Nettle
Urtica dioica
Nettle is one of the most versatile and powerful healing herbs, and the most underrated.
Twelve Uses of Nettle
1. Cleansing. Slimming down. It is the best cleansing and purging plant. The infusion helps to eliminate harmful metabolic by-products. Good for weight loss - it stimulates the metabolism. Helps in pre-menstrual swelling, removing excess water from the body.
2. Urinary tract. It is best known for helping in many ailments of the urinary tract. It prevents the formation of kidney stones. It is also helpful in the treatment of the prostate, especially the nettle root; it slows down the development in the initial stage of the disease.
3. The respiratory system. Nettle leaves have an antiallergic effect and cleanse the sinuses. Nettle infusion relieves hay fever symptoms. Facilitates expectoration of a chest infection.
4. Antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, antitumor. In viral and bacterial diseases, nettle is also a great helper. Substances from the immunoglobulin group has been found in the plant, which not only protects the body against viral invasion, but also against some types of cancer. It reduces the occurrence of chest infections. The root extract has an antifungal effect.
5. The immune system. Fatigue. Nettle infusions can be used to strengthen the overall immunity of the body. Due to the extraordinary richness of important minerals, it is especially recommended for weakness during early Spring time, and for people suffering from general fatigue.
6. Digestive system. It stimulates the secretion of digestive juices, containing many micronutrients needed for the proper metabolic processes. It reduces inflammation of the digestive tract, prevents stomach and intestinal ulcers, improves gut function. Settling effect in diarrhoea.
7. Diabetes. It can be used in the treatment of diabetes in the initial stages. It has a beneficial effect on the pancreas, lowering blood sugar levels, but it should be used with caution (see contraindications).
8. Blood. Nettle provides a lot of iron, a valuable ingredient that is often missing in our diet and especially recommended for women with heavy menstruation. Drinking infusions prevents anaemia, and other blood diseases. It increases the number of erythrocytes and raises the level of haemoglobin in the blood, resulting in better blood circulation and vitality.
9. Rheumatism. Arthritis. Nettle also helps in rheumatic and arthritic diseases and is used in long-term therapies.
10. Cosmetics. Hair. Nettle is also known for its beneficial effects on hair. In case of hair loss, it is recommended to drink nettle infusion or juice and use nettle infusion to rinse hair. Rinsing the hair with nettle or rubbing the scalp with nettle tincture, strengthens the hair and stimulates their growth. Systematic use gives a beautiful hair shine. It also prevents greasy hair and dandruff.
Nettle extracts are also included in numerous supplements that improve the condition of hair, skin and nails.
11. Rejuvenating. Our grandmothers already knew the rejuvenating effects of nettle. It is best to undergo this treatment in the spring, drinking the juice of fresh nettles. This juice can be prepared in a blender. After straining, it should be drunk from 1-2 tablespoons to half a glass a day, for a period of two weeks.
Nettle infusion is also recommended during a one-week treatment to strengthen the liver and bile ducts, spleen, stomach, intestines and respiratory tract.
12. Nutritional properties. Nettle contains many valuable vitamins - B2, C, K, E, mineral salts, trace elements such as calcium, phosphorus, iron (easily absorbed by the body), sulphur, potassium, iodine, silicon and sodium. It can enrich our diet not only in the form of an infusion or juice, but also as a spice and ingredient in dishes. The young shoots and young leaves are suitable for seasoning, vegetable soups, sauces and salads. It can be prepared like spinach - young, washed leaves, poured with boiling water, cooked until tender (about 10 minutes), and then seasoned according to taste.
Contraindications
Nettle should not be taken in female diseases - cysts, uterine cancer and haemorrhages caused by polyps, and in other diseases treated surgically.
The use of nettle in serious diseases, especially in nephrolithiasis and kidney failure, should be consulted with a doctor. It should not be used to force diuresis in the case of impaired cardiac or renal function. Their diuretic effect is associated with the administration of large amounts of fluids, and in these conditions it is unfavourable or even dangerous to health.
Nettle should not be combined with antidiabetic drugs as they enhance their effect.
It is recommended not to use nettle during pregnancy and breastfeeding as there are no data on the effects of nettle on foetal and neonatal development.
