What is Nettle Tea?

Nettle tea is a healing beverage made by steeping fresh or dried nettle leaves in boiling water. The brew is used to treat a variety of illnesses, both internally and externally, and to improve the hair and skin. Nettle tea can even be used as a garden fertilizer. The numerous nettle tea benefits available are almost countless, and it can be consumed by anyone safely, even pregnant women and children. Be cautious, however, if you're taking prescription drugs, as nettle tea may react negatively with some medications.

Benefits of Nettle Tea

Nettle herbal tea is most well-known for it's use as a diuretic, and for treating bladder, kidney and urinary tract problems. However, this is only the beginning of what the remarkable nettle herb has to offer. Some of the other more important benefits of nettle tea include:

• Treating anemia in patients with iron-deficiency
• Lowering blood-pressure
• Preventing and treating hay fever and other allergies
• Expelling phlegm from the lungs and treating coughs, colds and flu
• Expelling intestinal parasites
• Treating enlarged prostate
  

In addition to these benefits, nettle tea is also beneficial for boosting the immune system and improving energy levels, which makes is a great health tonic for regular use. Stinging nettle tea can be consumed daily without fear of unwanted side-effects in most cases. However, be wary of drug interactions.

Making Nettle Tea

Stinging nettle tea is easy to make at home. Simply steep 1 to 2 tsp. or dried leaves or 1 to 2 tbsp. fresh nettle leaves in 1 cup of boiling water for 10 to 15 minutes. Strain the mixture, sweeten with honey to taste and serve immediately. Nettle tea also makes a great iced brew. Make a large batch and refrigerate, sweetening just before serving for the best results. Lemon juice may also be added for extra flavor, or try combing nettle with other pleasant-tasting herbs, such as lemongrass and mint.

Nettle Tea Drug Interactions and Warnings

Although nettle tea is almost completely safe for consumption, but it should not be taken in conjunction with prescription drugs. Individuals taking blood-pressure lowering medications, asthma or breathing medications, blood thinners or codeine should not drink stinging nettle tea. The herb may cause the blood pressure to drop too low, or it may interfere with the actions of the these drugs. Healthy individuals, or anyone not taking prescription drugs can take nettle tea freely with no side effects.