STINGING NETTLE

Nettle is amazingly rich in protein, vitamins & minerals.

 

ROOTS:

The root is recommended as a diuretic, for relief of benign prostatic hyperplasia & other prostate problems & as a natural remedy to treat or prevent baldness.

LEAVES:

Nettle leaf is among the most valuable herbal remedies.

Nettle leaf contains high levels of protein, calcium, phosphorus, iron, magnesium & beta-carotene & high amounts of the vitamins A, C, D & B complex.

The above ground parts are used for anemia, poor circulation, an enlarged spleen, diabetes & other endocrine disorders, stomach acid, diarrhea & dysentery, asthma, lung congestion, rash & eczema, cancer, preventing the signs of aging,blood purification,wound healing & as a general tonic.

The leaf is also used for prostatitis, rheumatism, high blood pressure.Stinging nettle acts similarly to dandelion leaf, promoting the elimination of uric acid from joints.
It has a gentle, stimulating effect on the lymphatic system, enhancing the excretion of wastes through the kidneys.
As a diuretic, stinging nettle increases the secretion & flow of urine. This makes it invaluable in cases of fluid retention & bladder infections.
Nettle can be used in compresses or creams for treating joint pain, sprains & strains, tendonitis & insect bites.
Leaves can be applied to the skin for muscle aches & pains, oily scalp, oily hair & hair loss.

Stinging nettle is an almost ideal herb for those with all types of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis & gout. The anti-inflammatory substances combined with the rich concentration of the minerals boron, calcium & silicon ease the pain while helping to build strong bones.

Nettles contain the highest plant source of iron making it excellent for combating anemia & fatigue. It supports the liver & the female hormonal system.

Consuming stinging nettle tea may help prevent seasonal allergies, or improve symptoms such as sneezing & itching caused by allergic rhinitis if you already have this problem.

For arthritis pains take hot nettle baths.

In case of gallstones or kidney stones the nettle tea is irreplaceable.After treating for a 6 months stones may dissolve or come out.

PRECAUTIONS:

Occasional side effects include mild stomach upset, fluid retention, sweating, diarrhea & hives or rash (mainly from topical use). It is important to be careful when handling the nettle plant because touching it can cause an allergic rash. Stinging nettle should never be applied to an open wound.

Because nettle can alter the menstrual cycle & may contribute to miscarriage, pregnant women should not use nettle.

The sting of the nettle can cause a rash in some people. It is strange but the juice of the nettle can provide relief for its own sting. It can also be relieved by rubbing with leaves of rosemary, mint or sage.

Because stinging nettle can affect the blood’s ability to clot, it could interfere with blood-thinners such as Coumadin, Plavix & aspirin. It should also not be used with prescription medications for high blood pressure or diabetes.

 

RECIPES:

Briefly blanch them to take the sting out, then use them in all sorts of things — stir them into mashed potatoes, risotto or a homemade bread dough, make a compound butter with them or even nettle pesto. The most popular way to cook them, though, seems to be in a soup.

Nettle Tea

1 cup water

1-2 tsp nettles

Pour boiling water over the nettles & leave it stand covered for 10-15 min if using dried herb or 3-4 min if using from fresh.

Its best way to take half cup before meals.

Stores 24 h.

For treatment take for a 21-25 days.

Nettle tea is very good for after taking antibiotics.

Relaxing & good night sleep teas

Mix of any of these herbs:cowslip,st.johns wort,oregano,common heather,hops,peppermint,lemon balm,calendula ,dill,chamomile,nettle,white dead-nettle,thyme,rose hips etc.

1 tsp  of herbs

Pour over with 1 cup of boiling water.

Wait for the leaves to infuse for 5-10 min.

Tea to support the heart

Mix of any of these herbs:white dead nettle,birch leaves,wild strawberry flowers,leaves & berries,lemon balm,peppermint,Indian cress,parsley,yarrow,dill,hops,knotweed etc.

Heart & circulation support

1 tbsp nettle leaves

1 tbsp yarrow

Pour over 2 cups of boiling water,let it stand for 5-10 min.

Drink 1 cup at the morning & at the evening before meals.

Tea for kidneys

1 tsp st.john wort

1 tsp nettles

1 tsp knotweed

Pour over 2 cups of boiling water,infuse for 10 min,strain.

Drink half cup of the tea 3 times a day before every meal for 3 weeks.

Then have a break for 2-3 weeks.

During this time avoid meat.

Gastritis

1tsp of each herb:st.johns wort,knotweed,oregano,nettle leaves,shepherd’s-purse,yarrow

Take 4 tbsp of herb mix,pour over with 1 l boiling water,boil for 15 min,leave to stand for 3-5 hours.Strain.

