Stinging nettle

Plant found in Europe, Asia and America. The large nettle grows up to 1.5 m high, the small nettle up to 80 cm. Which is characterized by the painful burning sensation on contact with the skin. The stinging hairs on leaves and stems contain formic acid, acetylcholine and histamine. A urticarial rash wraps up after contact. A distinction is made between the large and small nettle species. Both belong to the Urticaceae family (nettle family), have square, erect and unbranched stems with stinging hairs. The stinging effect is lost with over-brewing or drying. Whitish to light green flowers, flowering time is from May to October, the fruit is a nut.

Phytotherapeutically, the dried leaves (nettle leaves - Urticae folium), the dried herb (nettle herb - Urticae herba) and the roots (nettle root - Urticae radix) of the small and large nettle are used.

1. https://arzneipflanzenlexikon.info/brennnessel.php
2. https://www.pharmazeutische-zeitung.de/die-brennnessel-ein-kraut-mit-vielen-eigenschaften-130345/
3. Wenigmann M. (2017) Phytotherapy medicinal drugs, phytopharmaceuticals, application. Urban & Fischer, pp. 87-88
4. https://pflanzen.fnr.de/industrial-plants/medicinal-plants/pflanzen-datenbank.