Interesting read on Nettle Root!

[lawnsaver]

Nettles, or stinging nettles, are a perennial plant growing worldwide in wasteland areas. It grows 2-7 feet high with pointed leaves and flowers of white to yellowish panicles. Nettles have a reputation for their savage sting from the hairs and bristles present on the leaves and stems. The stinging sensation from contact with the hairs is caused by the presence of formic acid, amines (histamine, serotonin and choline).The tea of the leaves and stems has been used in traditional medicine as a poultice to stop bleeding. An account of this use is recorded by Francis P. Procher, a surgeon and physician in the Southern Confederacy. The nettle leaves were recommended by the plant forager Euell Gibbons as a nutritious food and as a weight loss aid. Many remarkable healing properties have been attributed to nettles, including prevention of baldness, allergic rhinitis and rheumatic pain. However, the nettle root is recommended as a diuretic and, relatively recently for relief of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
Nettle root constituents include lignans, scopoletin, sterols (beta sitosterol and sito-sterol-3-o-glucoside), oleannoic acid and 9-hydroxyl-10-trans-12-cis-octadecanoic acid. Other chemicals are the high molecular weight compounds such as five acids and neutral polysaccharides and isolectins.
There are several clinical studies documenting the efficacy of nettle root for BPH. Dr. Varro E. Tyler reported on a paper from the 1995 Congress on Medicinal Plant Research that J.J. Lichius and colleagues showed a reduction in prostatic growth potential in mice with the administration of a high dosage of nettle root extract. Another study using saw palmetto berries and nettle root extracts to treat patients with BPH showed an inhibition of the testosterone metabolites dihydrotestosterone and estrogen, thus proving to be an effective treatment. Some of the more resent research on BPH and Nettles show that Nettles can interfere or block a chemical process in the body that has been linked to prostate disorders. As men age, free-floating testosterone becomes bound to albumin in a process called human sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), removing its bioavailability to the body. This chemical process is now believed to be linked to prostate disorders. In several clinical studies, nettles has demonstrated the ability to block this process which may well explain its documented effectiveness in the treatment of many prostate conditions. Since testosterone is a natural aphrodisiac, and nettles makes more testosterone bioavailable for the body's use by blocking SHBG, this may also explain why nettles has recently been regarded with aphrodisiac properties.
References/Footnotes:
· Wichtl, Max, 1994. Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals A Handbook for Practice On A Scientific Basis, CRC Press.
· Review of Natural Products, Feb. 1989. Nettles, Facts and Comparison
· Heinerman, John, 1996. Heinerman's Encyclopedia of Healing Herbs & Spices.
· Herb of the Month, May 1996, Urtica Dioca Monograph, Bastyr University, Department of Botanical Medicine.
· Tyler, Varro E., 1994. Herbs of Choice, Pharmaceutical Press.
· Tyler, Varro E., "Secondary Products: Physiologically Active Compounds, A Congress Review," HerbalGram 36, 60-61.
· Koch E. and A. Biber, 1994, "Pharmacological Effects of Saw Palmetto and Urtica Extracts for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia," Urologe 34 (2):90-95
· Hryb, D, et.al., 1995. "The Effect of Extracts of the Roots of the Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) on the Interaction of SHBG with its Receptor on Human Prostatic Membranes, " Planta Med 61:31-32.
· Gansser D, 1995 "Plant constituents interfering with human sex hormone-binding globulin. Evaluation of a test method and its application to Urtica dioica root extracts." Z Naturforsch [C] 50(1-2), 98-104.
· Hirano T, 1994, "Effects of stinging nettle root extracts and their steroidal components on the Na+,K(+)-ATPase of the benign prostatic hyperplasia." Planta Med 60(1), 30-33
· Vahlensieck W Jr, 1996 "Drug therapy of benign prostatic hyperplasia," Fortschr Med 114(31), 407-411.

 

[lawnsaver]

Cheap place to purchase! I am not sure the potency.

http://www.herbalcom.com/store.php3?alpha=yes&lett=m-qM-Q

 

[lawnsaver]

Another Article:

Nettle Root Extract

About 90% of testosterone is produced by the testes, the remainder by the adrenal glands. Testosterone functions as an aphrodisiac hormone in brains cells, and as an anabolic hormone in the development of bone and skeletal muscle. But testosterone that becomes bound to serum globulin is not available to cell receptor sites and fails to induce a libido effect. It is, therefore, desirable to increase levels of "free testosterone" in order to ignite sexual arousal in the brain.

A hormone that controls levels of free testosterone is called sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). When testosterone binds to SHBG, it loses its biological activity and becomes known as "bound testosterone," as opposed to the desirable "free testosterone." As men age past year 45, SHBG's binding capacity increases almost dramatically-by 40% on average-and coincides with the age-associated loss of libido.

Some studies show that the decline in sexual interest with advancing age is not always due to the amount of testosterone produced, but rather to the increased binding of testosterone to globulin by SHBG. This explains why some older men who are on testosterone replacement therapy do not report a long-term aphrodisiac effect. That is, the artificially administered testosterone becomes bound by SHBG, and is not bioavailable to cellular receptor sites where it would normally produce a libido-enhancing effect.

It should be noted that the liver also causes testosterone to bind to globulin. This liver-induced binding of testosterone is worsened by the use of sedatives, anti-hypertensives, tranquilizers and alcoholic beverages. The overuse of drugs and alcohol could explain why some men do not experience a libido-enhancing effect when consuming drugs and plant-based aphrodisiacs. An interesting review, "How Desire Dies" (Nature, 381/6584, 1996), discusses how frequently prescribed drugs, such as beta-blockers and antidepressants, cause sexual dysfunction. Prescription drugs of all sorts have been linked to inhibition of libido.

