Nettle- A Powerful and Popular Herb

stinging nettle (urtica dioica)

Today, I'd like to talk about stinging nettle.

I am currently a member of the Greater Lakes American Herbalist Guild Chapter here in Chicago, and we took a poll to see which herbs people in our group utilize. Nettle made it's way to the top of the list. I've never personally used nettle, but after reading about it, I can see why it's a favorite of herbalists in my area. I will certainly begin including it in my tonics and teas in the future.

History

Although nettle is seen as an invasive weed, it is an incredibly adaptive and pervasive plant that can be found in different varieties all over the world. In North America, the most common form used by herbalists is stinging nettle (urtica dioica).

According to A Modern Herbal, the history of the name "nettle" comes from its former use.

The common name of the Nettle, or rather its Anglo-Saxon and also Dutch equivalent, Netel, is said to have been derived from Noedl (a needle), possibly from the sharp sting, or, as Dr. Prior suggests, in reference to the fact that it was this plant that supplied the thread used in former times by the Germanic and Scandinavian nations before the general introduction of flax, Net being the passive participle of ne, a verb common to most of the Indo-European languages in the sense of 'spin' and 'sew' (Latin nere, German na-hen, Sanskrit nah, bind). Nettle would seem, he considers, to have meant primarily that with which one sews.

Stinging nettles are known for their needles which inject chemicals into your skin if you happen to brush them. These chemicals sting (hence the name) and cause raised bumps on your skin. The sting disappears when nettle is cooked or dried, however. Not all nettle stings, but stinging nettle is most popularly used in Western medicine.

NOTE: You can forage for your own nettle in many areas in North America, but make sure to wear gloves, be able to identify the plant correctly, and always cook the nettle or make it into tea before ingesting. Some herbalists say that you can roll the nettle in your GLOVED hands to break the needles off and chew on it raw, but this is something I recommend only for those who have worked with nettle and who are very brave.

Uses

Internally, nettle leaves are used for MANY different ailments. They include too many to mention, but there is an extensive list of nettle's uses by Kassie Vance on her website.

The reason this herb is used for so many ailments is its rich mineral content. According to Steve Brill, nettles are rich in calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, phosphorous, manganese, silica, iodine, silicon, sodium, and sulfur. They also provide chlorophyll and tannin, are a good source of vitamin C, beta-carotene, B complex vitamins and protein. This combination makes nettle a super-food of sorts!

Stinging nettle is a strengthening tonic that can lift your spirits and calm irritability. According to Gayla Trail, nettle tea can help allergy sufferers fight symptoms of seasonal allergies.  Know that it has to build in your system — you can’t expect to drink one cup of tea and find yourself symptom free. The tea itself tastes green and rich, unlike many other teas, and is pleasant to drink on a regular basis. Nettle is actually a drying agent and helps to dry up excess mucus as well.

picking nettle in the wild for tea- notice the gloves!

Nettle tea is great for weak immune systems, as it is packed with nutrients that give strength. It is useful for those who suffer from chronic disorders that require long-term treatment as it stimulates the lymphatic system and helps flush toxins from the kidney. Because of its iron content, it also works for anemia and fatigue, particularly for women.


Disclaimer: Nettle may lower blood pressure and heart rate. Avoid chronic use due to its diuretic effects. Do not take if pregnant or breast-feeding. Do not take if diabetic. Also, lots of nettle tea will make you have to pee a lot. 


Recipes


Greg Seaman offers a simple way to make tea from nettles that you have collected yourself. Fresh nettles are best when foraged for in the wild.

 Add water to your collected nettle leaves and heat to a near boil. Use about two cups of water for a cup of leaves. You can make the tea stronger by steeping longer, or weaker by adding more water. Once the water is near boiling, reduce heat and simmer for a couple minutes. Pour through a small strainer and enjoy. 


NOTE: When using any new herb, it's best to start with one cup a day, and then gradually increase your dose to more once your body recognizes it as the wonder that it is.

If you'd like to try something really different, make Nettle Soup. Nettle soup is delicious and nutritious.  

If you are unable to forage for your own stinging nettles, it has been found that freeze-dried nettles are the next best thing to use for allergy sufferers. A tincture of 40% water and 60% ethanol can also be used three times daily as well.

I am looking forward to speaking with my fellow herbalists about nettle and learning more about this powerful herb in our next meeting. To my followers, I hope you enjoy this information and do more research as there is so much more to this herb!

