Simply Amazing Stinging Nettle!

By Staff
Updated on May 6, 2015
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What do you think of Stinging Nettle? I am always amazed at how much this plant can do for you. Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) is chock full of medicinal and nutritional benefits. It is called “stinging” for a reason – fine, stinging hairs filled with formic acid, just like fire ant bites, cover the entire plant. So you thinking, why in the heck do I want this plant if it is going to hurt me? Trust me, you will love this plant once you hear about all the good stuff!

Let’s start with the medicinal benefits:

Herbal Actions – Blood Tonic, astringent, diuretic, hypotensive, anti-inflammatory, mild styptic, UT tonic.

Those stinging hairs also contain histamine and when the leaves and stems are freeze dried, the histamines are contained  and capsulized. The nettle then acts like an anti-histamine in your body. These capsules may help your allergy symptoms when taken daily.

A tincture or tea of nettle helps chronic skin and hair dryness, blood deficiency, hair loss and the immune system. I frequently add nettle to just about every client’s formula because it works well with many symptoms and boosts the immune system, which all of us could use a little boosting!

The root is used for Benign Prostate Hyperplasia(BPH), poor urinary output and urinary incontinence.

Contraindications: Avoid using with hemochromotosis(excess iron levels) or hyperkalemia(elevated potassium in the blood).

Nutritional Benefits: Iron, High Protein, Chlorophyll, Vitamins A, B, C, Calcium, Magnesium, Serotonin, Amino Acids.

Just plain good stuff!!

Here is a tonic recipe that is used by many and I believe the original recipe goes to Susun Weed.

1 ounce by weight of dried nettle leaf

32 ounces by volume of water(I use cold)

Pour water over herb in a quart canning jar. Cover and let steep 4 hours or overnight. Strain and drink within 2 days.

Check out my blog for a fabulous Spanakopita Recipe using fresh nettles! 😀

www.bellavistafarm.wordpress.com

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