Precautions of Wild Stinging Nettle

Wild Stinging Nettle Elixir

When you first start: Some people have upset stomach, diarrhea or other mild reactions when they first take stinging nettle. It’s best to ease into usage, starting with a small dosage.

Stinging nettle can interact with the following medications: 

• Blood thinners such as warfarin, clopidogrel and aspirin because stinging nettle contains large amounts of vitamin K, which can help the blood’s ability to clot. Taking stinging nettle can decrease the effects of these drugs.
• Drugs for high blood pressure such as ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers because stinging nettle can lower blood pressure and strengthen the effects of these drugs.
• Diuretics and water pills because stinging nettle is also a diuretic and when used together can cause dehydration.
• Lithium because of stinging nettle’s diuretic qualities. It may reduce the body’s ability to remove this drug, resulting in higher than recommended levels of lithium.
• NSAIDs because stinging nettle can enhance the anti-inflammatory effect of some of them. Despite the evidence that combining stinging nettle and NSAIDS leads to more pain relief, it should be taken under supervision.
• Sedative medications (CNS depressants) such as clonazepam, lorazepam, phenobarbital , and zolpidem because when large amounts of aboveground parts of stinging nettle are taken, sleepiness and drowsiness can occur. Taking sedatives along with stinging nettle might cause too much drowsiness.