Dr. Marina Hurley studied the huge toxic plants for her PhD and had to wear a dust mask and cover her arms and legs when she was working. If you get stung, take a few leaves, crush them into a paste, and put it on the stung area. The fine hairs remain potent for decades – dried-up specimens from a century ago can still sting. Thanks for this excellent article; you put across very well just how limited the research is on this topic, while at the same time explaining what is known. Additionally, tartaric acid and oxalic acid are two compounds, isolated in a different species of stinging nettle, which were implicated in the drawn-out effect. It never worked for me. Stinging nettle is often recommended for pre-menstrual syndrome because of its toxin-ridding activity. This graphic sorts the nettle sting remedy fact from the fiction. It is found throughout the world, most often growing on waste ground, in hedgerows, along roadsides, field edges and grassy places. Ah, brilliant, good work on tracking that down! They’re eaten here too, albeit much more sparingly. Urtica dioica, often known as common nettle, stinging nettle (although not all plants of this species sting) or nettle leaf, or just a nettle or stinger, is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the family Urticaceae. Additionally, dock leaf sap actually isn’t alkaline, so the whole argument falls apart. It can kill animals with severe allergic reactions and causing excruciating pain that last weeks in humans. It will stop stinging within about a minute. Independently, they don’t explain why the effect of a nettle sting is so prolonged. Dermatólogo, The Defence of a Stinging Nettle – My Forest School Blog, Understanding the Chemistry of Stinging Nettles | The Homestead Survival, The Health Benefits Of Stinging Nettle – Brandon Goji, Stinging plants share needle designs « Botany One. Thanks for the post. It is almost 60 years old and it’s only in conference proceedings, but it looks sound and I’ve seen it referenced as true somewhere much more recent, with nothing to contradict it. Each stinging hair contains toxin at the base. Touching a nettle plant with bare skin will produce a stinging or burning sensation. Serotonin, in particular, might sound familiar – it’s produced in our bodies, and sometimes referred to as the ‘happy hormone’, though it’s actually responsible for a number of other roles too. When the liver is sluggish, it processes estrogen slowly, contributing to the high levels that cause or aggravate PMS. After a lot of hunting, the only paper I could find naming a specific compound references another paper that supposedly shows dock leaf to have high levels of chlorphenamine. [Edit: 20/05/2016: Since writing this article, a paper which shows that dock leaf extract can have some effect on serotonin in the nettle sting has been brought to my attention. Standing near one unprotected for 20 minutes is enough to cause violent sneezing, nose bleeds and even breathing problems. A magnified view of the tree’s trichomes. When something brushes against these hairs, their very fragile silica tips break off, and the remainder of the hair can then act like a needle. Another oft-suggested remedy is applying calamine lotion to the skin. Currently, this is the only remedy for nettle stings for which there is concrete scientific evidence. So, next time you’re out walking and get stung by a nettle, there’s nothing wrong with hunting for the distraction or placebo effect of a dock leaf. Plantain leaves, much like dock leaves, are also a common remedy in some countries, though again, there’s currently no scientific evidence that they have any particular chemical effect. Its efficacy has also been debated at times, and it won’t completely nullify the pain of the nettle sting, but it may help take the edge off. Aids Detoxification . Do you know that in Italy we eat them as well? Il “Risotto con l’ortica” (rice with Stinging Nettles) is a gourmet choice! Mechanical injury, sometimes called toxin-mediated urticaria, is generally induced by plants with obvious physical characteristics that directly injure the skin, such as the barbs of aloe or the trichomes of stinging nettles (Urtica dioica) (Table 5). The toxin produced by a dangerous ‘stinging tree’ is comparable to a scorpion or spider’s bite, according to a new study. a few days ago I stung myself on purpose to see what effects the plants that grow where nettles grow have on the sting. The Dendrocnide moroides plant, also known as the Gympie-Gympie stinging tree, is the world’s most painful stinging nettle. As I result, I’m not convinced it isn’t just a total fabrication. One researcher compared it to ‘being burnt with hot acid and electrocuted at the same time.’. The stinging nettle is a plant found practically all over the world. So, you’re out and about, and get stung by a stinging nettle – what do you do? It is more common in areas with moist soil – which explains its ubiquity in the UK! The trichomes remain potent for decades, Hurley said, and dead, dried-up specimens from a century ago can still sting. In the forests of eastern Australia there are a handful of nettle trees so noxious that signs are commonly placed where humans trample through their habitat. Toxin in Australia's 'stinging tree' is comparable to spider venom. In the venom, histamine causes inflammation and pain. We and our partners use cookies on this site to improve our service, perform analytics, personalize advertising, measure advertising performance, and remember website preferences. Explorations of everyday chemical compounds. The toxin is harmless but burns at first and causes a nasty itch afterwards. ... Pica-Pica Wood Nettle Ortiga Brava Stinging Nettle Stinging Nettle spp. 6. (Of course, if anyone can provide evidence to the contrary, it’d be great to see!). Although fresh nettle is primarily known for its stinging quality, dried nettle has some incredible detoxifying properties. Stinging Nettle Rash. Dr. Marina Hurley, who did her PhD work in