White Dead-nettle: Effects, Uses, and Dosage

The white dead-nettle is not only highly sought after by insects: humans have also used this plant for centuries. It can be used in naturopathy as well as in the kitchen. Its flavor, which slightly resembles mushrooms, is an enrichment for every kitchen and garden. Quite the opposite of the stinging nettle.

 

White dead-nettle is a member of the mint family, native throughout Europe and northern Asia. It is considered typical of the German flora. Introduced by humans, it also established itself in North America and New Zealand.

Since the plant prefers a high nitrogen content in the soil, it is a good indicator of nitrogen richness. It thrives preferably at paths and meadow edges, in ditches, and near hedges. Even in the mountains at almost 2000 meters above sea level, white dead-nettle grows splendidly.

 

White dead-nettle is indispensable in naturopathy with its effects. Hildegard von Bingen and Sebastian Kneipp both valued the plant. Since it does not cause painful irritation like stinging nettle, its young shoots and leaves with their are a wonderful addition to salads, spinach, and soup. You can also process its roots in autumn. The flowers, in turn, taste sweet and are suitable for desserts.

White dead-nettle is part of traditional women's medicine, but can also be beneficial for the respiratory tract and the gastrointestinal tract. To enjoy the pleasant support of white dead-nettle, you can not only eat it but also brew it as tea. It is also suitable as a mouthwash. Externally, it gently supports skin swelling in the form of boiled compresses.

 

White dead-nettle contains:

• Essential oils
• Flavonoid glycosides
• Free amino acids
• Tannins
• Carbohydrates
• Saponins
• Mucilages

The abundance of beneficial ingredients makes white dead-nettle so popular. The essential oils consist of aromatic terpenes, which often also have effects on human health. The flavonoid glycosides are plant pigments that could also exhibit certain effects as secondary plant compounds. Tannins are known as anti-nutrients for bacteria.

 

The white dead-nettle is mostly taken in the form of teas. Usually, users go into nature and pick fresh branches of the white dead-nettle. Ideally, you plant dead-nettles in your garden to maintain full control over the quality. Alternatively, you can buy a ready-made tea from dead-nettle herb online.

Alternatively, there are occasional preparations with white dead-nettle available for purchase. If you want to take the highest quality dead-nettle, look for capsules or dragees that do not contain unnecessary fillers. They should only contain the capsule material and the plant extract. 

For precise instructions, please consult your doctor or naturopath.

 

Stinging nettles (Urtica dioica) and white dead-nettles (Lamium album) are thought to have much in common. But this is not the case; they even belong to different plant species. The following differences are the most important:

Appearance: The stinging nettle is a perennial plant with toothed and opposite leaves, which also have stinging hairs. These stinging hairs cause irritation and itching upon contact. The white dead-nettle has heart-shaped and opposite leaves that do not have stinging hairs. 

Flowers: The flowers of the stinging nettle are green and inconspicuous. The flowers of the white dead-nettle are strikingly white or pale pink and are often arranged in clusters.

Use: Both plants are used in natural medicine and cooking. Unlike the stinging nettle, the white dead-nettle is also an ornamental plant in many gardens.

Occurrence: The stinging nettle is very widespread. The white dead-nettle also covers many parts of the planet, but not as many as the stinging nettle.

 

At first glance, the white dead-nettle resembles the well-known stinging nettle – however, the hairs on its leaves do not cause stinging. Strictly speaking, it is not even related to the stinging nettle, but due to the external similarity, it is also called nettle in German. It grows between 20 and 70 centimeters tall and has a square stem. Its leaves are bright green and noticeably toothed. Between April and October, it produces white flowers and yellow pollen.

 

Planting white dead-nettle yourself is no problem, as it thrives well in our climate. If you want to add white dead-nettle to your garden, ideally take a cutting from the surrounding nature and plant it in your garden. A lightly shaded to semi-shaded spot with moist soil is recommended. White dead-nettle dislikes full sun and heat but loves nitrogen-rich soils. 

White dead-nettle has a strong tendency to spread and does so through its creeping rhizome. You will need to control its spread. Dead-nettle is excellent as ground cover under hedges or simply as part of an herb garden.

 

Dead-nettle has adapted well to shady places: the hairs on its leaves are said to help enable photosynthesis even in low light.

White dead-nettle is also comparatively strongly aromatic, with its honey aroma said to attract insects. 

The symbolic meaning of white dead-nettle is also very interesting. In many societies and cultures, white dead-nettle represents purity, beauty, and innocence. 

 

White dead-nettle is native to Germany and Europe and extends eastward to the Himalayas. Humans have introduced white dead-nettle to North America, where it is now spreading further. However, it is native to roughly Central Europe.

The white dead-nettle can be used as a versatile seasoning herb. A mushroom-like taste, reminiscent of champignons, comes from fresh leaves and young shoots. Lightly steamed, they end up in soups or salads. The roots can be harvested in autumn. Their flavor is relatively mild, and the roots are sought after for their natural medicinal benefits.

The blossoms are often used to garnish desserts, especially since they have a relatively mild flavor. Please make sure to clean the white dead-nettle thoroughly before use.

White dead-nettle will spread unless you stop it. Root barriers are an effective way to contain the creeping rootstock. Since the plant will self-seed, plant parts must be regularly removed. Mulching around white dead-nettle is also quite helpful, although planting competing plants is generally recommended.

White dead-nettle has specialized in gaining as much solar energy as possible in shady places. The leaves are hairy to increase surface area. The chloroplasts are arranged so that the light falling on the leaves is used as efficiently as possible. Compared to other shade plants, dead-nettle has large and broad leaves to capture more light.

White dead-nettle is usually safe for consumption as long as, for example, no animal feces or similar contaminants remain on the plant parts. This means dead-nettle can even be eaten raw. It is important to correctly identify the plants and, for example, not eat stinging nettles raw. If you are unsure about the plant, please avoid consumption. 

If you want to prepare tea from white dead-nettle, you can use fresh twigs, leaves, flowers, or roots. Clean them thoroughly and then warm the desired amount of water. About one teaspoon of crushed leaves should be boiled per cup of tea. Pour the boiling hot water over the leaves and let the tea steep for up to 10 minutes.

Enjoy the tea best while still warm, optionally with some sugar or lemon juice.