Drink 0,5 cups 3 times a day 30 min before meals.

Tea for aterosclerosis

1 tbsp lime flowers

2 tbsp red clover

2 tbsp cowslips

10 tbsp nettles

Home remedy for cuts
Fill the bottle with nettles,pour over with 50% vodka.
Close the bottle & leave for 2 weeks to stand on sunny place.
Helps the cuts heal faster & protects from infection.

Drink for liver problems
3 tbsp nettles boil in 500 ml water for 5 min.
Strain,add 1tbsp honey & drink hot, half cup at a time,4 times per day.

Diabetes
1tbsp mix of following herbs:dandelion roots,nettle leaves,blueberry leaves,lady’s mantle

1cup of water
Boil the herbs with water for 3 min.Leave it stand for 1 h,strain.
Take 1 tbsp 3 times every day without sugar

Anemia
2 tbsp of birch leaves & nettle leaves.

Pour over with 300 ml boiling water,leave it stand for 3 hours,strain.
Drink 3-4 times a day over 3-4 weeks.

Bath for tired aching feet

1 handful of nettle roots
1 handful of leaves
Pour over 5 l water & keep overnight.
Next day bring it to boil,use as hot as possible but be very careful not to burn yourself!!Keep your feet in for 20 min you don’t have to take nettles out.
You can use it 2-3 times warming it up again.

My Favorite Spring Tonic

1 handful of nettles
1 handful of dandelion flowers
2-3 lemon balm leaves
1-2 lemons,sliced
1,5l water

Pour boiling water over the herbs.Leave to infuse,covered for 24 h.
Drink 1-2 cups every day over the day in small amounts.
Keep in the refrigerator.

Nettle Soup

150 g  young nettle leaves,chopped
50 g  butter
2-3 potatoes, peeled & chopped
1 onion, chopped
1-2 leeks,chopped
salt & freshly ground black pepper
1 l chicken stock
125 ml  cream or  milk
Black bread, to serve

Toss the potatoes,onions & leeks in the butter.
Add the chicken stock & bring to the boil, then reduce to a simmer & cook until the vegetables are tender. Add the chopped nettle leaves & simmer for just a few minutes more.

Liquidize the soup, then add the cream or milk, stir it through & reheat.

Season.

Serve hot with drizzle of cream & black bread.

Nettle Frittata 

6-10 eggs
~100g streaky bacon,chop,fry in butter
1 1/2 cups of milk
2 tbsp of butter,melted
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1  onion,chopped
2 cups stir fried nettle leaves(cooked in bacon grease)
1 cup grated Cheddar cheese

Preheat the oven.

Using the big pan you can put into the oven,fry the bacon & onion with butter,add nettle leaves,cook & season.

Whisk together eggs, milk, butter & cheese,add salt & pepper.

Pour the egg mixture over the pan with nettle mixture.
Place into the oven & bake until golden & the center feels firm & springy, ~15-30 minutes depending on the number of eggs used.

Juicing nettles is a great way to get a daily dose of nutrition for free without trying to grow greens in trays. Taking a daily nettle juice for 30 days is a great spring cleanse. You can juice it on its own in little shots or add fruits and vegetables.

Nettle-potato salad

300 g boiled potatoes

100 g cucumber,

100 g radishes,sliced

200 g fresh nettle leaves

1 egg,boiled

few scallions

salt

100 g natural yogurt or sour cream

Pour boiling water over the nettles,leave for 2 min,strain & chop.

Cut all components into small pieces.Mix with yogurt or sour cream,season.

Nettle & Sorrel Soup with Quail Eggs

Handful of nettles

Handful of sorrel leaves,chopped

2 l chicken stock

400 g potatoes,peeled,cut into small cubes

400 g onions,chopped

knob of butter

4-8 quail eggs,boiled,halved

salt,pepper

Fry onions with butter.

Place the nettles into the boiling water for a minute,dry,chop.

Bring the stock to boil,add potatoes.

When potatoes are ready add onions,nettles,then sorrel.

Take off the heat,season.

Leave to stand,covered, for 30 min before serving.

Serve with sour cream & yogurt & halved quail eggs.

Nettle & Eggs Sandwich Spread

4 eggs,boiled,chop using the back of the fork

35g grated cheese

1 dl blanched nettles,chopped

3 tbsp mayonnaise

Mix it all,season.

Great spread on toast,especially good on brown bread.