stinging trees, said a brush with the plant, nicknamed the ‘suicide tree,’ is ‘like being burnt with hot acid and electrocuted at the same time.’, ‘Not only do you feel pain from where you are stung, if it is a really bad sting, within about 20 minutes your lymph nodes under your arms swell and throb painfully,’ Hurley wrote on The Conversation. Whilst, of course, it doesn’t do much to some of the other chemical components of the venom, preventing histamine’s action does at least help to reduce inflammation and some of the pain. Many of the sites that mention it use the same turn of phrase (“The juice of nettle is also the antidote for its own sting”) which makes me think it may well be from a single original source. Available at: http://www.compoundchem.com/2015/06/04/nettles/ (accessed […], […] Side Note: Yes I’m barehanded but it’s likely you should wear gloves, as it does sting and most don’t care for it. It’s an anti-pruritic (anti-itching) agent, which is commonly applied to insect stings (which we’ve also looked at previously) to ease itching. Growing up in the US I had only encountered them once and had never heard of them before. It pierces the skin, and releases a cocktail of various chemicals from the base of the hair, and it’s these that cause the sting. The hairs can remain in the skin for months, and with stings recurring if the skin is pressed hard or washed with hot or cold water. But when they make contact with skin they’re more like tiny hypodermics, breaking off and injecting a painful toxin. The tree’s scientific name is Dendrocnide which literally means ‘stinging tree’—a member of the nettle family which can be found in Australia from the Northern Rivers region of NSW, through Gympie QLD and all the way to the tip of the Cape York Peninsula.. Toxin accumulation in the body can severely damage vital organs and systems, causing chronic illness. It’s also abundant in Asia, North America, much of Europe, and even some Northern African countries. I’m heading out right now, so don’t have time to give it a proper read, but I’ll take a look later on. Whilst we still haven’t identified every single compound in the mixture, we have some idea. Although they come from a plant, the gympietides target the same pain receptors as the venom found in arachnids and cone snails, the researchers say, making the Gympie-Gympie a truly ‘venomous’ plant. It preys mostly on amphibians, fish, and small mammals, though they have been known to attack and kill much larger prey, especially when hunting in groups. Another suggestion is that dock leafs contain a natural antihistamine, which prevent histamine in the venom from producing inflammation and pain. They found that dock leaf extract will block the effect of serotonin, making that the likely mechanism for dock leaves to ease the pain of a nettle sting. This is one I’d heard previously too, but again, there’s nothing I’ve come across that suggests any previous scientific investigations into this. Stinging nettle (or should I say Urtica dioica) is an herbaceous flowering plant that can be found in Europe, Asia, Africa and Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. When your priority is to cure stinging nettles rash caused by the plant (stinging nettle), vinegar is a remedy that you must not miss! The wood nettle (Laportea canadensis) is a relative of the stinging nettle that often grows in woodlands.Like the stinging nettle, the wood nettle leaves are covered with spines that sting when they come into contact with skin. The best 2 plants that rubbed on the affected area worked immediately were plantain (plantago) and pellitory (parietaria), dock didn’t seem to do much at all ! In one historical account from the 1940s, a soldier said the pain was so bad he had to be tied to his hospital bed for three weeks. http://growingthingsandmakingthings.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/in-case-you-were-wondering-how-dock.html. When the hairs touch skin, the end breaks off and the shaft of the hair sticks into the skin, injecting a toxin in the same way as a hypodermic needle. I managed to find a research paper on the subject! The graphic in this article is licensed under a  Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. It is covered with tiny little hairs that act as needles that release a toxin when penetrating the skin. But yeah, can’t really see any basis for that working either. Without any further or more recent research to back it up, the jury’s still out as to whether dock leaf acts merely as a placebo or not – more research needed!]. Reportedly, nettle tea leaves have been a part of ancient medieval medicine for treating and curing a range of diseases including hay fever, bone-related issues, and allergies among others. Stinging nettle is used for diabetes and osteoarthritis. But until now researchers haven’t been able to identify the neurotoxin the plant, also known as the Gympie-Gympie tree, secretes – until now. The Gympie-Gympie stinging tree is covered in tiny hairs that look inviting, but stick into the skin and inject a toxin that causes agonizing pain, A child stung by a giant Australian stinging tree. When injected by the stinging nettle, however, it functions as an irritant, leading to pain. The ‘dock leaves contain antihistamines’ claim is a widespread one – a quick google will show as much – but in all cases it is unsubstantiated, and the trail of breadcrumbs always leads back to the same study which seems to be erroneously referencing a finding that doesn’t exist. Whilst all of the above contribute to the painful experience of a nettle sting, it’s still not the full story. Other, stranger methods of treating stings have also been suggested. (Of course, if anyone can provide evidence to the contrary, it’d be great to see!). It has been used as an herbal remedy for thousands of years. But you don’t even have to touch it to feel its wrath – standing near one unprotected for 20 minutes is enough to cause violent sneezing, nose bleeds and even breathing problems. