| content |
 |
It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles accessible from a disambiguation page. (Discuss) |
The term urtication can have various meanings:
- In biology, it refers to the stinging hairs of plants or invertebrates, of which nettles (the plant genus Urtica) is the example from which the term was derived, but only one of a great many such plants. Many caterpillars have modified setae with associated venom glands, and these are called urticating hairs. A common example is the "saddleback caterpillar".
- In medicine, urtication, or flogging with nettles, is the process of deliberately applying stinging nettles to the skin in order to provoke inflammation or rash. An agent thus used is known as a rubefacient (i.e. something that causes redness). This is done as a folk remedy for rheumatism, as it provides temporary relief from pain.
- Urtication is also performed by BDSM practitioners who use stinging nettles for sexual stimulation.
 |
This botany article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 |
This insect-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 |
This medical treatment article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 |
This BDSM-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
References in popular culture
- In the flash movie Salad Fingers, the main character finds it exceedingly pleasurable to urticate himself, especially with nettles. He uses the nettles to "make the milk drop out from inside [his] 'teat'."
References
