INCI Name

What is it?

Leaves from Croatia/Bulgaria.The stems and leaves of young plants are used. Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica and the closely related Urtica urens) has a long history of use. The tough fibres from the plant stem have been used to make cloth, and have been traditionally used as a cleansing spring tonic and a nourishing vegetable if gathered when the leaves are young. The plant takes minerals from the soil, making them a good remedy for anaemia; and, with the high Vitamin C content, the iron in the herb is easier to absorb.

In medieval Europe, diuretics and remedies for joint problems were made from Stinging Nettle. Healers in several traditions used the branches of Stinging Nettle to strike the arms or legs of paralysed patients in order to activate their muscles. This whipping technique, also known a whisking, is used in some healing traditions to stimulate the organs and relieve the pain of sore muscles. Medieval monks would flagellate themselves with Nettle for penance. This was also done by Roman soldiers, but to warm themselves. They are said to have introduced the plant to Britain to help them better adapt to the cold, damp, climate. For stimulating hair growth, the European herbalists recommended combing the hair daily with expressed Nettle juice.

Nettle is a classical herb with rich quantities of minerals that penetrate our skin and scalp. The main minerals found in Nettle are silicic acid, calcium, potassium, iron, chromium, magnesium, and zinc), including Vitamins A, B, C, K, protein, mucilage, sterols and phenols (root), flavonoids (including rutin).

Action/Benefits

• For oily skin, it is cleansing, clarifying and emollient and soothes sensitive skins with surface blood capillaries.
• Used extensively in Hair Care products where it is supposed to counteract hair loss, prevent and cure dandruff, reduce oily secretions and improve the quality of dry, lifeless hair and stimulate the scalp.
• Nettle is a classical herb with rich quantities of minerals that penetrate our skin and scalp.

Which products to use it in

• If using Nettle in creams, lotions or gels you will need to disguise the colour as your product will become a green/grey/brownish colour due to the high content of chlorophyll in Nettle.
• Use nettle in creams, lotions and gels for the treatment of eczema.
• A nettle body wash can be used for burns, insect bites and wounds.
• To relieve painful joints, sprains and arthritis use a compress soaked in a nettle infusion/decoction and apply to the affected area.   
• Effective in shampoos, hair rinses, hair gels, and hair waters for lifeless hair, dandruff and oily scalp conditions.

Water or oil-soluble?

Water soluble.

Can I add it to ready-made products?

Not appropriate.

How to use in products

• Boil 5-10g dried Nettle in 1L of water or 50-100g fresh Nettle in 2-3L of water.
• Infuse Nettle leaves, however, if stems and leaves are together then make a decoction.  

For an in depth article on how to use Herbs in your products please refer to the Skin Care Library at the bottom of this page.

Storage and Shelf Life

2-3 years. Store in the dark and keep dry.

Related/Synergistic Products

1. Due to the fact that nettle doesn’t have any saponins (natural soap) to open up the pores it is very important that you use a herb that does contains saponins when you make a shampoo. As we want the minerals to penetrate down into the scalp and that’s what the saponins help them to do. Birch and Horsetail herbs are excellent for this purpose. Always use at least 10% of these in a hair care product with nettle.
2. For an effective dandruff shampoo the essential oils to add would be Tea Tree (use 1-2%) and Lavender (0.4%).
   

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