Stinging Nettle Testosterone Benefits: What to Know

You may know testosterone as the main male sex hormone. And you might be aware of the possibility of having low testosterone levels, or “low T.” Men with low testosterone may have symptoms like low libido (reduced sex drive), erectile dysfunction (ED), depression, and fatigue.

A quick internet search might reveal a wealth of natural and herbal remedies for boosting testosterone levels — one being stinging nettle. In fact, a Google search for “stinging nettle testosterone” or “nettle tea benefits for hormones” may have landed you here.

But what is stinging nettle? And can it actually help raise testosterone levels? Keep reading as we cover stinging nettle, its possible effects on testosterone, and the things you can do if you’re concerned about low T.

Stinging nettle is a flowering plant that can be found growing throughout North America, Europe, northern Africa, and some parts of Asia. Scientists call stinging nettle by its fancier scientific name, Urtica dioica.

But does stinging nettle actually…sting? You bet! Each stinging nettle leaf is covered in tiny hairs that can pierce the skin, injecting a fluid containing chemicals like formic acid and histamine. This can cause a stinging skin rash that lasts up to 12 hours. Ouch!

Nevertheless, the nettle plant has been used as an herbal medicine by various cultures for over 2,000 years. (Don’t worry — processing it into supplement form destroys those little stinging hairs.)

When you’re out and about in stores or browsing supplements online, you may find stinging nettle in the form of capsules, gummies, creams, and tinctures. Stinging nettle tea is also a thing. Those looking to boost their testosterone levels might use stinging nettle in any of these forms.

What are the potential benefits of stinging nettle supplements? There are lots!

These plants contain compounds with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial (bacteria-killing), and blood pressure-lowering properties — just to name a few. Studies have shown additional stinging nettle benefits like improvement of urinary and prostate health and reduced joint pain for those with osteoarthritis.

Stinging nettle is also incorporated into foods and, in some cases, used in fertilizers for crops.

So where does the hype around stinging nettle for testosterone come from? To understand this, we have to look at research into benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), more commonly known as enlarged prostate.

BPH is a non-cancerous condition where the prostate gland grows larger. When this happens, it can lead to symptoms like trouble urinating, an increase in urinary frequency or urgency, and even pain while urinating. Basically, pretty annoying stuff.

Since stinging nettle has been used for years to alleviate urinary symptoms, researchers were naturally interested to see if this plant (or the compounds in it) could help with BPH symptoms.

Aromatase Enzymes and Stinging Nettle Testosterone

This is gonna get really science-y for a moment, so bear with us.

The results of studies from the ’90s found that stinging nettle root extract contained inhibitors of various factors involved in BPH. Specifically, the plant was shown to have chemicals that inhibit aromatase enzymes (involved in estrogen production) and lignans (food compounds with properties similar to estrogen) that bind to a protein called sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG).

Aromatase enzymes convert testosterone into estrogen. Meanwhile, SHBG binds to sex hormones, including testosterone, keeping them from being active. In fact, an estimated 55 percent of testosterone in healthy men is bound to SHBG.

The TL;DR here is that nettle root might block two factors that can affect testosterone levels. This could, in turn, lead to a rise in free testosterone levels. (Free testosterone is the testosterone in your body not bound to proteins, making it available for biological uses.)

Is there actually any truth to the claim that stinging nettle increases testosterone? The short — slightly frustrating — answer is that studies are unclear.

But we won’t leave you hanging, so let’s dive into some of this research.

Research on Stinging Nettle Testosterone Benefits

A 2015 study looked at the effects of nettle root extract given orally to rats with BPH. The treatment appeared to prevent some effects of BPH. The rats given the nettle root also had a slight (but statistically significant) increase in testosterone levels compared to the control group.

Another 2014 study, this time in mice, found that exposure to nicotine lowered testosterone levels. However, stinging nettle extract seemed to reverse this effect, raising testosterone levels.

While it’s nice to know stinging nettle can boost testosterone in rats and mice, it doesn’t mean it can do the same for us humans. So, do these results carry over to humans?

An older double-blind, placebo-controlled study from 2005 compared the effectiveness of stinging nettle in men with urinary symptoms due to BPH. After six months, those treated with stinging nettle had improved urinary symptoms. But their testosterone levels were no different from men who got a placebo.

A 2011 case study reported high testosterone in a man who had taken an internet supplement containing stinging nettle to increase his libido. But the supplement contained several other ingredients that could have affected testosterone levels, so it’s unclear if the testosterone boost was due to stinging nettle or something else.

At the end of the day, we just can’t say for sure whether stinging nettle works to significantly increase testosterone, particularly in men with low T.

Your best bet is to consult a healthcare professional if you think you may have low testosterone. They can do tests to check your testosterone levels and recommend next steps if the results come back low.

We’ve also covered possible stinging nettle hair loss benefits and the best herbs for hair growth in our blog.

If you do decide to try out stinging nettle, you may be curious if there are any side effects to know about. Fortunately, it appears these are few and far between.