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1113/jphysiol.1957.sp005739/pdf, I have written a short blog post about this, making use of your infographic and linking back here. : removing them from your garden). In some countries, your immediate reaction would probably be to hunt for a dock leaf to rub on the affected area. These trees are called gympie-gympie in the language of the Indigenous Gubbi Gubbi people, and Dendrocnide in botanical Latin (meaning "tree stinger"). Found all over eastern Australia, the dendrocnide plant is among the most toxic flora on Earth and stings can kill dogs or horses and cause excruciating pain in humans that last weeks, even months. The root and above ground parts are used as medicine. If you do get stung, crush and rub a Plantain Weed leaf or a Curly Dock Stalk on the area. Nettle (Latin Urtica dioica) is a perennial herb known as common nettle, stinging nettle, nettle worth, big string nettle, devil's leaf.. What’s in this mix of different chemicals that causes the sting? The ‘dock leaves contain antihistamines’ claim is a widespread one – a quick google will show as much – but in all cases it is unsubstantiated, and the trail of breadcrumbs always leads back to the same study which seems to be erroneously referencing a finding that doesn’t exist. Calamine is usually a mixture of zinc oxide and a small amount of iron (III) oxide, and is unsurprisingly the main ingredient in calamine lotion. What we do know well is how they occur. Acetylcholine is another neurotransmitter that can accomplish a similar effect, and you might remember histamine from previous discussions of allergies, particularly hayfever. Proceedings of the physiological society 1957, p. 58P-59P Stinging nettle, or Urtica dioica, is a common plant that grows in the United States, Canada, and Europe.It primarily grows in damp, fertile soil. The nettle species, Urtica dioica, actually encompasses six different subspecies, all but one of which have stinging hairs. ‘[They] feel like they are being slammed between two blocks of wood.’. Stinging Nettle. There’s no real cure – the hairs are so fine that wax hair removal strips are sometimes used to yank them off. Nevertheless, I don’t understand how even if the sting goes away naturally, it will burn again even after hours, if you apply water! Despite it being so widespread, however, there’s still a lot we don’t know about stings from stinging nettles. Other, stranger methods of treating stings have also been suggested. The painful toxins wielded by a giant Australian stinging tree are surprisingly similar to the venom found in spiders and cone snails, University of Queensland researchers have found. As nettles act as a diuretic and are high in … The Dendrocnide moroides plant is thought to be the most potent and deadly stinging nettle in the world. Stinging nettle is a plant that grows in North America, Europe, and Africa. […] The Chemistry of Stinging Nettles. Enjoyed this post & graphic? Originally native to Europe, much of temperate Asia and western North Africa, it is now found worldwide, including New Zealand and North America. This small, carnivorous stinging nettle commonly grows in mires. Mire nettles are infamous for their hollow, needlelike thorns, which contain a natural toxin that causes extreme pain. Who’s up to do it? 3)Detoxify the Body The wide range of beneficial nutrients found in Stinging Nettle Root Extract make it an ideal detoxifier for the body&it has been known to gently cleanse the body of toxins.As a diuretic substance,stinging nettle can also ensure Consider supporting Compound Interest on Patreon, and get previews of upcoming posts & more! The itching and burning feeling from stinging nettle rash is similar to that of poison ivy or poison oak. Overview Information Stinging nettle is a plant. But what chemicals do stinging nettles contain that elicit this effect? It’s possible that there are synergistic effects between them and other chemicals in the venom mixture. When injected by the stinging nettle, however, it functions as an irritant, leading to pain. When you brush against the plant, the tip of the hair breaks off. I’ve yet to try it myself! Those hairs make the leaves look inviting, Gilding told The New York Times, ‘like it’s a furry, friendly green plant that you’d want to rub.’. The toxin produced by a dangerous ‘stinging tree’ is comparable to a scorpion or spider’s bite, according to a new study. Rubbing with the hand doesn’t work, but I do wonder if the dock leaves are sufficiently abrasive to remove the “stingers” mechanically. The skin surrounding the hives may be red. Found all over eastern Australia, the dendrocnide plant is among the most toxic flora on Earth and stings can kill dogs or horses and cause excruciating pain in humans that last weeks, even months. While it’s far from conclusive, being around 60 years old and only mentioned in conference proceedings, it does at least hint at the possibility of there being a chemical basis to dock leaves’ effects. It contributes to the detoxification of the urinary tract, and it also contains histamine that may help with seasonal allergies—a condition many … Hadn’t come across that one! Stinging nettles are very effective at removing these toxins. We used to think that the main component was formic acid, the same compound contained in ant venom. Sadly, no evidence is provided to back it up! Dogs, humans, and other animals who come into contact with the stinging nettle will experience unpleasant symptoms that can intensify with repeated exposure. Vinegar comes packed with detoxifying effects where, it effectively combats the toxin. However, further studies could reveal that there are still gaps in our current understanding. It’s certainly not a neutralisation reaction that’s soothing the sting. Inflicts high demands on the subject are sometimes used to think that main. Treating stings have also been suggested a few leaves, crush and a! 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