s with PRO 160/120 and 2.7 (7.4) mL/s with finasteride. The mean values for the subgroups with prostates of > 40 mL were similar, at 2.3 (6.1) and 2. 2 (5.3) mL/s, respectively. There were improvements in the International Prostate Symptom Score in both treatment groups, with no statistically significant differences. The subgroup analysis showed slightly better results for voiding symptoms in the patients with prostates of > 40 mL, but there were also improvements in the subgroup with smaller prostates. The safety analysis showed that more patients in the finasteride group reported adverse events and also there were more adverse events in this group than in patients treated with PRO 160/120. Conclusion: The present analysis showed that the efficacy of both PRO 160/120 and finasteride was equivalent and unrelated to prostate volume. However, PRO 160/120 had better tolerability than finasteride.

Combined extracts of Urtica dioica and Pygeum africanum in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: double-blind comparison of two doses.
Warsaw School of Medicine, Poland. Clin Ther. 1993 Nov-Dec;15(6):1011-20.
The 134 patients (aged 53 to 84 years) with symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia were drawn from two medical centers in Warsaw. The patients were randomly assigned to receive two capsules of the standard dose of an urtica/pygeum preparation (300 mg of stinging nettle root extract combined with 25 mg of Pygeum africanum bark extract) or two capsules containing half the standard dose twice daily for 8 weeks. After 28 days' treatment, urine flow, residual urine, and nycturia were significantly reduced in both treatment groups. After 56 days' treatment, further significant decreases were found in residual urine (half-dose group) and in nycturia (both groups). There were no between-group differences in these measures of efficacy. Five patients reported adverse effects of treatment; treatment was not discontinued in any patient because of side effects. It is concluded that half doses of the stinging nettle and pygeum extract are as safe and effective as the recommended full doses.

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