COMMON OR STINGING NETTLE.
Introduction
(Urtica, a nettle, from urere, burn: Urens, from urere, burn, caustic.)
The most ancient use of the nettle, the stinging properties of he hairs being due, at least in part, to formic acid found, there, was for flagellation or whipping of paralyzed limbs., “This practice extended also to a stimulation of impotent organs and to bring into action dormant energies” (Millspaugh).
Urtica urens was first proved for us by Dr. J.R. Coxe, Jr., of this country, who took from 12 to 20 drops of the 1x at a dose. In a case of poisoning from drinking two cupfuls of a hot infusion of two ounces of the herb, a woman, who had had no children for over three years and had never nursed any of the twelve that she had given birth to, had at first excessive swelling of the breasts, which then discharged serum and afterwards perfect milk.
Symptoms
We use Urtica urens, with success, for insufficiency or entire absence of milk after confinement (146).
A return of the symptoms at the same time every year is said to be a prominent indication for this remedy and it is of great value in urticaria (201) and pruritus (156) that is either periodic or annual in its recurrence, or when due to eating shell-fish or :”food for which there exists an individual idiosyncrasy” (Dear born).
I use Urtica urens in the tincture.
