Stinging Nettle Potently Kills Breast Cancer Cells in Vitro: A hot water extract of stinging nettle leaves (Urtica Dioica) was shown to kill over 80% of human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) in vitro in this lab study, by inducing programmed cell death (apoptosis). The extract was also a powerful antioxidant, with roughly double the antioxidant power of pure vitamin C. Stinging nettle already has a long history in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, and is used to treat allergies, asthma, arthritis, gout, enlarged prostate, infections, hemorrhoids, and even high blood sugar. Its use is especially common in Brazil, Morocco, Turkey, Jordan and the Middle East. Research into the anticancer properties of stinging nettle is relatively young, with one other study showing it also kills prostate cancer cells in vitro. But stinging nettle has been heavily researched for treating diabetes. In fact, it was even used recently in a clinical trial for controlling blood sugar in people with Type 2 diabetes—and it worked. Diabetic patients taking stinging nettle saw their blood sugar levels decrease in the fasting state as well as after eating. In that trial, the dose was 3 tea bags daily boiled in water for 20 minutes (2 grams of stinging nettle leaves per bag). Diabetes is a major risk factor for cancer, so this is another way singing nettle may reduce cancer risk.