Note: This article first appeared in The Future of Health Now in 2013
"Nettles are so well known that they need no
description. They may be found, by feeling, in the darkest night." -
Culpeper (1561)
Have you ever gone hiking in shorts and brushed through a patch of stinging nettles? You know it right away. You feel as if you've been attacked by a swarm of bees! Your legs swell with scores of burning, aching red dots that last for hours. What could these lanced devils possibly be good for?
A lot, as it turns out. Stinging nettle has experienced a revive in both the natural health and childbearing communities, and this is no surprise. It is easy to prepare and delicious to consume, with a myriad of health benefits.
That painful sting has been used by many arthritis sufferers for generations, though not everyone is convinced. Some have found that thrashing affected joints with the nettles will provide relief for the entire nettle season. Nettles increase the body's production of T Cells, which help to control allergic reactions and it is anti-inflammatory. An infusion helps excretion of uric acid, giving further relief to gout and arthritic pain.
Stinging nettle is particularly popular in the pregnant/breastfeeding community due to its high content of calcium, iron, vitamin C, and chlorophyll. One cup of blanched nettle contains 43% of your RDV (recommended daily value) of calcium, 24% fibre, and 8% iron! For these reasons it can be used to help anemia and is considered a crucial supplement for the development of the fetus. Nettle may also ease nightly leg cramps/spasms, afterbirth pain, and aid muscle recovery for its high vitamin and mineral content. It is also a great source of vitamin K, which can help prevent hemorrhage during and after childbirth. After pregnancy, it is still consumed for its nutrition and galactogogue benefits. Anyone healing their teeth or bones will do well to add stinging nettle to their daily meals or drinks.
As many gardeners will tell you, an infusion of stinging nettle also makes a beautifying rinse to strengthen hair and give a healthy shine. It has been used as a face wash as well.
Nettle grows where the soil is rich, and is said to be a good indicator of high-quality land. Find it in shady areas with moist soil along roadsides, farmland, and ditches.
Steam nettles with a bit of salt, or use to replace spinach in most recipes. It also brews a delicious tea and a mineral-rich soup. Although saliva will neutralize the sting, it is not recommended to eat nettles raw in great quantities as it may irritate the kidneys. This doesn't stop some, however, from adding it to smoothies.
Next time you run into a patch of stinging nettle, don't be surprised if your expletives of pain are followed by cheers! Harvest with care, using gloves and scissors, harvest responsibly and ethically, and enjoy nature's multivitamin!
Have you ever gone hiking in shorts and brushed through a patch of stinging nettles? You know it right away. You feel as if you've been attacked by a swarm of bees! Your legs swell with scores of burning, aching red dots that last for hours. What could these lanced devils possibly be good for?
A lot, as it turns out. Stinging nettle has experienced a revive in both the natural health and childbearing communities, and this is no surprise. It is easy to prepare and delicious to consume, with a myriad of health benefits.
That painful sting has been used by many arthritis sufferers for generations, though not everyone is convinced. Some have found that thrashing affected joints with the nettles will provide relief for the entire nettle season. Nettles increase the body's production of T Cells, which help to control allergic reactions and it is anti-inflammatory. An infusion helps excretion of uric acid, giving further relief to gout and arthritic pain.
Stinging nettle is particularly popular in the pregnant/breastfeeding community due to its high content of calcium, iron, vitamin C, and chlorophyll. One cup of blanched nettle contains 43% of your RDV (recommended daily value) of calcium, 24% fibre, and 8% iron! For these reasons it can be used to help anemia and is considered a crucial supplement for the development of the fetus. Nettle may also ease nightly leg cramps/spasms, afterbirth pain, and aid muscle recovery for its high vitamin and mineral content. It is also a great source of vitamin K, which can help prevent hemorrhage during and after childbirth. After pregnancy, it is still consumed for its nutrition and galactogogue benefits. Anyone healing their teeth or bones will do well to add stinging nettle to their daily meals or drinks.
As many gardeners will tell you, an infusion of stinging nettle also makes a beautifying rinse to strengthen hair and give a healthy shine. It has been used as a face wash as well.
Nettle grows where the soil is rich, and is said to be a good indicator of high-quality land. Find it in shady areas with moist soil along roadsides, farmland, and ditches.
Steam nettles with a bit of salt, or use to replace spinach in most recipes. It also brews a delicious tea and a mineral-rich soup. Although saliva will neutralize the sting, it is not recommended to eat nettles raw in great quantities as it may irritate the kidneys. This doesn't stop some, however, from adding it to smoothies.
Next time you run into a patch of stinging nettle, don't be surprised if your expletives of pain are followed by cheers! Harvest with care, using gloves and scissors, harvest responsibly and ethically, and enjoy nature's multivitamin!
*Please always consult a healthcare professional of your choosing if you are on medication or have a health condition before beginning any herbal regime*
Resources:
Prescription for Herbal Healing - Phyllis A. Balch
Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year - Susan S. Weed
Wise Woman Herbal Healing Wise - Susan S. Weed
The New Age Herbalist - Richard Mabey
Resources:
Prescription for Herbal Healing - Phyllis A. Balch
Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year - Susan S. Weed
Wise Woman Herbal Healing Wise - Susan S. Weed
The New Age Herbalist - Richard Mabey
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