Q:
I’ve been using Nettle (Urtica Dioica) three times a day for allergic, itchy skin. I ran out and went to get a replacement bottle at the local WalMart. I located a brand called Whole Herb by Sundown Herbs. When I got home, I read that it is recommended for *prostate* health and that the Urtica Dioica name does not appear on the bottle. Is this the same stuff? None of my on-line sources mention prostate health in connection with recommended uses for Nettle.
A:
Nettle root is used for benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), not the leaves. Most books only mention the medicinal uses of nettle leaves, not the roots or seeds. This is why you had problems finding the information. The fomula you mentioned would contain the root, leaves, and possibly the seeds. One hypothesis is that the nettle root interferes with hormone receptors preventing enlargement due to dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
