Natural Remedies - Healing with Medicinal Herbs

White dead nettle

White dead nettle (Lamium album Lamiaceae)


Drugi nazivi: mrtvača

Other Names: White Nettle

White dead nettle, a common weed across Europe (except in very warm Mediterranean climates), grows up to 60 cm tall. It features hollow, quadrangular stems with serrated, heart-shaped leaves covered in fine, non-stinging hairs, unlike common nettle. In spring, white flowers with characteristic two-lipped petals bloom where leaves meet the stems.


Parts for Use

Flowers

  1. Harvested at their peak in April and May, dried quickly to retain color.
  2. Used for infusions, tinctures, and powders.

Ingredients

Contains esters of phenylpropanoids, iridoids, tannins, mucus, saponins, organic acids, and triterpenoids, contributing to its therapeutic effects.


Use in Treatment

White dead nettle is traditionally used for heavy menstruation, postpartum hemorrhage, vaginal discharge, and clogged sinuses. It helps manage high blood pressure, hemorrhoids, varicose veins, and digestive issues like diarrhea, bloating, and gastritis. Externally, it treats itchy scalp, skin inflammation, and mucous membrane irritations. A 1983 study confirmed its anti-inflammatory properties, attributed to triterpenoids. It is also used as a remedy for insomnia.


Cultivation

Grow from seeds in moist, well-drained soil in a sunny or partially shaded, uncultivated garden area.


Preparation and Dosage

For Internal Use (Vaginal Discharge, Menstrual Pain, Diarrhea, Insomnia)

  1. Infusion: Steep 2 teaspoons dried flowers in a cup of boiling water for 5 minutes, strain, sweeten with honey, drink 3 cups daily.
  2. Tincture (1:4 in 25% alcohol): Take 20 drops with water 3 times daily.
  3. Powder: Take ¼–½ teaspoon 3 times daily with food or water.

For External Use (Skin or Mucous Membrane Inflammation)

  1. Compress: Steep 2 teaspoons dried flowers in 100 ml boiling water for 10 minutes, soak a cloth, apply to affected areas 2–3 times daily.

For Vaginal Discharge

  1. Sitz Bath: Steep 3 teaspoons dried flowers in 500 ml boiling water for 10 minutes, strain, add to bath water.
  2. Washing: Use the infusion 1–2 times daily.

Warnings

  1. Consult a healthcare professional before use.
  2. Avoid if you have intestinal disorders.