Italian nettle pesto Pesto di ortica 

3 garlic cloves
2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
3-4 cups fresh nettles
Coarse salt
3-4 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
2 tbsp toasted pine nuts or any nuts you like

Get a large pot of boiling water & add a handful of salt.
Using tongs lower the nettles into the boiling water. Stir around & boil for 1-2 minutes.Drain immediately & then place the greens in a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking. Cool, strain & squeeze dry using a tea towel to remove every drop of moisture that you can.
This particular pesto is best made with a mortar and pestle. You can make this in a food processor, but it will not be the same.
First add the pine nuts & crush lightly.
Roughly chop the garlic & add it to the mortar, then pound a little. Add the salt, red pepper flakes, cheese & the nettles.
Mash everything together well.
Start adding olive oil. How much depends on how you are using your pesto. If you are making a spread or adding to a risotto, add about 2 tbsp.
For a pasta sauce, double that or more. Either way, you add 1 tbsp at a time, pounding and stirring to incorporate it.
Can be used to prepare delicious bruschettas,pies or risotto.
Serve as a spread on bread  or add 1-2 tbsp to a minestrone soup, as a pasta sauce or on top of fish or poultry.

Nettle Pie

For base:

~3 dl flour

100 g butter

2 tbsp water

salt

Filling:

1 l fresh nettle leaves

2 eggs

1 tomato,chopped

2 dl fresh cream

1 dl grated cheese

chopped parsley

salt,pepper

Make the dough & place to the refrigerator for 30 min.

Blanch the nettles,strain,chop.

Place the dough over the baking tin base & walls,bake at the 180C for ca 10 min.

Mix all the filling ingredients,place onto the base & bake another 25 min or until its ready.

Nettle, Carrot & Apple Juice

1 bunch of nettles
4 carrots
2 apples
Run the nettles through the juicer, then the carrots & apples

Tropical Smoothie with Nettles

A few handfuls of nettle leaves
1 mango
1 banana
2-3 cups of orange juice

Blend

You can also use pears or apples instead..

Prostate Tonic

2 parts nettle root

1 part nettle leaf
1 part nettle seed
vodka or brandy
Pour alcohol over the herbs,cover & leave to infuse in the warm place for couple of weeks.

Strain.

 

As a preventive, supporting good health for the prostate, take ½ -1 tsp 2 or 3 times daily for 3 months.

Discontinue use for 2 to 3 weeks, then repeat the cycle.

For greater benefit, add 1 part saw palmetto berries.

All men over the age of 50 would be wise to use tonic herbs & foods to nourish & protect their prostate gland.

Nettle, especially the root & seed, is a well-known prostate tonic. Take a daily dose along with a handful of pumpkin seeds as an excellent preventive health measure.

 

BEAUTY:

Just when you thought you couldn’t get any more uses out of this wonderful herb,there are also wonderful skincare properties of nettle. It is anti-inflammatory, astringent, bactericidal, healing, mildly deodorant & stimulating.

Because of its nourishing, diuretic & anti-inflammatory properties, nettle tea is a natural beautifier to skin & hair. Nettle tea has been shown to clear acne & eczema as well as encourage thicker, shinier hair & new hair growth.

For acne prone or dull, congested skin you should drink 3-4 cups of nettle tea a day for two weeks. After two weeks, take a week off drinking it & see how your skin looks & feels before resuming.
Drinking the tea for two weeks will also gift you with shiny, thicker-looking hair. To heighten the effect, you can rinse your hair with the tea as well. Research has shown that stinging nettle may also be effective in reducing scalp conditions, dandruff & baldness.

Nutritious hair mask

 

handful of dried herbs:nettles,chamomile,st.johns wort,red clover,Indian cress

125 ml olive oil

Mix it all & leave to stand in airtight jar for a week.

Strain through cheesecloth.

Work the mask through your hair & massage it into your scalp.

Wash out with warm water after 30min.

 

MAGIC:

Nettle is an ancient herb of protection.

Use it to send back the evil by sprinkling it around the home.

Burn it to avert danger; hold to keep ghosts at bay.

To remove a curse & send it back, stuff a poppet with nettle, or carry some in a sachet.
A pot of freshly cut nettles placed beneath a sickbed will aid in the person’s recovery.

Brooms made of Nettle are used to sweep out evil & send it back.

For healing power, pluck a Nettle up by it’s roots & recite the name of the sick person & his/her parents.
Place Nettle leaves into pockets to be safe from lighting.

If dry leaves are placed into shoes, it will keep evil from leading one to harmful places.

Use in purification baths because it is ‘more carnivorous’ than other herbs & so will work more efficiently.

Wash the floors with nettle water to send back the curse.