Application
Nettle can be taken in many forms - infusions (teas), tinctures, juices, decoctions, extracts, seasoning.
Leaves are most often used but the stems and the roots contain large amounts of active substances, too.
The leaves are best for rinses, infusions and juices, and tinctures are prepared from stems and roots. This allows for the optimal use of the whole plant.
The tiny flowers of the nettle contain sweet nectar that is non-poisonous to humans and can be eaten.
Infusion
1.5 tablespoons of dried nettle leaves, best grinded down immediately before use. Pour over a glass of boiling water, mix, cover and leave for 10 minutes. Drink 2 cups 2-3 times a day between meals. Prepare fresh infusion each time.
Juice
Grind freshly picked nettle in a juicer or in a blender. After straining, the juice can be drunk in the amount of 1-2 tablespoons to half a glass a day, for a period of two weeks. You can add honey and lemon juice.
Nettle Hair Rinse
Prepare nettle tea (teaspoon per cup, as much as you need), let it cool down, rinse the washed hair. Fresh nettles slightly dye hair green, so beware if you have a fair hair.
Nettle tonic
Brew a handful of fresh nettle leaves with 1/2 litre of boiling water and leave it covered for 3 hours. Then strain, mix with 1/4 litre of fruit vinegar and pour it into a bottle. Massage into the scalp for a few minutes thoroughly after each washing. It strengthens, gives shining effect to dull and weakened hair.
Nettle bath
Put the nettle pulp into a gauze bag and place it under a stream of hot water. Such a bath, rich in microelements, soothes rheumatic pains and nourishes the skin. It also clears the sweat glands.
Kitchen Recipes
In early spring, young shoots (about 15 cm) can be harvested. From the leaves - after scalded with hot water or a short (3-4 min) frying in oil - you can prepare soups, add them to the fillings, salads, scrambled eggs, omelettes, minced meat, pastes, pastries.
Nettle Soup
Healthy and tasty springtime recipe. Take a bunch of young fresh nettles growing in eco-friendly environment (far from road traffic and agricultural fields that use pesticides). Collect them with gloves on, joggle them down to let all insect fall down. After arrival, put your nettle in a bowl full of water for a few minutes. Cut them into smaller pieces with scissors. Put into a boiling water, add potatoes, carrots, swede or any other vegetables you wish and prepare as a regular soup.
Nettle in other meals
You can add young shoots to salads and scrambled eggs. Before that, scald them at a temperature of about 60 ° C (to deactivate histamine and formic acid responsible for the stinging properties of nettle).
It can be a very tasty side dish prepared similar to spinach. Goes well with potatoes and other cooked vegetables.
Other uses
It is worth knowing that nettle is also used in the brewing industry as one of the additions to treat beer.
This nutritious nettle tonic is a manure and it's free. Used in biodynamic cultivation. The vicinity of nettles has a positive effect on tomatoes, potatoes and other herbs, but beware of the expansionism of nettle, keep it in check. Leaves enrich compost.
Added to the chicken food and other farm animals - very nutritious.
Nettles were often hung in bunches in larders because of fly repellent properties.
In the past, the nettle roots were used to make dyes: to greenish wool, for cream-yellow silk. Green food dye is obtained from the leaves of nettles. The stems fibre (in a similar way as from flax) - has been used in the production of fabrics, it is extremely strong and resistant to moisture. In Europe, nettle fibre fabrics were produced not only in the ancient past, but also during the First and Second World Wars, replacing cotton.
Nettle Magic
It has been believed for centuries about the magical properties of nettle. Strong infusions can be sprinkled on clothes and around rooms (beware of its colouring property so choose the surface carefully). It is supposed to restore peace, to cleanse of bad energy and unpleasant feelings. This custom was one of the methods of folk magic, protecting against evil spirits, bad charms and the evil eye.
The stinging hairs that cover the entire plant contain organic acids - formic and acetic, as well as histamine and acetylcholine. Thanks to them, nettle protects itself against those who would like to violate its "inviolability".
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Always get advice from your doctor first before taking any herbs regularly. Do not use if you are unsure of the effects. Do not use in pregnancy and while taking regular medicines. Herbs are not a replacement for your medications.