According to LiverTox, which is maintained by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), stinging nettle extract is generally well-tolerated. It only has a few reported side effects:

• Nausea

• Diarrhea

• Constipation

• Abdominal discomfort

• Headache

Before you add stinging nettle to your supplement regimen, take a beat and talk to your healthcare provider first. There are a couple reasons for this.

First, it’s possible stinging nettle could interact with other medications or supplements you’re already taking, which is bad news. Second, there’s no standardized stinging nettle dosage for low T (or other health conditions, for that matter).

And, as with any supplement or medication, there’s always the possibility of an allergic reaction.

Your healthcare provider can give you the low-down on any risks or drug interactions associated with stinging nettle. They can advise you on how to use it safely and give you pointers on how much to take.

Low testosterone may be treated with testosterone-replacement therapy (TRT). This involves supplementing back missing testosterone under the supervision of a healthcare provider.

Testosterone therapy can come in many forms. Two of the most popular are testosterone gels you apply to your skin and testosterone injections given into a muscle.

The disclaimer here is that the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) has only approved testosterone therapy for men whose low testosterone is associated with certain medical conditions affecting the body’s ability to make testosterone.

That means there’s no FDA-approved treatment for low testosterone as a result of the natural aging process. Why? The benefits of TRT for decreasing testosterone due to aging are less clear.

An evidence report from the American College of Physicians found that testosterone therapy may boost sexual function and quality of life when used by men with low T due to aging. However, the report also found “little to no effect” on physical or cognitive functioning, depressive symptoms, or energy levels. 

You may have seen testosterone supplements sold online or in stores claiming to increase testosterone naturally. Seems like a good idea, right? Think again. Testosterone-boosting supplements may contain ineffective or — worse yet — hidden ingredients. In fact, the FDA maintains a whole list of hundreds (!) of tainted sexual enhancement products.

A 2019 study of “testosterone-boosting” supplements found that only about 25 percent had scientific data to support their claims. And roughly 10 percent had data showing that some of the ingredients lowered testosterone.

If you’re curious about ways to raise your testosterone levels naturally, we do actually have good news. Several lifestyle changes may help boost testosterone levels. Let’s look at a few of them now.

Maintain a Healthy Body Weight

Higher body fat levels are associated with lower testosterone. Meanwhile, researchers have observed that weight loss can increase testosterone in men.

If you have overweight or obesity, talk to your medical provider about the weight loss options available to you.

Get Moving

Exercise has many health benefits for physical and mental wellness. Add increased testosterone to that list!

Exercise increases testosterone, with some research linking this boost to aerobic exercise (cardio). On that note, experts recommend getting 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity exercise each week.

Improve Your Diet

A well-balanced diet is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. Some research has linked unhealthy eating patterns to low testosterone.

For instance, a 2018 study found that eating more breads, pastries, dairy, and desserts, dining out at restaurants, and eating fewer homemade foods and green vegetables predicted low T in men.

Get Enough Sleep

Poor sleep can have significant effects on physical and mental health. That’s why it’s crucial to adopt good sleep hygiene practices.

A 2021 systematic review and meta-analysis found that severe sleep deprivation reduced testosterone levels in men. The researchers also noted that sleep duration plays a critical part in maintaining testosterone levels.

Moderate Your Alcohol Consumption

Some research has linked heavy drinking to reductions in testosterone. With that in mind, aim to consume alcohol in moderation — or not at all.

Not only is testosterone vital for making sperm and maintaining sex drive, but it’s also responsible for things like facial hair, a deeper voice, and increased muscle mass.

The details on how prevalent low testosterone is are a little hazy, mostly because it can have different definitions. Experts estimate it may impact 10 to 40 percent of men around the world.

Certain treatments can help balance testosterone levels, including some natural approaches. Is stinging nettle one of them? It’s probably not the first thing you’ll want to try, but it might be worth looking into.

We’ve covered a lot on stinging nettle and testosterone today, so here’s a summary of the most important things to know:

• Stinging nettle is a plant that’s been used in folk medicine for thousands of years. One of its uses is for urinary tract symptoms, such as those due to BPH.

• It’s unclear if stinging nettle significantly boosts testosterone. More research is needed, including more clinical trials of the effects of stinging nettle in people (instead of just animal studies).

• It’s possible stinging nettle may increase testosterone by inhibiting proteins in the body that interact with and lower testosterone levels.

• Stinging nettle has few side effects but may cause digestive symptoms or headaches.

• The current treatment for low T is testosterone-replacement therapy. However, the benefits of this treatment for men with low T due to aging are less clear.

• You can raise testosterone naturally by maintaining a healthy weight, getting exercise, eating a balanced diet, and getting enough sleep.

If you’re concerned you have low T, a visit to your healthcare provider is in order. They can do tests to check your testosterone levels and see if they’re lower than normal.

If you need support with sexual health, such as for ED or premature ejaculation (PE), explore the offerings on our men’s telehealth platform.