Urtica Dioica
The name Urtica is derived from the Latin, Uro - to burn.
The herb is called Stinging Nettle because of the needle like hairs on the leaves that inject a mixture of histamine and formic acid. This same mix is an aid to treat the pain of arthritis and rheumatism. Young plants do not sting. The best time to harvest them is early in the season (late winter, early spring) when they are 2"tall or less. (late March early April).
Stinging Nettle is one of the most nutritious wild plants. It’s very high nutritional content has made it a popular food source. Steamed and eaten like spinach (it does loose the “sting” when cooked), taken as a tea (made from the dried leaves) to assist in the nutrition of expectant or nursing mothers or for general tonic properties for good health.
Stinging nettle leaf has a long history of use. It was use primarily as a diuretic and laxative in ancient Greek times.
CONSTITUENTS
Stinging Nettle contains formic acid, betaine, histamine, acetylcholine, glucoquinone, (modifying blood sugar), chlorogenic acid, mucilage, tannin, silica, beta carotene, calcium, iron, magnesium, calcium, chlorophyll, choline and vitamin C.
Currently, it is believed that polysaccharides (complex sugars) and lectins (large protein-sugar molecules) are probably the most active constituents. Nettle powder contains high amount of protein (38%)
USE
*Urinary tract infection *Anemia *Diabetes *Rheumatic conditions *Blood purification
*Stomach acid *Oily hair *Skin rash *Cholesterol *Enlarge prostate *Seasonal allergies, *Cleansing and antiseptic properties
FACTS AND FOLCLORE
Relief from stinging nettle's burn comes by rubbing inflamed skin with juice from the leaves of dock, jewelweed, rosemary, mint, sage or even crushed leaves of stinging nettle itself!
The fiber in stinging nettle stems is very similar to that of hemp and flax, and for this reason, has historically been an important ingredient in a variety of items, from sailcloth and fishing nets to clothing and paper.
Europeans cook stinging nettle, removing the stinging hairs by boiling, and find it a good source of vitamins A and C, protein and iron.
Pulling up stinging nettle by the roots while calling out a sick person's name was believed to drive away a fever.
Urtication, the process of beating the skin with nettles, was formerly used to treat certain diseases.
Cautions. Avoid nettles if you have severe kidney disease, are on dialysis, or have fluid retention due to congestive heart failure. Nettles may interfere with blood pressure medication. Do not eat the raw leaves.
Tender-handed, stroke a nettle,
and it stings you for your pains.
Grasp it like a man of mettle
and it soft as silk remains.
In Hans Christian Andersen's fairy-tale "The Wild Swans"
Comments