Nettle

Nettle/Nutrient Depletion:

  • GlucoseGlucose: A 78 year-old diabetic man reported hypoglycemia after ingesting an herbal remedy for BPH; however, details are lacking regarding the contents of the remedy (56). In contrast, oral ingestion of nettle resulted in aggravation of the diabetic condition in streptozotocin diabetic mice (45), and an aqueous extract of nettle leaves administered to healthy rabbits with temporarily induced hyperglycemia caused a slight increase in glycemia (statistical significance was lacking) (44).
  • SodiumSodium: An aqueous extract of aerial parts of nettle administered to male rats demonstrated diuretic and natriuretic effects, suggesting an action on renal function (3).