The dead nettle plant is also called blind nettle because, despite resembling the common nettle, it does not cause nettlerash nor harm those who touch it. As if people who cause no harm were blind.
Dead Nettle Plant Scientific Facts
- Scientific Name – Lamium album L.
- Other Names – Blind nettle, white nettle.
- French – Ortie morte.
- Spanish – Ortiga blanca.
- Environment – It grows on roadsides and also near populations all over Europe, and it is also spread throughout America.
- Description – Vivacious plant of the Labiatae family, growing from 20 to 60 cm high. The difference between this plant and the common nettle is that the former has white, lip-shaped flowers.
- Parts of the plant used medicinally – The leaves and the flower clusters.
Healing Properties
The dead nettle plant contains catechin tannins, flavonoids, and mucilage. Due to its content in tannin, it has astringent, refreshing, and hemostatic (it stops hemorrhages) properties. Mucilage gives the plant its vulnerary and anti-inflammatory properties.
Its most important applications are the following:
- Gynecological disorders – Metrorrhage (uterine bleeding), dysmenorrhea (painful urination), and as a rule, menstruation disorders. It stops excessive bleeding of the uterus and renders good results for leukorrhea (vaginal flowing) applied in the form of vaginal irrigations.
- Diarrhea and infectious colitis generally caused by polluted water or meals.
- Externally applied, it heals wounds and bruises.
- Relaxing – In the form of footbaths, it alleviates tiredness or exhaustion after long walks.
How to use Dead Nettle
- Infusion with 15 to 20 grams per liter. Drink three or four cups daily.
- Compresses soaked in the liquid obtained from a decoction made with 50 to 100 grams per liter of water, boiling it for 10 minutes.
- Washings, baths, or lotions with the decoction mentioned above.
- Vaginal irrigations with this decoction, after well strained.
REFERENCES
- George D. Pamplona-Roger, M.D. “Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants.” George D. Pamplona-Roger, M.D. Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. Ed. Francesc X. Gelabert. vols. 2 San Fernando de Henares: Editorial Safeliz, 2000. 633. Print.
