It is Spring and a carpet of Purple Dead-Nettle is covering my garden. Even though I had put the vegetable garden to bed, tucking it in with straw, this “weed” decidedly took over. These Dead heads not only look like a weed, they smell like one too! Unlike the followers of a particular psychedelic rock band there is nothing distinctive about this plant that would indicate it might be edible, useful or medicinal. While I was never a Dead Head I do march to the beat of a slightly different drummer, and just because I harvest, juice and infuse what most people think of as useless weeds it doesn’t mean I’m tripping or that I smell bad, but it does mean that I’m ahead of allergy season.
Introduced from Europe and listed as an invasive species in some parts of North America it can frequently be found growing alongside Henbit Dead-nettle, Lamium amplexicaule. Amplexicaule means “clasping” and refers to how the leaves grab the stem. Both have similar leaves and bright purple flowers, but the difference between the two can be seen in the leaves. Purple Dead-nettle’s leaves are stalked on the flower stem compared to the un-stalked leaves of Henbit Dead-nettle.
If you were called to inspect this plant more closely you would find that it has a square stem typical of the mints but the smell would never let on that it is in the mint family. It smells more like earth and grass with the flowering tops and leaves being edible. The harvested young aerial parts can be finely chopped and used in sauces, salads or as a spring vegetable and while it may be nutritious it has no flavor of great interest. It is one of the first plants to flower in the southeast where I live and may continue flowering throughout the year even during the milder winter months providing a food source to bees (and humans!) when few other nectar sources are available.
Purple Dead-nettle has long been used in folk medicine in Europe, Asia and Africa and unlike stinging nettles (Urtica) it has no sting and is therefore considered, “dead.” There is evidence of anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and free radical scavenging properties comparable to that of ascorbic acid. It can be used fresh or dried and made into a tea or tincture for allergic inflammation. A natural source of flavonoids including quercetin Purple Dead-nettle can improve immune system performance while reducing sensitivity to allergens and inhibiting inflammation. The anti-allergy properties of flavonoids come from their ability to reduce the release of histamine. Research has shown that L. purpureum is significantly anti-inflammatory with pain-reducing properties and works through inhibiting the release of prostaglandins, the principle mediator for inflammation in allergies and chronic inflammatory conditions. This is good news for allergy sufferers (see recommendations below.) The whole plant has also been used to relieve pain in rheumatism and other arthritic ailments. A rich source of antibacterial essential oils Purple Dead-nettle has a wide range of antimicrobial activity and antifungal properties, which may be useful for staph, E. coli and candida.
Never before has one weed so thoroughly taken over my garden. It definitely has my attention. Previously L. purpureum was only vaguely familiar to me, as I had seen it on my daily walks growing along the roadside. It was so far off my radar as a medicinal plant that I had trouble remembering what it was. My apprentice pointed it out to me one day on a plant walk and I felt totally incompetent asking her – what is that plant again? In my defense, it is indeed rather obscure in the herbal literature. There is still so much we don’t know, but I do know that our medicine is never any further than where we are right now.
Recommendations:
Taking Purple Dead-nettle when you suffer from allergies will help prevent secondary infections of the sinus, throat and lower respiratory tract. There are no known contraindications. Purple Dead-nettle’s actions have not been extensively researched and documented but may include: anti-inflammatory, astringent, diuretic, diaphoretic, antimicrobial, antifungal and purgative. Collect entire above ground, aerial parts for food and medicine. I am happy to report that due to the following protocol I am now allergy free!
Tincture: 1-2 ml 3x/day (1:5 in 40%)
Infusion: 1 cup boiling water over 1 heaping teaspoon dried herb and infuse covered for 10 minutes. Strain and drink as often as desired. To use as a daily tonic for chronic conditions put 1 oz. dried herb in a quart jar, or 1/3 jar filled with chopped fresh herb, fill with boiling water and cover. Let stand for 3-4 hours and drink one quart per day just prior to and at the start of allergy season.
