6 Remarkable Health Benefits of Stinging Nettle

“Mankind does not realize how valuable stinging nettle is or it would plant Stinging Nettles only.” Maria Treben, Austrian author and herbalist, author of “Health Through God’s Pharmacy”.

Did you know that the stinging nettle can be a friend of yours? The weed you are possibly trying to avoid when enjoying the spring weather outdoors is a real powerhouse!

In this article, you will learn why is stinging nettle a real superfood which nature has given to us. Which benefits stinging nettle has? What conditions it can help you to treat? When, where and how to pick stinging nettles? And last but not least a recipe for a nettle elixir.

Why is stinging nettle a real superfood?

You know what stinging nettle is, right? When you weed your garden you try to pull all the green stinging plants. They are growing almost everywhere to the dismay of young children.

Actually, stinging nettle is a plant packed with antioxidants and has antimicrobial, anti-ulcer, astringent and analgesic capabilities. It is also an alkalizing food which help us to keep the acid-base balance of our body. Stinging nettle contains two times more vitamin C than lemons. It contains vitamin A and lots of iron. We get also potassium, calcium, proteins, a lot of iron, sulfur, essential oils and proteins from the stinging nettle.

What are the stinging nettle benefits

Stinging nettle helps to boost your immune system. During spring and autumn, the human body can use some extra support. Stinging nettle helps to keep your liver, kidneys, gall bladder and urinary bladder working properly. It stimulates the energy flow in the body. Do you remember Popeye with his spinach? Actually, the spinach and stinging nettle both have a similar composition.

What conditions it can help you with

You could use stinging nettle for various things. From top to toe. Really!

Face – You could apply infusion of stinging nettle with a cotton pad on the skin of your face. It becomes smooth and silky.

Urinary issues, such as bladder infections. Nettle is a general diuretic and can help urine flow.

Allergies-Stinging nettle has anti-inflammatory qualities which help treat hay fever.

Joint pain-arthritis sufferers can benefit by applying nettle leaf topically to decrease joint pain and actually to treat arthritis.

Bleeding – there are some products such as Ankaferd that have shown that when applied to the skin they can reduce bleeding.

Eczema rash – when taken internally and applied topically as a cream nettle can provide relief of the itch and the redness.

There are much more benefits nettle offers to you. Some of these are: stimulation of hair growth, threat anaemia, treat insect bites.

Which plants should you use (and where to pick)?

In some countries, you can buy dry nettle leaves and nettle root at a pharmacy or specialized herb pharmacies. Otherwise, you could just harvest  nettle yourself. It usually grows everywhere, but you should prefer a place away from the heavy traffic along the roads. These plants are not suitable for consumption. Just get a pair of rubber gloves and head to the nearest forest or a place with lots of water and shadow places.

When and how to harvest stinging nettles

It is the best time to harvest nettles in the first few weeks after they come up in the spring. Just before they grow to be a foot tall. Pick the first two or three pairs of leaves from the tops of the plant. 

How to use stinging nettles

Maria Treben, for instance, recommended this herb to use as infusion, a tincture, a foot bath, as a hair wash. You can drink  nettle tea, or prepare a soup, a dish or a salad with the plant. Moreover, you could find it as capsules or tablets at a pharmacy or a drugstore.

Can I really eat stinging nettle? :-)

In the UK, the annual World Nettle Eating Championship draws thousands of people to Dorset. There are people eating nettles raw! But, honestly I have never done this myself, so I am not speaking from experience here. There are many recipes with nettle. Nettle tea tastes good. A dish prepared out of nettles with some feta cheese and eggs is delicious too. I will share the recipe the coming days with you.

Stinging nettle elixir recipe

This receipt is especially very useful for people who have low levels of hemoglobin in the blood, people with anemia. Also, if you suffer from spring fatigue or spring lethargy would benefit from this elixir. It is advisable to take it twice per year, in the spring and during the autumn. Then you could take maximum benefit from it.

Make a mix of (dry) 1/2nettle root and 1/2 (dry) nettle leaves and put it in a (glass) container. Take 2 tablespoons of the mix, put it in 500 ml. water. and put it to boil. After boiling leave it to soak for 20 min. Then pour the tea through a tea strainer. Drink this elixir through your day.

Conclusion

Just to summarize the benefits of this green stinging friend. Stinging nettle is good for……almost everything. Start from a beautiful hair, through immune support to insect bytes and end with joint pain. This herb is good from top to toe.

And now that you got to the end of this article my question to you is: Are you convinced the stinging nettle is good for you? Or maybe you have tried it one way or another. I would be glad to hear about your experiences with this plant.