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  Discussion on Freeze Dried Stinging Nettles
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Member:
ajudson1

Posted on Friday, Aug 1, 2008 - 9:33 am:

DrO,

Are you aware of any studies that used Freeze Dried Stinging Nettles for treatment of heaves in horses?

Or Quercetin?

When our kids were preschool aged, they suffered from many allergies and rather than do the shots, and travel a day to the closest clinic to treat them, I supplemented with the nettles and quercetin with good results. Horses aren't kids of course, well, not really....

Thanks for any insight you may have to offer.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Aug 4, 2008 - 8:08 am:

Hello Angie,
It seems I have seen something somewhere about stinging nettles and the treatment of allergic conditions but cannot find it in the regular published literature. You have to be careful about the term stinging nettles as it refers to dozens of different plants though most are of the genus Urtica. The use of stinging nettles for anything should be done with great caution as there are identified and unidentified toxic substances in this genus of plants:

Muscle Nerve. 2007 Jun;35(6):804-7.
Urtica ferox neuropathy.
Hammond-Tooke GD, Taylor P, Punchihewa S, Beasley M.
Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Otago Medical School, P.O. Box 913, Dunedin, New Zealand. graemeH@healthotago.co.nz

A 21-year-old student developed an acute, symmetrical, predominantly motor polyneuropathy within 48 h of walking through a patch of nettles (Urtica ferox). Two companions had similar but less severe symptoms. Nerve conduction studies demonstrated markedly reduced compound muscle action potentials and prolonged distal motor latencies. Recovery occurred over a period of a few weeks. This case demonstrates that cutaneous exposure to Urtica ferox can cause an acute polyneuropathy and that its stinging hairs contain an unidentified neurotoxin.

Ann Bot (Lond). 2006 Jul;98(1):57-65.
Identification of oxalic acid and tartaric acid as major persistent pain-inducing toxins in the stinging hairs of the nettle, Urtica thunbergiana.
Fu HY, Chen SJ, Chen RF, Ding WH, Kuo-Huang LL, Huang RN.
Department of Life Science, College of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Once human skin contacts stinging hairs of Urtica spp. (stinging nettles), the irritant is released and produces pain, wheals or a stinging sensation which may last for >12 h. However, the existence of pain-inducing toxins in the stinging hairs of Urtica thunbergiana has never been systematically demonstrated. Experiments were therefore conducted to identify the persistent pain-inducing agents in the stinging hairs of U. thunbergiana. METHODS: The stinging hairs of U. thunbergiana were removed and immersed in deionized water. After centrifugation, the clear supernatants were then subjected to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), enzymatic analysis and/or behavioural bioassays. KEY RESULTS: The HPLC results showed that the major constituents in the stinging hairs of U. thunbergiana were histamine, oxalic acid and tartaric acid. However, the well-recognized pain-inducing agents, serotonin and formic acid, existed at a low concentration as estimated by HPLC and/or enzymatic analyses. The behavioural tests showed that 2% oxalic acid and 10% tartaric acid dramatically elicited persistent pain sensations in rats. In contrast, 10% formic acid and 2% serotonin only elicited moderate pain sensation in the first 10 min. Moreover, no significant pain-related behavioural response was observed after injecting 10% acetylcholine and histamine in rats. CONCLUSIONS: Oxalic acid and tartaric acid were identified, for the first time, as major long-lasting pain-inducing toxins in the stinging hairs of U. thunbergiana. The general view that formic acid, histamine and serotonin are the pain-inducing agents in the stinging hairs of U. dioica may require updating, since their concentrations in U. thunbergiana were too low to induce significant pain sensation in behavioural bioassays.

Concerning quercetin I do not know of anything on treating heaves in horses with it.
DrO
Member:
ajudson1

Posted on Monday, Aug 4, 2008 - 9:06 am:

DrO

Thank you for taking the time to check into it. In herbal literature it seems to show up for treatment of allergies in humans fairly regularly, though I admit it's been awhile since I've studied anything herbal.

I suppose I could try a course of the Freeze Dried Stinging Nettles sold for human comsumption on the horse with the sensitivies and see if I notice results.

If I do that, it may not be til mid winter, but I will post results.

Regarding quercetin, I am thinking that is similar to vitamin C? Need to refresh my memory on that; but I am for some reason thinking it may not work the same in horses as in people.

Thanks much!
Member:
ajudson1

Posted on Monday, Aug 4, 2008 - 9:19 am:

Just one summary I found googling FDS Nettles. I'd prefer the info from the German E commission...or whatever that main mega resource is called.

"In animal studies, nettle has been shown to relieve pain, have mild anti-inflammatory effects, and to lower blood sugar levels. Active compounds in stinging nettle may act as an expectorant (meaning that it can loosen and break up a cough) and have anti-viral properties.

Nettle may also be effective for treating certain individuals with allergic rhinitis (hay fever). This traditional use has had a lot of historical value for individuals. Early studies of people suggest that this historic use is likely scientifically valid. However, while the studies thus far have been favorable, they have not been overwhelmingly so. More research would be helpful. In the meantime, talk to your doctor about whether it is safe for you to try nettle as a possible alternative treatment during allergy season if you are prone to hay fever."

Not overwhelming info about allergies; interesting about pain relief. I'll keep doing as the articles on here suggest for respiratory troubles.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Aug 4, 2008 - 11:13 pm:

I believe quercetin is a flavanoid with both antiinflammatory (primarily antihistamine) and antioxidant properties. But it is not clear from the literature if there is enough biological activity for these to be clinically significant in the treatment of heaves. Then again managing heaves caused by mold spores is already pretty easy by following the recommendations in the article on heaves.
DrO
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