Nettle

The stinging nettle reaches a height of between 10 and 300 cm, depending on the location and the growing medium. The typical stinging hairs are found on the upper side of the leaves. When they come into contact with the skin, a mixture of certain chemicals can cause painful wheals (swellings).

As a medicinal plant, nettles are used for rheumatic diseases, urinary tract infections and/or kidney stones. It is also popular with people who suffer from hay fever. In the form of a tea, nettles have the property of blocking the body’s histamine and can thus alleviate typical hay fever symptoms such as rhinitis and watering eyes. However, sufferers should definitely ask their specialist for advice beforehand.

The allergenic potency of nettle pollen is classified as low, but since pollen transport takes place via the wind, a lot of pollen is produced during the flowering period, which can cause problems for pollen-sensitive people.

Pollen season

Nettles flower between mid-April and the end of November. The main flowering period is from mid-June to the end of August. The nettle pollen from the flowers is mainly dispersed by the wind.

Possible cross-reactions

Very little is known about cross-reactions. However, an allergy to nettles rarely occurs alone, but in combination with another pollen allergy.