Description
Medicinal Parts
The medicinal parts are the flowers and leaves.
Flower and Fruit
The white, fairly large bilabiate flowers are in axillary false whorls of 6 to 16 flowers. The campanulate calyx is green and has 5 tips. The tube of the corolla is bent like a knee and the curved upper lip has a ciliate margin. The lower lip is gordate. The tube has 1 large and 1 small tip; there are 2 long and 2 short stamens under the upper lip. The calyx remains after flowering and protects the small nut. When the nut is ripe, slight pressure is sufficient to fling out the seeds.
Leaves, Stem, and Root
The plant is 30 to 50 cm high with an underground creeping stem from which the aerial stems grow. These are erect, quadrangular, grooved, hollow, and noded. The leaves are crossed opposite, petiolate, ovate to cordate, acuminate, and serrate. The plant has no nettle hairs. The plant is similar to the stinging nettle but has a different stem.
Characteristics
The flowers have a weak honeylike fragrance and a slimy-sweet taste.
Habitat
The plant is common in Europe and central and northern Asia.
Production
White Nettle flower consists of the dried petal with attached stamens of Lamium album as well as its preparations.
Other Names
Archangel, Bee Nettle, Blind Nettle, Dead Nettle, Deaf Nettle, Dumb Nettle, Stingless Nettle, White Archangel
Actions & Pharmacology
Compounds
Iridoide monoterpenes: including among others lamalbide, caryoptoside, alboside A and B
Triterpene saponins
Caffeic acid derivatives: including among others rosmaric acid, chlorogenic acid
Flavonoids: including among others kaempferol glycosides
Mucilages
Effects
Because of the mucins and saponins the drug is expectorant. It is astringent because of the tannins.
Indications & Usage
Approved by Commission E:
- Inflammation of the skin
- Cough/bronchitis
- Inflammation of the mouth and pharynx
Unproven Uses
Internally, the herb is used for catarrh of the upper respiratory passages and gastrointestinal disorders such as gastritis, bloating, and flatulence. Externally, it is used for leukorrhea. In folk medicine used for climacteric complaints and complaints of the urogenital tract.
Chinese Medicine
In Chinese medicine, White Nettle is used for fractures, carbuncles, lumbago, and inflammation of wounds.
Precautions & Adverse Reactions
No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction with the proper administration of designated therapeutic dosages.
Dosage
Mode of Administration
Comminuted drug for infusions and other galenic preparations for internal applications, rinses, baths and moist compresses; occasionally used as a constituent of sedative teas and bronchial teas.
Preparation:
Infusion — Pour one cup of water over 1 g drug, leave to draw for 5 minutes and strain.
Extract for poultices — Scald 50 g of flowers with 500 mL of water, draw for 5 minutes and strain.
Daily Dosage
For internal use, the average daily dose is 3 g drug. For external use, 5 g drug is added to a bath.