Logically, one way of increasing libido in older men would be to block the testosterone-binding effects of SHBG. This would leave more testosterone in its free, sexually activating form.

A highly concentrated extract from the nettle root provides a unique mechanism for increasing levels of free testosterone. Recent European research has identified constituents of nettle root that bind to SHBG in place of testosterone, thus reducing SHBG's binding of free testosterone. As the authors of one study state, these constituents of nettle root "may influence the blood level of free, i.e. active, steroid hormones by displacing them from the SHBG bindings site."

The prostate gland also benefits from nettle root. In Germany, nettle root has been used as a treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlargement of the prostate gland) for decades. A metabolite of testosterone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT) stimulates prostate growth, leading to enlargement. Nettle root inhibits the binding of DHT to attachment sites on the prostate membrane.

Nettle extracts also inhibit enzymes such as 5 alpha reductase that cause testosterone to convert to DHT. It is the DHT metabolite of testosterone that is known to cause benign prostate enlargement, excess facial hair and hair loss at the top of the head.

 

[FreakMonster]

Good read brother. Can't wait to start mine. I got my Nettle Root at www.beyond-a-century.com.

Do you know what I should take dosage wise?

 

[lawnsaver]

No I dont, I asked on the other thread and didnt get a response. Email Nelson

 

[40butpumpin]

Yeah, nice reads!

 

[jboldman]

Definitely an interesting read but notice no one has come up with ANY references to prolactin for which nettle is recommend by one of our regulars? After the original post touting nettle as an effective prolactin antagonist, everyone is rushing out to by it(nettle leaves or roots?) and are getting cures for their arthritis and help for BPH

jb

 

[galileo]

bump on dosages........

 

[geoboy]

what dose have you tried of nettles?

Nettles, or stinging nettles, are a perennial plant growing worldwide in wasteland areas. It grows 2-7 feet high with pointed leaves and flowers of white to yellowish panicles. Nettles have a reputation for their savage sting from the hairs and bristles present on the leaves and stems. The stinging sensation from contact with the hairs is caused by the presence of formic acid, amines (histamine, serotonin and choline).The tea of the leaves and stems has been used in traditional medicine as a poultice to stop bleeding. An account of this use is recorded by Francis P. Procher, a surgeon and physician in the Southern Confederacy. The nettle leaves were recommended by the plant forager Euell Gibbons as a nutritious food and as a weight loss aid. Many remarkable healing properties have been attributed to nettles, including prevention of baldness, allergic rhinitis and rheumatic pain. However, the nettle root is recommended as a diuretic and, relatively recently for relief of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
Nettle root constituents include lignans, scopoletin, sterols (beta sitosterol and sito-sterol-3-o-glucoside), oleannoic acid and 9-hydroxyl-10-trans-12-cis-octadecanoic acid. Other chemicals are the high molecular weight compounds such as five acids and neutral polysaccharides and isolectins.
There are several clinical studies documenting the efficacy of nettle root for BPH. Dr. Varro E. Tyler reported on a paper from the 1995 Congress on Medicinal Plant Research that J.J. Lichius and colleagues showed a reduction in prostatic growth potential in mice with the administration of a high dosage of nettle root extract. Another study using saw palmetto berries and nettle root extracts to treat patients with BPH showed an inhibition of the testosterone metabolites dihydrotestosterone and estrogen, thus proving to be an effective treatment. Some of the more resent research on BPH and Nettles show that Nettles can interfere or block a chemical process in the body that has been linked to prostate disorders. As men age, free-floating testosterone becomes bound to albumin in a process called human sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), removing its bioavailability to the body. This chemical process is now believed to be linked to prostate disorders. In several clinical studies, nettles has demonstrated the ability to block this process which may well explain its documented effectiveness in the treatment of many prostate conditions. Since testosterone is a natural aphrodisiac, and nettles makes more testosterone bioavailable for the body's use by blocking SHBG, this may also explain why nettles has recently been regarded with aphrodisiac properties.
References/Footnotes:
· Wichtl, Max, 1994. Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals A Handbook for Practice On A Scientific Basis, CRC Press.
· Review of Natural Products, Feb. 1989. Nettles, Facts and Comparison
· Heinerman, John, 1996. Heinerman's Encyclopedia of Healing Herbs & Spices.
· Herb of the Month, May 1996, Urtica Dioca Monograph, Bastyr University, Department of Botanical Medicine.
· Tyler, Varro E., 1994. Herbs of Choice, Pharmaceutical Press.
· Tyler, Varro E., "Secondary Products: Physiologically Active Compounds, A Congress Review," HerbalGram 36, 60-61.
· Koch E. and A. Biber, 1994, "Pharmacological Effects of Saw Palmetto and Urtica Extracts for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia," Urologe 34 (2):90-95
· Hryb, D, et.al., 1995. "The Effect of Extracts of the Roots of the Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) on the Interaction of SHBG with its Receptor on Human Prostatic Membranes, " Planta Med 61:31-32.
· Gansser D, 1995 "Plant constituents interfering with human sex hormone-binding globulin. Evaluation of a test method and its application to Urtica dioica root extracts." Z Naturforsch [C] 50(1-2), 98-104.
· Hirano T, 1994, "Effects of stinging nettle root extracts and their steroidal components on the Na+,K(+)-ATPase of the benign prostatic hyperplasia." Planta Med 60(1), 30-33
· Vahlensieck W Jr, 1996 "Drug therapy of benign prostatic hyperplasia," Fortschr Med 114(31), 407-411.

 

[daveyboy]

Thanks!

Real nice read Lawnsaver. My interest in herbs is growing more every day. Sounds like good stuff.