Stinging Nettle: A Nutrient-Rich Herbal Remedy
Discover the Nutritional Power of Stinging Nettle
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One of the wisest information I ever heard was that a weed was a plant that know one knew the benefit of yet. So when stinging nettle showed up in my beautiful garden, before I immediately ripped out the roots, I looked into the benefits, and decided to take a cutting instead, and i was immediately pleasantly surprised by the results!
Mother nature is an awesome power, and it is said that she brings you the plants you need when you need them, so before you go around pulling the weeds in your garden, spend some time researching what they are, it may be just what you needed. At the time, I was suffering from incredibly painful, heavy, debilitating periods, and after drinking stinging nettle I noticed an incredible amount of relief. The pain was gone, this set me up on a long journey, stinging nettle was my first baby! This lead me to go into holistic medicine, studying, taking a course at Cornell in plant medicine and transforming my garden (to my neighbors dismay) into a haven for what most people would call “weeds”.
This post is all about the benefits of stinging nettle, what it is, how it works and how to harvest it. Get ready to be pleasantly surprised by the incredible benefits. The History
The history of stinging nettle
Stinging nettle has been used as a medicinal herb since 1200 BC. Even the mighty sting, which the plant is known for, was used by Roman soldiers. They would flog themselves with the stinging herb to increase alertness and energy. Julius Caesar's soldiers also rubbed themselves with stinging nettle to stay awake during campaigns, a very creative but painful way to maintain alertness. Native Americans used stinging nettle for food (it tastes like spinach), rope making, fabric, nets, and even ceremonially. In the German language, to sit in nettles was to get into trouble. Even Shakespeare mentions stinging nettle; in Hotspur, he urges that "out of this nettle, danger, we pluck this flower, safety" and Aesop's fable mentioning to grasp the nettle in "The Boy and the Nettle," referring to being able to tackle a difficulty boldly. The plant originated in Europe and Asia, is incredibly prolific, and obviously always very popular.
The Composition of the Plant
The name of stinging nettle says it all; it definitely stings. A simple brushing by the plant causes serious pain, swelling, redness, and bumps. This is because of the hypodermic-shaped needles at the base and underside of the leaves, which release formic acid, histamine, and serotonin as a natural defense when disturbed. The stems can grow as high as 7 feet a season, are prolific in summer, and die back each winter, but they always come up bigger and better because of the rhizome-like roots that spread like crazy. Each year we get at least 6 different cuttings from one set of plants that we use to make teas and tinctures with and also enjoy stir-fried with garlic and lemon. I even feed it to my pets (ducks, dogs, and cats) to fortify their nutritional intake.
The Nutritional Impact of Stinging Nettle
This plant is FULL of nutrients, even the sting holds benefits, let’s take a look at all the beautiful benefits:
Pain Relief: A 2000 study found that applying stinging nettle leaves to the thumb or index finger of patients with osteoarthritis for one week significantly reduced pain and disability. The study also found no serious effects in patients and no adverse reports in the literature. Those who suffer from arthritis and musculoskeletal pain also benefit from “grasping the nettle”
Mineral Richness: Stinging Nettle is incredibly rich in minerals:
Iron: Vital for blood health and preventing anemia.
Copper: Aids iron absorption and supports cardiovascular health.
Calcium: Essential for bone health and muscle function.
Magnesium: Crucial for muscle and nerve function, and energy production.
Potassium: Regulates fluid balance, muscle contractions, and nerve signals.
Phosphorus: Involved in energy production and bone health.
Manganese: Supports bone health and metabolic processes.
Zinc: Enhances immune function and wound healing.
Silica: Important for skin, hair, and bone health.
Selenium: Acts as an antioxidant and supports thyroid function.
Vitamins A, C, K:
Vitamin A: Essential for cell growth, infection resistance, liver health, and reproductive and bone health.
Vitamin K: Aids in blood clotting, heart health, and bone remineralization.
Vitamin C: Enhances iron absorption, collagen production, and immune function.
Stinging nettle also contains a range of beneficial compounds.
Adaptogen: An adaptogen bring your body back to balance, help relieve stress, anxiety and fatigue. Stinging Nettle acts as a hormonal adaptogen, balancing the bodies hormones to get it back to homeostasis.
Packed with protein: Stinging nettle is super high in protein, especially the leaves, which is what makes it excellent at removing toxic protein waste and helping process protein within the body.
Tonifying: Tonifying plants are herbs and botanicals known for their ability to support and strengthen the body’s systems, particularly the vital organs and overall energy. The term "tonify" refers to enhancing or restoring the function and health of specific areas of the body. Stinging Nettle aids those who have blood deficiencies because of its high iron count; it really helps with problems such as anemia, but it also enhances circulation, supporting the endocrine system, organ function, digestion, and immune function.
High in Iron: Stinging nettle has an incredibly high amount of bio-availbale iron, meaning it can easily be absorbed and used by the body.
The Women’s herb: We use Stinging nettle in a few of our herbal blends, but mostly the Women’s Aid Tincture, and the Womb healing tea because of its super supporting role, not only does it assist in anemia, as mentioned above, which many women suffer from, but it also helps regulate the menstrual cycle and reduce pain,, restores the womb functioning, it’s safe enough to take during pregnancy and even helps boost the production of breast milk in new mothers.
Reduces inflammation: This herb is excellent when taken internally for arthritis, sciatica, joint pain, because of its ability to open the capillaries and increase circulation.
A diuretic: stinging nettle promotes urination, cleanses the kidneys and helps to relieve one of kidney stones, by breaking them down and dissolving them.
Expectorant: Stinging nettle can relieve glutinous mucus, unsticking it from the pathways so it can be spat out.
The list goes on and on, it helps with allergy support, strengthens the thyroid, increases excretion of uric acid, helps with gout, asthma, skin diseases, and prostate.
The herb can be drying when taken on its own, which is why we blend it with moistening herbs to alleviate these effects.
Common Questions about Stinging Nettle Plant Benefits:
What does nettle do for a woman?
Stinging nettle is an excellent women's herb, with the ability to help ease menstrual and menopause symptoms, balance the hormones, and ease fertility troubles. It also assists with supporting the thyroid, provides the body with calcium and helps with skin and hair.
Is stinging nettle safe for kidneys?
Because Stinging Nettle has diuretic like properties, it assists the kidneys in flushing kidney stones, assists with detoxing and supports removing toxins and excess fluids from the body.
Who should not drink nettle tea?
Stinging Nettle is considered safe for everyone, while it can be drying, it can by adding a moistening agent, like honey can counteract these effects.
What is a stinging nettle plant good for?
Stinging Nettle benefits everyone from all ages, with the current state of our health condition, especially in America, the lack of nutrition in our vegetation and soil, adding stinging nettle to your diet can help you absorb more nutrients to power your cells.
When should I consume stinging nettle for the best benefits?
The optimal times to use stinging nettle include just before or during your menstrual cycle to help ease discomfort, when experiencing kidney stones and in need of relief, or if you're feeling dehydrated. While the plant can be drying, it contains essential minerals that help your cells retain water. Additionally, it can be beneficial for those dealing with anemia, low iron levels, or low energy, providing a nutritious boost when needed.
Can I take stinging nettle while pregnant?
While some medical reports say to shy away from stinging nettle during pregnancy because it acts as a diuretic, it has been used to help with nausea, pregnancy discomfort, leg cramps, energy and more during pregnancy for thousands of years. It can definitely help with iron deficiency during pregnancy and reduce the risk of hemorrhage! Post-pregnancy is even better, it helps restore the body after giving birth, helps boost breast milk production, helps tonify the body and repair the organs by nourishing the cells.
