Researchers from the Victoria Medical Center in the United Kingdom explored whether sorrel or lettuce leaves could ease the burning and itching that follows a nettle sting. The findings appeared in a publication associated with Emergency Medicine Journal (EMJ).
The study involved nine healthy emergency room physicians who simulated a nettle sting by rubbing freshly picked nettle stalks against the forearms, multiple times. After the sting was induced, the affected skin was treated by rubbing two leaves, either sorrel or lettuce. The participants did not know which leaf was applied to each hand, ensuring an unbiased comparison between the two plant remedies.
Following the treatment, participants were asked to identify which hand had been treated with sorrel. They also rated the perceived relief on a five-point scale, where zero meant no discomfort and five indicated the maximum possible discomfort. The researchers then analyzed the accuracy of sorrel identification and the reduction in itch intensity on two skin areas for each participant.
Results showed that three participants correctly identified the sorrel-treated hand, three were wrong, and the remaining could not determine which leaf was used. On average, the itching score dropped by three points within five minutes when sorrel was applied, compared with a two-point drop for lettuce. When both leaves were used, discomfort from the nettle sting tended to decrease within about 15 to 20 minutes.
The researchers also noted that choosing not to intervene could, in some cases, provide quick relief, underscoring that natural cooling from crushed leaves might be a key factor. For children and others seeking prompt relief from nettle stings, rubbing crushed sorrel or lettuce leaves on the affected skin area can be a practical option. The proposed mechanism centers on the cooling and soothing effects of the plant juice released as the leaves are crushed and applied.
In related work, scientists have also discussed the genetic mechanisms underlying the medicinal properties of ginseng, highlighting why certain botanicals have long been explored for skin relief and inflammatory responses.