Almost everyone knows the sharp stinging nettle, and there is hardly a person who does not become acquainted with nettles burning properties sooner or later.
This is why it is often avoided, although as an important medicinal plant it should have a place of honour in every garden.
However, it usually takes this place of honour itself, because it is very persistent and undemanding and grows almost everywhere you let it grow.
Nettle plant description
Almost everyone knows the stinging nettle. Everybody takes a closer look at the herb, which has caused such an unpleasant burning on the skin.
Nettle is native to Central Europe and is common almost everywhere.
It usually grows in groups and often on cultivated soil that is as nutritious as possible. Therefore, it is often a cultural follower and accompanies people to their villages and cities.
It grows up to one meter high and can be recognized by its opposite sawn leaves, which are covered with small stinging hairs. It is these stinging hairs that cause the nettle to burn, because on contact they break off and drain their stinging nettle poison onto the skin.
The flowers of the stinging nettle are quite inconspicuous. They are yellowish and hang in panicles from the upper leaf stalks.
The small nettle (Urtica urens) is very similar to the large nettle and is also used similarly as a medicinal plant.
Nettle fact sheet
Nettle healing effects
- Stimulates the metabolism
- Urinary tract disease
- Promotes hair growth
- Spring fever
- loss of appetite
- Stomach weakness
- Kidney weakness
- Diabetes (supportive)
- Menstrual problems
Nettles collection time
Nettles can be collected from March to August. If you want to seed and grow nettles in your own garden, you can collect the seeds from existing nettle plants in early autumn.
The nettle is an excellent metabolic plant. Especially as a spring cure it works wonders by rinsing out all the slag of winter from the body. They can be eaten as nettle tea, in salads, in soups and like spinach. Well seasoned and together with other herbs it tastes wonderful and gives fresh powers.
Nettle tea is a popular tea for purifying and stimulating the metabolism.
As a tincture, the nettle can be massaged into the scalp against hair loss.
It is also very good when dried in kidney-bubble tea blends. It also helps against rheumatism and gout because it removes toxins from the body.
Particularly courageous rheumatism patients can be beaten with the whole plant to take advantage of the irritating effect of nettle poison. This method should be used with caution, however, as overreactions to the stinging nettle poison may also occur.
The nettle seeds give strength and work well in conditions of exhaustion.
Nettle root can also be used as a medicinal herb.