A small comparative study published in the Emergency Medicine Journal suggests that rubbing a lettuce leaf on a nettle sting may be just as effective as using the traditional dock leaf remedy.
The study hypothesizes that the relief provided might stem from the cooling and soothing effect of sap evaporating from a crushed leaf, indicating that the actual type of leaf might not be crucial for easing discomfort, especially in adults.
Nettle stings occur due to the release of chemicals such as histamine, acetylcholine, and serotonin from the plant’s trichomes, which cause a range of uncomfortable sensations like burning and itching.
The dock leaf has been used as a folk remedy for nettle stings for over 600 years, possibly due to its cooling effect. The researchers suggest that any large, non-toxic leaf, such as lettuce, could provide similar relief.
The Nettle-induced Urticaria Treatment Study (NUTS) was designed to test this hypothesis through a randomized, double-blind trial involving nine healthy emergency department doctors.
Participants applied freshly harvested nettles to both forearms and then used either dock or lettuce leaves on the stung areas. The discomfort, measured by the Insult to Complete Healing (ITCH) score and the Observable Urticaria/Count of Hives (OUCH) score, was tracked over 20 minutes.
The results showed no significant difference in relief between dock and lettuce leaf treatments. The reduction in ITCH scores and the average peak OUCH scores were similar for both treatments. Participants’ ability to correctly identify which leaf was used was no better than chance, indicating that both leaves were equally effective, if at all.
The researchers conclude that the discomfort from nettle stings decreases quickly with either treatment, but the study does not provide evidence that dock or lettuce is more effective than doing nothing.
They acknowledge that while adults might tolerate not treating a sting, children often seek immediate relief, making the use of either leaf preferable to no treatment. The study’s small sample size and informal nature limit the ability to draw firm conclusions, but it suggests that any large, non-toxic leaf may provide quick relief from nettle stings.
