Nettles have been praised for their healthy properties since ancient Greek times and have been used for centuries as a medicinal herb for both humans and animals. Many beneficial effects are known from science. However, nettles still have a bad reputation with many people. It's a weed, it stings, it causes itching, and it's an annoying plant that spreads along roads and meadows. But nettles are really super healthy, both for humans and horses. People often make tea from them, cook nettle soup, or use the plant in a salad. Dried nettle is also increasingly seen in horse feed and muesli. Read in this article what the effect of nettle is for horses and what the difference is between dried and liquid nettle.

Nettles are rich in nutrients

Studies show that nettle plants contain a large number of bioactive compounds. These include large amounts of vitamin A and C, linoleic acid, polyphenols, essential amino acids, proteins, lots of chlorophyll, and a number of minerals. Selenium, zinc, iron, and magnesium are abundant in the leaves. The stinging hairs contain substances like silicon, serotonin, and other components known for their beneficial effects on muscles. Nettle also contains antihistamine, the same substance found in hay fever pills to combat allergic reactions. Therefore, nettles are very healthy for horses, especially for horses with conditions such as sweet itch or pollen allergies.

Health benefits of nettle for horses

Studies show positive effects on the kidneys, bladder, and urinary tract in both humans and animals. Nettle is blood purifying. Chlorophyll and iron from nettle help to prevent anemia. Nettle is supportive in allergies and skin problems. It has been found in humans to significantly reduce chronic skin diseases and inflammations. Nettle also has antibacterial properties, acting against a variety of microorganisms. Feeding nettle can have a positive effect on your horse's intestinal flora. Harmful intestinal bacteria are removed, while good intestinal bacteria are nurtured. Nettle also has a positive effect on pollen allergy.

Nettle can also help reduce joint pain. In humans with arthritis, using a combination of healthy oil, vitamin E, and nettle extract has been found to reduce the use of painkillers by 75%. Nettle also has a positive effect on stabilizing blood sugar levels and reducing symptoms in people with diabetes. The plant amino acids in nettle can play an important role in muscle tissue formation.

You don't have to feed nettle permanently

Therefore, nettle is very rich in good building blocks. You can use nettle for your horse to support:

• Kidney, bladder, and urinary tract problems
• Skin conditions and bumps
• Insect bites and mites
• Allergic skin problems such as sweet itch
• Disrupted blood sugar levels as seen in PPID and metabolic syndrome
• Accumulation of waste products after illness or winter
• Disrupted intestinal flora and digestion
• Joint pain

In periods where your horse builds up a lot of waste products, such as during stress, fatigue, or exertion, nettle can help rid the body of waste and cleanse the blood vessels. It may be wise to give your horse a cleansing boost with nettle regularly (e.g., every quarter) to purify your horse's body and give it a 'boost'. Giving a powerful boost with nettle in a 14-day cure is sufficient for its cleansing effect.

Feeding fresh and dried nettle

Some horse owners already give their horses nettle, usually the 'Great Nettle' (Urtica dioica). Some people even put gloves on to pick nettles in their surroundings. If you let the plants sit for at least an hour, they are then suitable for your horse to eat. However, it's important to pick nettle from clean soil and not next to, for example, a busy road. Nettles can absorb many pollutants, including heavy metals, from the air and soil.

Other people give their horses a product with dried nettle. This retains some of the good properties of nettles. When using dried herbs, it's also important to pay attention to the origin of the product. Human consumption quality is best.

Liquid nettle provides higher concentrations

Herbalists often favor making an extract or tincture of a beneficial plant. This involves converting the active ingredients from a solid substance (the plant) into a liquid. This method provides a much greater health effect than using dried herbs. The supplement becomes much more concentrated and is more easily absorbable in liquid form. The substances in the liquid pass through the intestines more easily and go directly into the horse's bloodstream. A dried herb will need to be digested by the correct gut bacteria first, which takes longer and some components can be lost. Additionally, the concentration of active ingredients is lower. For a 14-day course, it's recommended to give nettle tincture, as it works more effectively than dried nettle for horses.

Conclusion: liquid nettle is more powerful

There's nothing wrong with feeding fresh or dried nettle. However, the absorbability and efficacy of these two forms are less potent. Therefore, if you are looking for a potent effect, such as blood purification, a nettle tincture is a better choice for your horse. The liquid tincture is more concentrated and contains more active ingredients. It's also not necessary to feed nettle to your horse for an extended period. A 14-day course of nettle tincture is the most effective and can be repeated every quarter, for example.

And did you know that horses also like to absorb liquid nettle through their drinking water? By making it available in a separate water trough, the horse can decide if it needs nettle or not. In practice, we often see that horses lose interest in nettle water after 10-14 days.

Resources:

Kregiel D, Pawlikowska E, Antolak H. Urtica spp.: Ordinary Plants with Extraordinary Properties. Molecules. 2018;23(7):1664. Published 2018 Jul 9. doi:10.3390/molecules23071664

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6100552/

Ngo HTT, Fang M, Hwang E, et al. Inhibitory Effects of Urtica thunbergiana Ethanol Extract on Atopic Dermatitis-Induced NC/Nga Mice. Antioxidants (Basel). 2020;9(3):197. Published 2020 Feb 26. doi:10.3390/antiox9030197

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7139843/

Levent İnanç. 2011. Chlorophyll: Structural Properties, Health Benefits and its Occurrence in Virgin Olive Oils. Academic Food Journal ISSN Print: 1304-7582

https://www.academia.edu/30248262/Chlorophyll_Structural_Properties_Health_Benefits_and_Its_Occurrence_in_Virgin_Olive_Oils