By Adrien Baccichetti (biologist) and Kateryna Baccichetti (biochemist).
The waste products from our metabolism and the toxic substances we absorb are metabolized by the liver and then mostly eliminated by the kidneys, where urine is formed. These detoxification functions of the body are essential for maintaining good health.
Nettle and silicon have their roles to play in this “cleansing” of the body.
The European Medicines Agency considers the use of nettle leaves as a “complementary treatment for urinary infections” to be “traditionally established.” A study conducted in 2012 by Tahri et al. showed that in rats, a low dose injection of nettle extract had the following effects: increased renal excretion of water (diuretic), increased urinary sodium excretion (natriuresis), and decreased blood pressure.
A team led by Sayhan in 2012, titled “Protective effect of Urtica dioica L. on renal ischemia/reperfusion injury in rat,” demonstrated the positive effect of nettle extract on the kidneys. Tested on rats with ischemia (lack of blood supply to the kidneys), nettle extract reduced the damage to the kidneys.
Similarly, the team led by Oguz in 2012, named “Effect of nettle on oxidative stress, cell proliferation, and apoptosis after partial hepatectomy in rats,” showed the extraordinary effects of nettle after partial liver removal in rats. Nettle greatly promoted liver regeneration by stimulating cell proliferation, limiting apoptosis (cell death), reducing oxidative stress (decrease in MDA), and increasing the levels of enzymes that protect against oxidative stress (GSH, SOD). The same team of researchers further demonstrated in 2013 the protective effect of nettle extract on the liver in cases of bile duct obstruction.
All these results can be explained by the anti-inflammatory action of nettle and its high content of various minerals and antioxidants, which protect renal and hepatic cells and support detoxification and drainage functions. This adds to the specific action of silicon.
Silicon, which nettle is rich in, plays an important role in the body’s drainage. Silicon maintains the health of all organs, balances the potentials of cellular membranes, and ensures the well-being of collagen and elastin fibers. Collagen and elastin ensure the cohesion of organs such as the kidney and liver, while balanced membrane potentials improve the function of kidney and liver cells. Silicon thus has a protective effect on the kidneys and liver.
It increases renal clearance of creatinine and sodium, indicating an improvement in renal function, allowing for the elimination of more waste and toxic substances. Additionally, by acting on the cardiovascular system, silicon combats venous stasis (which hinders blood flow and toxin removal) and ensures optimal kidney irrigation.
Another important action of silicon is its chelating capacity, meaning it can “inactivate” heavy metals and toxins harmful to the body. Aluminum, lead, and cadmium, known to be highly toxic to the kidneys, are present in small amounts in our diet or drinking water, able to accumulate in the body. A study conducted on 200 renal insufficiency patients aged 45 to 65 isolated 64 patients with lead levels considered normal between 80 and 600 µg/L. After chelation treatment for three months at a weekly session, the average lead level of 150 µg/L dropped to 40 µg/L, resulting in a 12% increase in glomerular filtration comparable to the level 24 months before, and remained stable for a 30-month follow-up. In other words, the patients gained between four and five years of stabilized renal function.
By inactivating toxic metals and promoting their elimination, silicon allows the kidney to protect against their toxicity.
Thus, nettle, a plant rich in silicon, has been the subject of numerous scientific studies demonstrating its role in promoting drainage and detoxification of the body.