HIMALAYAN HERB-LAMIUM ALBUM: VIRTUES & USE

White Dead Nettle, Blind Nettle, Dumb Nettle, Deaf Nettle, Bee Nettle:

"Laimos" is an ancient Greek word meaning throat, which refers to the shape of the flowers also known as White Dead Nettle, Blind Nettle, Dumb Nettle, Deaf Nettle, Bee Nettle. White Deadnettle is a perennial herb from mint family, found in damp places in Western Himalayas, at altitudes of 1500-3700 m. The white dead-nettle has nettle shaped leaves that do not sting, and grows in woodlands and grasslands. The leaves appear superficially similar to those of the Stinging nettle Urtica dioica but do not sting, hence the common name "dead nettle". Lower leaves have stalks while the upper ones are stalk-less. 

The flowers are white, produced in a few whorls, vertically separated, on the upper part of the stem. The flowers whorls arise from the axils of the upper oppositely arranged leaves. The upper lip is hooded over the stamens, and is quite hairy, with white hairs forming a fringe on the hood. The lower lip smaller, bilobed. The young leaves are edible, and can be used in salads or cooked as a vegetable. The plant also has a number of uses in herbal medicine. Bees are attracted to the flowers which contain nectar or pollen, hence the plant is sometimes called the Bee Nettle. 

The plant has astringent properties and edible leaves and flowers the leaves can be eaten raw in salads or cooked like spinach. They can also be used to flavour soups and stews. We can make a tisane with the flowering tops which is said to be an excellent tonic containing vitamin A.  There are ongoing studies into its possible others medicinal benefits   

MEDICINAL USES:  White dead nettle is an astringent and demulcent herb that is chiefly used as a uterine tonic, to arrest intermenstrual bleeding and to reduce excessive menstrual flow. It is a traditional treatment for abnormal vaginal discharge and is sometimes taken to relieve painful periods. It has been used to induce sleep, and the flowers boiled in water were used for bronchial problems while the roots, boiled in wine were used to disperse kidney stones. 

Dr Lalit mohan acknowledge Mr abbas/ http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/himalayan.html and reference therein for text material.