Herb Spotlight - Stinging Nettle
Nettle (Urtica) is often included on an herbalists top 5 favorites list. The plant that stings and causes agony when handled incorrectly is also one of the most nutritive and mineral dense herbs out there. As a child, I cried more than once after walking into a nettle patch and decided it was probably the worst plant to ever exist. Now, I drink it almost daily and love it deeply. I respect it as well. After handling it and ingesting it often I developed a sort of tolerance for it and the sting no longer causes sharp pain, but a sort of dull tingling that is easily tolerated.
I recently witnessed a sixty something year old man gathering nettle by the armful with bare arms and hands. He just shrugged and said he's used to it and it doesn't bother him. And then there was me around 5 years ago, wading through a nettle patch and stupidly not recognizing it. I spent about 15 minutes sitting in the nearby river waiting for the pain to leave. I had large red welts all over my legs.
Interestingly enough, nettle has been used as medicine for centuries, specifically for skin conditions and for improving blood flow. If someone had arthritis in their hand a doctor would take fresh nettle and gently hit the person's skin in the area of arthritis and it improved circulation and pain.
What is it good for?
Dried Nettle in an herbal tea infusion is well known remedy for allergies. Drinking it daily can help support your body during allergy season. I have heard stories of taking reactions like sneezing and watery eyes away completely! I often recommend it to women because of the high iron and other nutrients. Used fresh, nettle tops almost any other green in healthiness. Nettle does not sting after it is sauteed or steamed. Harvest the young stalks carefully and add it to casseroles or soups or steam it and eat it on fresh bread or as a side for your meal. It is incredibly nourishing.
Nettle has high amounts of iron, potassium, magnesium, Vitamins C, A, K and calcium.
Fun fact: if you read clothing labels as obsessively as I do, you may see one that says Ramie! That is nettle, similar to flax, it is durable and tough.
Our favorite products that contain Nettle:
Mineral Tonic: a highly nutritive oxymel made with herbs like nettle, dandelion and shavegrass.
Women's Wellness Tea: a tea for women in all stages of life, to support overall health and vitality.