medicinal herbs
White Dead Nettle
Lamium album

• Medicinal herbs
• Natural herbs
• Latin names
• Common names

Herb: White Dead Nettle

Latin name: Lamium album

Family: Labiatae

Medicinal use of White Dead Nettle:

White dead nettle is an astringent and demulcent herb that is chiefly used as a uterine tonic, to arrest inter-menstrual bleeding and to reduce excessive menstrual flow. It is a traditional treatment for abnormal vaginal discharge and is sometimes taken to relieve painful periods. The flowering tops are antispasmodic, astringent, cholagogue, depurative, diuretic, expectorant, haemostatic, hypnotic, pectoral, resolvent, sedative, styptic, tonic, vasoconstrictor and vulnerary. An infusion is used in the treatment of kidney and bladder complaints, diarrhoea, menstrual problems, bleeding after childbirth, vaginal discharges and prostatitis. Externally, the plant is made into compresses and applied to piles, varicose veins and vaginal discharges. A distilled water from the flowers and leaves makes an excellent and effective eye lotion to relieve ophthalmic conditions. The plant is harvested in the summer and can be dried for later use. A homeopathic remedy is made from the plant. It is used in the treatment of bladder and kidney disorders and amenorrhoea.

Description of the plant:

Habitat of the herb:

Fields, hedgerows, woodland edges and clearings and moist waste ground.

Edible parts of White Dead Nettle:

Young leaves - raw or cooked. They can be added to salads or mixed with other leaves and cooked as a potherb. They can also be dried for later use. The leaves are a good source of vitamin A. A pleasant herb tea is made from the flowers.

Other uses of the herb:

The plant has a creeping rootstock and makes a good groundcover plant for woodland edges.

Propagation of White Dead Nettle:

Seed - this species usually self sows freely and should not require human intervention. When required it can be sown in situ as soon as it is ripe. Division in spring. Division succeeds at almost any time in the growing season. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.

Cultivation of the herb:

Fields, hedgerows, woodland edges and clearings and moist waste ground.

Known hazards of Lamium album:

None known

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.