Research
Stinging nettle root for Bladder Health: Evidence, Interactions and Cautions
Stinging nettle root is an ingredient used in bladder supplements marketed to women. Below is what it has actually been studied for, how strong that evidence is, the drug interactions and cautions on record, and the primary source our grade rests on — all drawn from the HerWellReport ingredient dataset.
Also sold as: Urtica dioica radix; Urticae radix; nettle root
What the evidence says about Stinging nettle root
The EMA's 2024 monograph registers nettle root on traditional use only, for prostate-related urinary symptoms in men once a doctor has excluded serious causes, and lists no known interactions. A systematic review and meta-analysis of five double-blind trials in 1,128 patients reported better symptom scores, peak urine flow and prostate volume, but it appeared in a minor journal and reported an implausibly large effect size (standardised mean difference -10.47) without a visible risk-of-bias assessment, so it should not be read as confirmation. Nothing at all tests nettle root in women.
The grade "limited for male prostate symptoms; none for women's bladder symptoms" means: limited — One or two small human trials, or trials for a closely related outcome. none — No human trial evidence we could find for this use. Grades are explained in full on our methodology page.
Read the primary source this grade rests on (opens in a new tab).
Stinging nettle root drug interactions
No documented drug interactions in the sources we checked. That is not the same as proof of safety alongside your medication — it usually means the question has not been studied. Ask a pharmacist before combining it with prescription drugs.
Who should be careful with Stinging nettle root
- See a doctor first so that serious causes of urinary symptoms are ruled out
- Can cause nausea, heartburn, bloating or diarrhoea
Read more on HerWellReport
- Best Bladder Control Supplements for Women (2026): What’s Actually in Them
- 65 Ingredients, None Proven: What Is Actually Inside the Supplements Sold to Women (2026)
This entry is generated from row "Stinging nettle root" of the HerWellReport ingredient dataset (v2.1, updated 2026-09-23). The dataset is free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 — how to cite it. Ingredient evidence is not evidence for any finished product, and nothing here is medical advice.