nettle, burn nettle
Plant Whisper
Parts of the plant used: Herb – all above-ground parts, fruits/seeds, and roots
For Sebastian Kneipp (1821-1897), the stinging nettle was one of the most important medicinal plants. He wrote: “The stinging nettle is indeed of the greatest value to connoisseurs. Fresh nettles, picked straight from the ground, dried, and used to make tea, loosen mucus in the chest and lungs, cleanse the stomach of impurities, and support kidney function. A tea made from nettle roots thoroughly cleanses […] of putrid humors from within!” And Maria Treben (1907-1991), the discoverer of Swedish bitters, also wrote: “The stinging nettle is our best blood-purifying and simultaneously blood-forming medicinal plant.”
Nettle leaves taste delicious in smoothies, soups, sauces, quiches, salads, bread and rolls, with vegetables, and as a substitute for spinach. Thus, they can also exert their health-promoting and detoxifying effects in the kitchen. The seeds, briefly roasted in a dry pan, can enhance any salad. The healing power of nettles can be used externally and internally as juice, tea, tincture, and bath additive, or through the nettle stems.
Furthermore, the seeds contain a lot of linoleic acid – nettle seed oil can be extracted from them. The oil has a slightly nutty aroma and can be used as a cooking oil. It is also suitable for internal and external use, especially for people with inflammatory conditions such as gout and rheumatism. Nettle tea promotes urine production and thus alleviates bladder and kidney infections. The tincture can be massaged into the scalp to combat hair loss and dandruff. Taking a tincture made from the root is said to help with prostate problems. It's possible to mistake it for non-flowering dead-nettle species (Lamium spec.) and the nettle-leaved bellflower (Campanula trachelium) – however, these don't have stinging hairs.
Nettle Cream Cheese
100 g young nettle leaves
200 g cream cheese
2 to 3 cloves of garlic
A squeeze of lemon juice
Salt, pepper
Briefly dip the nettles in boiling water using a sieve, drain well, and chop finely. Press or chop the garlic. Mix everything with the cream cheese and season with lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
...
Botanical Facts
Prefers moist, nitrogen-rich soils; especially good along streams.
extremely frost-resistant down to -35 degrees
Northern Hemisphere
July - October
sunny to partially shaded
nutrient-rich places, riparian forests, forest edges
Healing Properties
Urinary tract infections, rheumatism, osteoarthritis, colds, detoxification
Traditional uses: Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica, Urtica urens) was considered a plant that strengthens the "sanguis principle," meaning vital energy, warmth, and moisture. Its applications were diverse, ranging from skin ailments and respiratory catarrh with excessive mucus to male impotence (roots and seeds).
Perspective of modern medicine: The concept of "blood purification" is outdated from a modern point of view. At the same time, the stinging nettle herb (Urtica herba) contains numerous constituents such as unsaturated fatty acids, flavonoids, caffeoylquinic acids, mineral salts, especially potassium salts and silicic acid, which indicate a diuretic and anti-inflammatory effect. The so-called stinging hairs of the leaves contain biogenic amines such as histamine, serotonin, and acetylcholine.
Nettle herb is used to support treatment for rheumatic complaints, to flush out the urinary tract in cases of inflammatory diseases of the urinary tract, or for kidney stones. Caution: Do not use in cases of fluid retention due to impaired kidney or heart function.
Nettle herb is used to support treatment for rheumatic complaints, to flush out the urinary tract in cases of inflammatory diseases of the urinary tract, or for kidney stones. Caution: Do not use in cases of fluid
Features
30-300 cm
🌷 (entire plant)
🍽 (edible), ⚕ (medicinal plant), 🔧 (fiber, cosmetics, plant tonic)
Practical tip:
Nettle tea is excellent for a spring cleanse, especially when mixed with dandelion. Mixed in a 3:1 ratio with peppermint (1 part), nettle tea can also be beneficial for anemia; add a squeeze of lemon juice for this purpose. Nettle tea can also be used externally as a rinse to strengthen hair.
In the kitchen, young nettle leaves make a delicious risotto. Hildegard von Bingen and Maria Treben both recommended nettle vegetables.
Nectar source for insects and food source for birds; habitat for caterpillars; magnet for beneficial insects: ladybugs, true bugs, and hoverflies; food plant for butterflies such as the Red Admiral and the Peacock; bird food: the seeds are an important food source for birds in late summer.
The leaves are best harvested before flowering (March to June).
Flowers: Male flowers stand upright, female flowers hang down.
In the kitchen: The flowers and seeds can be eaten directly from the plant. Roasted, they develop a particularly intense, nutty aroma. They enhance salads, pestos, or yogurt.
Endangerment Level
* Least Concern
All information about herbs has been carefully compiled but does not claim to be complete. None of the information provided constitutes medical advice.
GOLDEN RULE for EVERYTHING: Eat only what you know! The rule applies: a handful of wild plants per person and day may be collected on public land. Use only washed plant parts that you can identify clearly – when in doubt, please refrain from using them.
TIP: One advantage of buying over-the-counter medicines from a pharmacy or specialist retailer is the expert advice on your symptoms.
