Nettle Root

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If you’re looking to optimize your hormones, it’s not just about increasing testosterone. In fact, you can have high testosterone and NOT see the benefits of it.

That’s why I say that nettle root (latin name Urtica dioica) can multiply our hormones effectiveness. Its not that it makes them stronger, instead it helps stop them from becoming useless, or even worse than that.

Nettle Plant

How is this? There are a few things that can occur in the body…

Nettle Root is a Natural Aromatase Inhibitor*

Aromatization is the conversion of testosterone into estrogen. This not only means you won’t get the benefits of the testosterone, but it can actually be turned into something that works against you.

While both men and women need estrogen (in different amounts) too much is typically a bad thing, contributing to estrogen dominance, especially of the worst kinds of estrogen like estradiol.

Some of the compounds that may contribute to this aromatase inhibiting effect are: [1]

  • Secoisolariciresinol
  • Oleanolic acid
  • Ursolic acid
  • (9Z,11E)-13-hydroxy-9,11-octadecadienoic acid
  • (10E, 12Z)-9-hydroxy-10,12-octadecadienoic acid
  • 14-octacosanol

Nettle Root Binds to Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG)*

The second problem is that testosterone and its metabolite, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) can be bound to substances like Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) or albumin. This renders the testosterone unusable by your body as its trapped into a non-viable form.

Some of this effect found in nettle root appears to be from the lignans available, including the following five compounds.[2,3,4]

  • Neoolivil
  • Secoisolariciresinol
  • Dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol
  • Isolariciresinol
  • 3,4-divanillyltetrahydrofuran (found to be the most powerful one)

Several studies in both humans and animals have shown these effects.

Limits DHT*

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) has received a bad name for its effects in prostate issues and male pattern baldness. But DHT is an important hormone for a healthy functioning man, though, as with anything it, it can become unbalanced.

Nettle root extracts have been shown to be weak 5-alpha reductase inhibitors.[5]* That’s the enzyme that converts regular testosterone into DHT.

Great for Prostate Health*

More researched than any other effect is what nettle root can do for healthy prostate function. [6,7,8,9,10,11]*

Beyond the aforementioned SHBG,and aromatization effects, nettle root likely has several other mechanisms of action that may change how hormones like testosterone, DHT, estrogen and others bind to or effect prostatic cells, leading to:

  • Healthy Urination*
  • Healthy Prostate Size*

In short, nettle root is very helpful for men in maintaining their prostate health.*

Other Benefits of Nettle Root

Nettle Root DrawingThe stinging nettle is quite the medicinal plant. All parts of it can be used for different conditions. For the hormonal aspect, the root is the part you need.

Polysaccharides in nettle root have some anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.[12]* It has also been shown to have some positive cardiovascular effects.*

Here are just a few of the other components you’ll get from nettle root.

Contains:

  • Acetylcholine
  • 5-hydroxytrytamine
  • Glucoquinones
  • Zinc
  • Alphatocopherol
  • Betaine
  • Boron
  • Histamine
  • Formic Acid
  • Cobalt
  • Lycopene
  • Magneisum
  • Palmitic acid
  • Selenium
  • Sitosterol

* These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

References

  1. Aromatase Inhibitors from Urtica dioica Roots
    Dietmar Ganßer – Gerhard Spiteller – Planta Med Planta Medica – 1995
  2. Lignans from the Roots of Urtica dioica and their Metabolites Bind to Human Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) 
    Matthias Schöttner – Dietmar Ganßer – Gerhard Spiteller – Planta Med Planta Medica – 1997
  3. 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 
    D. Hryb – M. Khan – N. Romas – W. Rosner – Planta Med Planta Medica – 1995
  4. Plant constituents interfering with human sex hormone-binding globulin. Evaluation of a test method and its application to Urtica dioica root extracts.
    Gansser D, Spiteller G. Z Naturforsch C. 1995 Jan-Feb;50(1-2):98-104.
  5. Inhibition of 5 α-reductase and aromatase by PHL-00801 (Prostatonin®), a combination of PY102 (Pygeum africanum) and UR102 (Urtica dioica) extracts 
    R.w. Hartmann – M. Mark – F. Soldati – Phytomedicine – 1996
  6. Efficacy and safety of a combination of Sabal and Urtica extract in lower urinary tract symptoms—long-term follow-up of a placebo-controlled, double-blind, multicenter trial 
    Nikolai Lopatkin – Andrey Sivkov – Sandra Schläfke – Petra Funk – Alexander Medvedev – Udo Engelmann – Int Urol Nephrol International Urology and Nephrology – 2007
  7. Urtica dioica for Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia 
    Mohammad Safarinejad – Journal of Herbal Pharmacotherapy – 2005
  8. Stinging nettle root extract (Bazoton-uno) in long term treatment of benign prostatic syndrome (BPS). Results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled multicenter study after 12 months
    Schneider T, Rübben H. Urologe A. 2004 Mar;43(3):302-6. German.
  9. Cardiovascular effects of Urtica dioica L. (Urticaceae) roots extracts: in vitro and in vivo pharmacological studies 
    Lara Testai – Silvio Chericoni – Vincenzo Calderone – Giulia Nencioni – Paola Nieri – Ivano Morelli – Enrica Martinotti – Journal of Ethnopharmacology – 2002
  10. Antiproliferative Effect on Human Prostate Cancer Cells by a Stinging Nettle Root (Urtica dioica) Extract 
    Lutz Konrad – Hans-Helge Müller – Corinna Lenz – Helge Laubinger – Gerhard Aumüller – Johannes Lichius – Planta med Planta Medica – 2000
  11. Antiproliferative effect of a polysaccharide fraction of a 20% methanolic extract of stinging nettle roots upon epithelial cells of the human prostate (LNCaP). 
    Lichius JJ, Lenz C, Lindemann P, Müller HH, Aumüller G, Konrad L. Pharmazie. 1999 Oct;54(10):768-71.
  12. A comprehensive review on the stinging nettle effect and efficacy profiles. Part II: Urticae radix 
    Julia Chrubasik – Basil Roufogalis – Hildebert Wagner – Sigrun Chrubasik – Phytomedicine – 2007

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