Nettle Stinging

The stinging nettle plant is a herbaceous flowering plant that can be found in Europe, Asia, northern Africa, and North America.

The leaves and stems of this plant are covered with brittle, hollow, silky hairs.

These hairs can detach from the plant and stick to the skin, but even just a brushing contact with these nettles against bare skin can cause a problem.

The silky hairs contain three chemicals that include histamine which irritates skin, acetylcholine which causes a burning feeling, and serotonin. Any contact with these hairs on skin can cause a painful rash that looks and feels similar to contact to poison ivy.

If you have wandered into stinging nettles and have been hurt by the nettles, it is important to treat the affected area of your skin as soon as possible. The longer you wait to treat the area the worse the stinging pain and itching will get.

Natural Remedies for Nettle Stinging:

If you had the misfortune of coming in contact with a stinging nettle plant you will need to treat the area as soon as you can. Here are a few general guidelines that will help.

• It is important that you avoid touching the infected area with your bare hands as any of the small stinging hairs or the chemical residue that causes pain can be transferred to other parts of your body and can also cause problems with your hands.
• The stinging sensation from exposure to stinging nettles can last from half an hour to a few days depending on your skin’s sensitivity. You should contact a doctor if you have an allergic reaction to the nettles, if the pain lasts for more than 24 hours, or if the pain becomes absolutely unbearable.
• As soon as you can thoroughly clean the affected area. Because the chemicals are acidic in nature it is possible to counteract the chemicals with basic substances.

Clean the Infected Area:

Once you are away from the nettles you should carefully clean any mud, dirt, or debris from the area. Use clean, cold water on a cloth, towel or rag. Do not rub or you will increase the pain and spread the chemicals to other areas. Use dabbing motions.

Baking Soda:

One of the most effective treatments for the acidic chemicals in the nettles is baking soda. As soon as you can make a paste with baking soda and water then dab the paste with a cloth on the affected area. Do not use your hand to do this. If you don’t have baking soda then vinegar can be used as a substitute.

Aloe Vera:

Another effective treatment is aloe vera gel or pulp. This anti-inflammatory can help with the pain, swelling, and any rash.

Saliva:

If you have an area irritated with stinging nettles, you can spit on the area and possibly get some temporary pain relief. If you have a piece of cloth that you know is clear of nettles, rub the spit with the cloth.

Do not touch the cloth or the area of your skin with your mouth as the stinging nettles can transfer. If you have any tape or a bandage then put this tape over the saliva. This is a temporary cure that you can use until you get to a location with other ingredients that can be used.

For all of these treatments it is important to allow the treated area to dry in the open air and not expose it to other clothing, substances, or surfaces.

Removing Stinging Nettle Hairs:

If you can see the stinging nettle hairs on your skin you need to carefully remove them so the hairs don’t spread to your clothing or other areas of your body. One way to remove them is to use some type of adhesive tape.

Apply the tape to the area and then lift it off, this will take the stinging hairs with the tape. To alleviate some of the pain from the removal you can use hydrogen peroxide with a cotton ball. Again, be careful to keep your bare hands and fingers from touching the infected area.

Mud:

If you don’t have baking soda or aloe vera then you can dab mud on the infected area. Once the mud dries, brush it off and this action will hopefully remove any stinging hairs still on the skin.