✓ No active regulatory warningsFDA MedWatch, EMA EudraVigilance, WHO VigiBase, WADA Prohibited List · 2026-05-29
Updated: 2026-05-29 · v2.0 · Prof. G. Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhDCiteEditorial
📰Read the full Nettle Root / Leaf evidence review on GMJ News →Complete clinical article, references and updates on news.gmj.ge. This page is the structured safety summary.
1
Safe
Nettle Root / Leaf
Urtica dioica
Generally SafeModerateBotanicals
RDA
Typical 300–600 mg
Target
Improvement
Upper limit
No UL
Products
—
Dosage by population group — reference
🔗 Best with: Saw Palmetto, Pygeum, Quercetin✅ USP Verified, ConsumerLab Approved, Clean Label Project Certified
⚠ Root ≠ leaf — different indications [1]
⚠ BPH: often combined with saw palmetto (both modest) [2]
⚠ Allergies: freeze-dried leaf preferred [2]
⚠ Pregnancy: avoid (uterotonic) [1]
ℹ️ Not obtained from food. Not applicable — this is not obtained from food in meaningful amounts; supplementation is the practical route.
🔬 Lab interpreter
Recommended test
IPSS (BPH indication)
Reference range / target
Improvement
When to test
4–8 weeks [2].
Full lab monitoring ↓
⚕ For professionals — confirm ranges against your local laboratory.
Clinical verdict
ROOT for BPH, LEAF for allergies — NOT interchangeable (different chemistry). Commission E approves both. Root often combined with saw palmetto for BPH. Freeze-dried leaf for allergic rhinitis. Neither replaces pharmaceuticals. Pregnancy: AVOID [1] [2].
1 How much do I need?
👤 Adults: Specific dosage data under clinical review
👴 Elderly: Specific dosage data under clinical review
🤰 Pregnancy: See guidance
AVOID — uterotonic [1].
👦 Pediatric: See guidance
Limited data [1].
🏃 Athletes: Standard dose
⚖️ Obesity: Standard dose
Fat-soluble compounds may require dose adjustment in obesity.
🩺 Renal: Consult specialist
Dose adjustment may be needed in renal impairment.
🌱 Vegan: Standard dose

How to take

🍽 Timing: BID with meals [2].
💊 With food: With food [1].
🚫 Avoid: Pregnancy. Anticoagulants without monitoring [1].
2 Which form?
FormBioavailabilityVeganCost
['Nettle root extract', 'common', 'For BPH. Standardized. 300–600 mg/day [2].']StandardCheck label
['Nettle leaf extract', 'common', 'For allergies/inflammation. 300–600 mg BID [2].']StandardCheck label
['Freeze-dried nettle leaf', 'preferred for allergies', 'Better for allergic rhinitis than standard extract [2].']StandardCheck label
3 Common questions
Root or leaf — which do I need? ▼
BPH/prostate: ROOT. Allergies/inflammation: LEAF. Different plant parts, different chemistry, different uses [1].
Is nettle root better than saw palmetto for BPH? ▼
Both have modest evidence. Often combined. Neither is as effective as finasteride/tamsulosin. The combination may be reasonable as first-line natural approach before pharmaceuticals [2].
4 Clinical evidence

Strong

Root and leaf contain different bioactives: confirmed phytochemistry [1]. Commission E approvals for both [1]. HIGH

Moderate

BPH (root): some positive trials for LUTS improvement. Often combined with saw palmetto. Commission E approved [2]. Allergic rhinitis (leaf): freeze-dried nettle leaf reduced hay fever symptoms in one trial [2]. Arthritis (leaf): Commission E approved as adjunct for musculoskeletal conditions [1]. MODERATE

Insufficient

BPH: evidence weaker than for finasteride/tamsulosin [2]. Allergic rhinitis: limited trials [2]. Diabetes [1]. Kidney stones [1]. LOW
5 Safety, toxicity & adverse events

Relative

⚠ Diuretics — additive effect
⚠ Antihypertensives and antidiabetics — additive lowering
⚠ Anticoagulants — leaf is high in vitamin K (may oppose warfarin)
⚠ Pregnancy — avoid (uterine effects)

🚩 Red flags

● Patient buying wrong part (root vs leaf) for their condition [1]
● Pregnancy [1]
6 Interactions

Drug interactions

Anticoagulants Moderate
Mechanism: Antiplatelet effects + vitamin K in leaf. [1]
Effect: Altered coagulation. [1]
Action: Monitor INR [1].
Lithium Moderate
Mechanism: Diuretic effect may alter lithium clearance. [1]
Effect: Variable lithium levels. [1]
Action: Monitor lithium [1].

Supplement synergies

Saw Palmetto (with nettle root for BPH) · 320 mg saw palmetto
Classic BPH combination. Both Commission E approved [1] [2].
Quercetin (with nettle leaf for allergies) · 500 mg quercetin
Both have antihistamine properties [1].
7 Regulatory
Germany (Commission E): Root: BPH. Leaf: adjunctive arthritis/musculoskeletal [1].
United States: Dietary supplement [1].
Nettle Root / Leaf vs Saw PalmettoNettle Root / Leaf vs Pygeum
8 Cite this page
Vancouver: Pkhakadze G. Nettle Root / Leaf — safety profile [Internet]. Tbilisi: PHIG; 2026 [cited 2026 Aug 15]. Available from: https://supplement.ge/ingredients/nettle-root-leaf/
APA 7th: Pkhakadze, G. (2026). Nettle Root / Leaf — Safety profile. Public Health Institute of Georgia. https://supplement.ge/ingredients/nettle-root-leaf/
📋 Editorial information
Author: Prof. G. Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhD
Affiliation: David Tvildiani Medical University (DTMU)
First published: January 2026
Last reviewed: 2026-05-29
Next review: February 2027
References: 2 cited sources
COI: SupplementIndex receives no funding from supplement manufacturers. All content independently authored by PHIG.
Process: Systematic literature review
📄 License & reuse
Published under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). You may share and adapt for any purpose with attribution.
Pkhakadze G. "Nettle Root / Leaf — Safety Profile." SupplementIndex, PHIG, 2026. https://supplement.ge/ingredients/nettle-root-leaf/ CC BY 4.0.
GP
Prof. G. Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhD
Professor of Public Health · Head of Department, DTMU
Editor-in-Chief, Georgian Medical Journal (ISSN 3088-4322)
Chair, Public Health Institute of Georgia · UEMS Public Health Section
Educational and public health purposes. CC BY 4.0. Consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement. Corrections: info@accreditation.ge. Publisher: PHIG