Additional Recommendations:
Supplements: This supplemental regimen may be continued throughout the allergy season. Quercetin (800 mg) with Bromelain (165mg) 3x/day, NOW is a good brand. Bioflavonoids (1,000 mg) 2x/day, and Vit. C (1,000 mg) 3x/day.
Learn more: Spring & The Wood Element
All content except where otherwise noted © 2016 Thea Summer Deer
References:
- Hacettepe University Journal of the Faculty of Pharmacy; Antimicrobial and Free Radical Scavenging Activities of Some Lamium Species from Turkey; Funda Nuray Yalçin, et al.; 2007
- Journal of Ethnopharmacology; In vivo Anti-inflammatory and Antinociceptive Actions of Some Lamium Species; Akkol EK, et al.; 2008
I need clarification – here in Tennessee we have Henbit, also called Henbane, which sure looks like that purple dead-nettle. and smells like it to. Can you “clarify” just a tad more the distinguishing differences……
Thanks!
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It’s all in the leaves! Sometimes Purple Dead-nettle is called Henbit Dead-nettle so to make sure you have the right species check how the leaves are attached to the stem as mentioned in the post.
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The difference between Henbit and Dead-nettle vidoe: https://youtu.be/Gi2rfhlFyPE
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Henbit leaves look like tiny upside down umbrellas or wee fountain bowls along its stem. Deadnettle leaves look somewhat like a pyramid. That’s how I spot them!
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Henbit and henbane are two totally different plants. Henbane is toxic if certain parts are used, but both can be used in herbal medicine.
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Here’s an article for you! http://identifythatplant.com/three-easily-mixed-up-early-spring-plants/
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You mention that the purple variety has long been used in folk medicine in Europe, Asia and Africa. Can you offer some citations on that? I have only seen commentary on folk use of the white-flowered species [L. album]. I have no doubt of L. purpureum’s utility, but would love to research further on my own. Thanks so much for your work.
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Please see references at the bottom of this blog post that will hopefully answer your question. L. album has certainly gotten a lot more attention than L. purpureum. Further research is very much needed and I hope you will share yours with us. Here is an interesting video: https://youtu.be/2kC4WWpF8h0
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Thanks for your post.
Side note: Known contraindications with asthma medication inhalers.
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Great info on this useful ‘weed’! I’m glad I found this article, very good info.
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My yard is full of Dead Nettle & I have Extreme Allergies! I will be trying this out! Can you tell me if this affects the Balance of the Good Bacteria in the Gut?
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Just to clarify, dry the herb then make the tincture instead if using fresh?
Thank you
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Awesome
Thanks for the researchers.
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Thanks for the article. I’m wanting to make the tincture but you don’t specify whether to use dried herb or fresh herb for the tincture. Would very much appreciate if you could get back to me on this. I know that most of the time the ratio is 1 to 5 that we are dealing with a dried herb but just wanted to make sure how you were doing it. Thanks!
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Hi Jason, You can do it either way, fresh or dried and I have done both.
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We always called this purple clover. I have whatever it is growing all over my yard..are they the same thing?
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How long does it take to dry the plant? And when I’m making my tea- should I pull the leaves off or use the stem, leaves and flowers?
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Hi Lindsey, Thank you for your questions. It depends on what drying method you are using as to how long it takes. I dry mine in paper bags hung in an area that has good ventilation. It usually takes a couple of weeks. As mentioned in the blog post under Recommendations, you use “entire above ground aerial parts” so that included the leaves.
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I’m glad to find there is a use for this plant, but here in the Northwest, it is quite invasive.
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Invasive it isn’t- scotch broom, knotweed are invasive and difficult to eradicate. While dead nettle pulls up easily, it spreads but invasive doesn’t quite fit.
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Hello I love juicing and and I read the article and and other one about this plant purple dead plantan add to my juice help a lot my. I juicing with celery lemon and ginger every month I do one complete week
And rest and again next month but during the mont eat healthy and make tea good and healthy salad
My allergy gone
Thanks
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