References
herbwisdom.com
yougrowgirl.com
A Modern Herbal: Nettle
Wild Man Steve Brill: Nettle

helping a headache without pills- day 1

skullcap- great for headaches!

Headaches are annoying. They get in the way of feeling productive and healthy, and frankly, are no fun. And they are unfortunately common because of their many causes, including low blood sugar, dehydration, allergies, constipation, eye stress, emotional tension, too much alcohol, not enough sleep... the list goes on.

But I also hate taking a pill every time a headache appears. Most pills may give relief eventually, but take time to get into the blood system. Also, they may treat the pain, but they do not get to the root of the problem. One pill cannot help every cause of every headache. Based on the many causes above, if it did it would be a wonder drug.

Because there are many headache triggers, there are also many solutions that can better treat each headache depending on its cause. So, when a headache hits, you first need to take an inventory of what is going on in your life.

1. Did you not sleep well?
2. Did you eat too many sweets or cold foods such as ice cream or drink too much alcohol?
3. Did you eat something that may have triggered an allergic reaction?
4. Have you been under a lot of stress, either physically or mentally?
5. Have you not eaten enough or skipped a meal?
6. Have you been staring at the computer or television screen all day?
7. Have you been drinking water or tea during the day?

me and my journal

At one point in my life, when my headaches began to get out of control, I began to journal my habits during the day. I would note what I ate, how I felt in the morning and at night, and if and when a headache hit. It helped me to realize that my eating habits were not as good as I thought they were, and that sometimes I did not drink enough water. Since then, I've found that many of my headaches are caused by a) not drinking water or b) eating something that triggered an allergic reaction.

If you've never kept a food/habit journal, I recommend trying it if you suffer from frequent headaches. If possible, have a small one so that you can have it with you during the day, so that you can write down notes without having to remember them when you get home. You never know what you will learn about yourself in the process!

chamomile

Now, what to do about a headache if one happens to rear its ugly head?

Well, it's a little complicated, so bear with me. I'm going to deal with some remedies and activities first, and then follow up with another post on some other remedies and herbal blends. Otherwise, this post will be way too long.

Also, I'm not an expert herbalist or health practitioner, and so whatever I say is not the end-all be-all. There are many ways to relieve a headache, and some of them involve seeking other alternative help such as massage, chiropractic care, or other practices. However, based on my own experience, many of these remedies are worth a try and have no harmful side effects as long as they are taken in moderation.

lavender oil

1. Didn't sleep well? Try to find a way to fall asleep and stay asleep this evening. Take a lavender oil bath by adding lavender essential oil to a tub, or at least do a footbath with lavender oil. Convince your loved one to give you a shoulder or foot massage, and then cuddle up in a warm bed. Try a cup of chamomile and lavender tea while you are taking your bath too, and sprinkle a little lavender oil on your pillow before your head hits the pillow.

2. Had too many drinks or too much of that ice cream sundae? And then, afterwards, experience a craving for pickles or salty fries? You may be experiencing a "vascular" headache. Rosemary Gladstar recommends quickly eating salty foods such as a cup of miso soup or briney olives. Or, try an alkalizing tea such as a mixture of dandelion root, burdock root, and yellow dock root with some skullcap tincture. Now, I'm not familiar with this particular herbal blend, but I am of the believe that a cup of miso cures anything. And it's tasty too. You can find a recipe for that on my other blog if you click on the link!

3. When I ingest wheat, I get a headache that lingers. Headaches caused by allergies can be complicated to identify, but with some persistence and care they can be identified and prevented. If your allergy is pollen and mold related, it's best to try to control your surroundings. I'm no expert on this, but a cup of Headache Tea made with lemon balm, feverfew, and lavender will help (recipe to follow soon).

If it's a food allergy, first identify the culprit. This may mean going to an allergist and having them do a test, and possibly going on an elimination diet. These diets are a pain, but are extremely helpful in identifying foods that are triggers. I would have never realized I was allergic to wheat unless I had done it myself.

However, sometimes a headache is triggered unknowingly by allergies, and so drinking some chamomile and lavender  tea, relaxing, and eating simple foods such as vegetables, brown rice, and drinking lots of water can help to relieve this kind of headache.

If you like this post, you'll love my next one. Stay tuned and next week I'll talk more about stress headaches, dehydration, herbal tea blends, and the lovely herb skullcap. Can't wait to have you stop by again soon!

References:
A Modern Herbal- Chamomile
Rosemary Gladstar's Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health