Nettle for allergies?

Has anyone used nettle as an allergy remedy? Did you purchase a product or forge it wild? What preparations work the best....or was it even effective at all?

I do not have allergy problems like hay fever but I found this info:


Nettle is a natural balancer of histimines and is anti inflamatory:

www.herbwisdom.com/herb-nettle.html

"Nettle (also known as Stinging Nettles) has been used for centuries to treat allergy symptoms, particularly hayfever which is the most common allergy problem. It contains biologically active compounds that reduce inflammation. Dr. Andrew Wiel M.D. author of Natural Health/ Natural Medicine says he knows of nothing more effective than nettle for allergy relief. And his statement is backed up by studies at the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon.

Decongestants, antihistamines, allergy shots and even prescription medications such as Allegra and Claritin treat only the symptoms of allergies and tend to lose effectiveness over a period of time. They can also cause drowsiness, dry sinuses, insomnia and high blood pressure. Nettle has none of these side effects. It can be used on a regular basis and has an impressive number of other benefits"


From the University of Maryland
https://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/stinging-nettle


"Hay fever

One preliminary human study suggested that nettle capsules helped reduce sneezing and itching in people with hay fever. In another study, 57% of patients rated nettles as effective in relieving allergies, and 48% said that nettles were more effective than allergy medications they had used previously. Researchers think that may be due to nettle's ability to reduce the amount of histamine the body produces in response to an allergen. More studies are needed to confirm nettle's antihistamine properties. Some doctors recommend taking a freeze-dried preparation of stinging nettle well before hay fever season starts."

Okay, this is an older thread, but I finally purchased some nettles.

I have year round allergies, from mold, pretty much every tree, and ragweed. I take 24 hour antihistamines and immediately notice when it runs out. If it's when I'm sleeping it will wake me up with mild breathing problems within a couple hours. For this area, they're not actually that bad because over the counter products do work for me.

I made my first cup of nettle tea yesterday afternoon. I didn't take my next dose of OTC antihistamine. I haven't been having problems and the antihistamine definitely stopped working more than twelve hours ago. We've had prime mold forming weather this week and the spring trees are starting to flower (including the one outside my open bedroom window). I'm drinking my second cup right now.

Note that nettle also works on the adrenal gland and is sort of like nature's "speed" ... If you drink the tea for a longer time it's possible to become hyperactive and have trouble sleeping.

I made my first cup of nettle tea yesterday afternoon. I didn't take my next dose of OTC antihistamine. I haven't been having problems and the antihistamine definitely stopped working more than twelve hours ago. We've had prime mold forming weather this week and the spring trees are starting to flower (including the one outside my open bedroom window). I'm drinking my second cup right now.  

Congratulations.  What a great thing for you, Casie!

Note that nettle also works on the adrenal gland and is sort of like nature's "speed" ... If you drink the tea for a longer time it's possible to become hyperactive and have trouble sleeping.

 This may be true of some people, but I have not had that effect.  I am very effected by adrenal stimulants like coffee, black tea, chocolate, matte, green tea.. etc.  They effect me in descending order in that list.  Nettle acts to nourish all of your glands, including the adrenal glands.  The opposite effect of what Crt describes, is described by many herbalists who use this herb regularly.  Here's one site which details this:  Pathways of Wisdom

I already am a bit hyperactive. That results in low amounts of stimulants putting me to sleep.

But how long is a longer time?

You were likely typing as I posted my last post, and as such I think you missed it, Cassie.  

Yes, we crossed streams. Thanks for the link to another good resource for information. It's easy to get lost all the competing sites online. I thought it was important to post that it worked for me. I only tried it for myself because it was recommended to me on this site in the past. I just can't seem to find the thread to acknowledge the person who did so.

Though I was slow to act, I did take that good advice to heart and saved it on my 'round-to-it list' I needed the motivation of someone else in my life needing the help of herbs that I'm not growing to get up the nerve to order any herbs online. Since I was placing the order anyways it was very easy to add another herb that would help both me and my mother. I don't know why I still haven't searched out the stores (that I know are around) that sell these items in my community.

I needed the motivation of someone else in my life needing the help of herbs that I'm not growing to get up the nerve to order any herbs online. Since I was placing the order anyways it was very easy to add another herb that would help both me and my mother.  

 This is often the case.  It's seems it's a bit of a human condition in those who are the most helpful to always want to help others before helping ourselves.  I get caught in this myself.  Sometimes I have to remind myself of the instructions they give you on the airplane about making sure your own oxygen mask is on before helping someone else get theirs on.  It makes sense.  You might not get theirs on if your own supply is inadequate and then you are both out of luck; whereas if you have your's on first, then you can safely aid someone else, and then you have two people who are able to help.  

You might also look into Goldenrod for allergy relief.  

Casie Becker wrote:I already am a bit hyperactive. That results in low amounts of stimulants putting me to sleep. But how long is a longer time?

I would say it depends on the individual biochemistry. I've seen it happen in a couple of weeks to a couple of months depending on the person. But it's nothing you would call a solid sample since I'm just an IT guy with an interest in plants, not a herbalist.