What to do if you are stung by stinging nettles

Nettle Stings

This wonderful ‘weed’ has a long traditional use in herbal medicine. It’s a nutritious plant containing vitamins A, C and K as well as several of the B vitamins. It contains anti-inflammatory compounds and nettles are often used for treatment of arthritis and hay fever. 

The leaves however have hair-like structures that sting, acting like tiny needles. The chemicals released by the sting produce itching, redness and swelling on the areas of skin the leaves have made contact with.

The hairs on the leaves of nettles sting you if you brush up against them, but don’t if you grasp them firmly. This botanical lore is the origin of the phrase “grasp the nettle”.

What to do when you are stung by a nettle

• After being stung try not to touch the rash for the first 10 minutes to allow the chemicals released on the skin to dry. 

• Wash the affected area with soap and water. This can often be enough to relieve the itching and pain. 

• If there are nettle hairs in the skin these can be removed with a thick tape. 

• If you still need relief from the stingers then a simple effective treatment is to make a thick paste with bicarbonate of soda and a drop of water and apply to the affected area. 

• Rarely nettles can cause allergic reactions. Please seek medical attention if you are experiencing symptoms of an allergic response.