Nettle
Nettle root extract has one large positive trial for urinary symptoms from an enlarged prostate, but a systematic review found no convincing evidence for it on its own, so we rate it 2 (limited). Nettle leaf for joint pain and hay fever rests on small, short or mixed studies. The main caution is that urinary symptoms need a doctor's assessment first, because they can have causes other than a benign enlarged prostate.
At a glance
Last reviewed 10 October 2026What it's used for
Evidence is rated per use. The same ingredient can be strong for one thing and traditional for another.
| Use | Evidence | What the research shows |
|---|---|---|
| Prostate urinary symptoms (root)Compare remedies for men’s health →Compare remedies for bladder & urinary → | Limited | A 6-month placebo-controlled trial in 620 men reported improved symptoms in 81% on nettle root versus 16% on placebo, with the symptom score falling from 19.8 to 11.8 versus 19.2 to 17.7. It is a single-centre trial whose authors themselves ask for confirmation. A systematic review of phytotherapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia found the nettle studies limited and no convincing evidence for nettle alone, though it may be effective combined with other plant extracts. The EU regulator lists nettle root only as a traditional herbal medicine for this.1,2,3 |
| Joint pain from osteoarthritis (fresh leaf on skin)Compare remedies for joints and inflammation → | Limited | A double-blind crossover trial in 27 people applied stinging nettle leaf to the painful base of the thumb or index finger for a week. Pain and disability scores fell more than with white deadnettle placebo (P = 0.026 and P = 0.0027). It is a very small trial and the treatment means being stung.4 |
| Joint pain (leaf extract, by mouth) | Traditional | The only clinical data we read is a retrospective registry comparison of 1,073 matched people in each group using a nettle leaf extract or over-the-counter NSAIDs; the extract group did better on pain and had fewer adverse reactions. The authors call it exploratory and hypothesis-generating, and it is not a randomised trial. The EU regulator lists nettle leaf for minor joint pain on the basis of traditional use alone.5,6 |
| Hay fever (allergic rhinitis)Compare remedies for allergies → | Limited | A 1990 trial of a freeze-dried preparation in 98 people (69 completed) rated nettle higher than placebo on global assessment but only slightly higher on symptom diaries. A 2017 trial of nettle root extract in 74 people (40 completed) found symptom scores improved as much on placebo. Both are small with many dropouts.7,8 |
How much
Ranges below are what studies used and what supplements commonly contain. They are not a recommendation for you. Start at the low end.
How people take it
Safety
Who should avoid
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding (leaf) — not recommended, safety not established
- Children under 12 (leaf) and under 18 (root) — no relevant use or data
- Severe heart or kidney disease (leaf) — regulator contraindicates use where reduced fluid intake is advised
- Urinary symptoms with fever, blood in urine or retention — see a doctor first
- Known allergy to nettle — itching, rash and hives are reported
Known interactions
Questions people ask
Does nettle root work for an enlarged prostate?
One large trial found men taking it had better urinary symptom scores than those on placebo, but a systematic review found no convincing evidence for nettle on its own. The EU regulator only recognises it as a traditional herbal medicine for this. Get urinary symptoms checked by a doctor first.
Does nettle help with hay fever?
The evidence is thin. In a 1990 trial nettle rated slightly better than placebo, while a 2017 trial found symptoms improved just as much on placebo. Both trials were small with many dropouts.
Does nettle help arthritis pain?
A very small trial found nettle leaf applied to the skin eased thumb osteoarthritis pain over a week, and the EU regulator lists the leaf for minor joint pain on traditional use. Oral leaf extract has no randomised trial that we read, so this is not established.
What are the side effects of nettle?
The EU monographs list nausea, heartburn, diarrhoea and skin reactions such as itching, rash and hives, with unknown frequency. No overdose cases have been reported and no drug interactions are listed, though the leaf is not recommended in pregnancy.
Make it yourself
DIY guides that use nettle, with quantities, safety notes and an honest word on what they do.
Sources (8)
- Systematic review Wilt TJ, Ishani A, Rutks I, MacDonald R. Phytotherapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Public Health Nutr. 2000.
- Randomised controlled trial Safarinejad MR. Urtica dioica for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. J Herb Pharmacother. 2005.
- Regulator monograph European Medicines Agency HMPC. European Union herbal monograph on Urtica dioica L.; Urtica urens L., radix (EMA/HMPC/322646/2023). Final, Revision 1, 2025.
- Randomised controlled trial Randall C, Randall H, Dobbs F, Hutton C, Sanders H. Randomized controlled trial of nettle sting for treatment of base-of-thumb pain. J R Soc Med. 2000.
- Registry study Überall MA, Küster MA, Müller-Schwefe PCG, Müller-Schwefe GHH. Safety, tolerability, and efficacy of Hox Alpha, a dry extract from stinging nettle leaves versus OTC NSAIDs in osteoarthritis: a retrospective, propensity-matched 12-week analysis from the German Pain e-Registry (SIPHARO study). J Pain Res. 2026.
- Regulator monograph European Medicines Agency HMPC. Community herbal monograph on Urtica dioica L.; Urtica urens L., folium (EMA/HMPC/508015/2007). 2010.
- Randomised controlled trial Mittman P. Randomized, double-blind study of freeze-dried Urtica dioica in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Planta Med. 1990.
- Randomised controlled trial Bakhshaee M, Mohammad Pour AH, Esmaeili M, et al. Efficacy of supportive therapy of allergic rhinitis by stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) root extract: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial. Iran J Pharm Res. 2017.
Last reviewed 10 October 2026 · Next review April 2027 · How we rate evidence
Reader notes
Experiences and questions from readers, read by an editor before they appear. They are personal accounts, not evidence, and are not medical advice.