Nettle for the prostate: benefits and how to prepare it

The greater nettle or Urtica dioica L.Both its leaf and its root have beneficial properties for the prostate due to the substances they contain and that allow treating both urinary tract problems, as well as other pathologies such as Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), known as prostate enlargement, among others. diseases.

Main active principles of nettle, which are the ones that give it its properties, are:

• Organic acids: caffeic, gallic, formic and chlorogenic.
• Flavonoids.
• Mucilages.
• Vitamin A.
• Mineral salts.
• Phytosterols.
• Tannins

Specifically, it is a component of phytosterols that is most beneficial for the prostate. This component is the beta-sitosterol, which helps reduce problems and discomfort in the prostate, especially those related to BPH, being helpful in reducing difficulties in urination. These components provide the properties of nettle for the prostate, among which its anti-inflammatory power stands out, which is diuretic and purifying and remineralizing.

But, in addition, nettle also helps to inhibit the enzyme 5-alpha reductase, which is responsible for converting testosterone into dihydrotestosterone. The latter is the androgen hormone that is associated with an enlarged prostate, which is why it helps to reduce it.

For all these reasons, nettle is one of the medicinal plants for the prostate, although there are many more indicated for its benefit, some being more effective than others depending on the prostate problem to be treated.

Due to the properties of nettle for the prostate that we have discussed previously, this plant has several beneficial effects on the body. In fact, it is of great help to alleviate discomfort and conditions related to the urinary and reproductive system. Between the main benefits of nettle for the prostate is it so:

• It is diuretic: nettle is useful to increase urinary flow, thus avoiding urinary retention.
• Helps to urinate: this plant favors the expulsion of urine, thus helping man not to perform incomplete urination.
• Prevents nocturia: it helps to avoid the urgent need to get up at night to urinate and prevents urine from being involuntarily expelled during the night, which is known as nocturia.
• Relieves discomfort: nettle is especially indicated to treat mild urinary conditions since, when taken, it is produced as a flush of the urinary tract.
• Relieves BPH: this plant is also useful to alleviate the symptoms of BPH or Benign Prostate Hyperplasia as we have commented previously and to reduce its inflammation and growth, as has been proven through studies that have been published in the US National Library of Medicine-National Institutes of Health^[1].

Nettle for the prostate can be taken in different ways. The most comfortable thing is to buy in parapharmacies or herbalists nettle capsules that are already prepared with adequate doses of this compound. However, it is also possible to benefit from its properties by preparing an infusion.

Nettle infusion for the prostate

For its preparation, you only need nettle leaves or roots, although you can even use both parts because both have beneficial properties. The preparation is very simple because it is made like a normal tisane, although you do have to follow a series of specific steps if you already buy the prepared sachets:

1. Wear gloves so you don’t feel itchy when you touch the nettles.
2. Wash the nettles, being important to eliminate any insects or rest of the product that they may have if you have taken them directly from a plant. You can also buy them directly already clean.
3. Put to heat water.
4. When the water is boiling, add the nettles and bring to a boil.
5. Keep the nettles on the fire for about ten minutes. You will notice that it is time to remove them from the heat because the water turns light green.
6. Strain the infusion and it would be ready to drink.

Nettle seeds for the prostate

Another option is to include nettle seeds in your daily diet. The reason we recommend taking the seeds is that it is the part of the plant that contains the most flavonoids, and therefore more beta-sitosterol, and is the most suitable part for those who want to prevent or treat BPH.

You can include them in cereals, yogurt, compotes, soups, etc. Remember to take the daily dose indicated by your doctor or the average dose indicated on the container.

Although nettle is beneficial, it is important to control the amount you take so that there are no adverse effects. Do not forget that, especially in infusion, it is very diuretic and that it is not good for the body to lose fluids for that matter.

In general, it is recommended take between 2 and 4 g in capsules, although it may vary depending on the brand so it is better to follow the package directions. The same amount that is also advisable for infusions, so you can use between 2 and 4 g of nettle to make an infusion and keep it in a bottle in the fridge to drink. Anyway, if you have never taken nettle, it is important to start slowly, with a low dose, to see what effect it has on the body.

With these explanations about nettle for the prostate, its benefits and how to prepare it, we hope you have learned more about it and how it can be used. From unCOMO, we remind you of any health problem, you must go to the doctor to prescribe the most suitable treatment and whether or not to take nettle.

This article is merely informative, at oneHOWTO we do not have the power to prescribe any medical treatment or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Nettle for the prostate: benefits and how to prepare it, we recommend that you enter our Family Health category.

1. Dar, SA, Ganai, FA, Yousuf, AR, Balkhi, MUH, Bhat, TM, & Sharma, P. (2013). Pharmacological and toxicological evaluation of Urtica dioica. Pharmaceutical biology, 51(2), 170-180.

• Cebrián, J., (2012), Medicinal Plants Dictionary, Barcelona, ​​Spain, Integral RBA Libros.