Grasping the Nettle

Top 4. Jan 17, 2000 7:28 AM

» Audreydee - Thanks!

Thanks, Sue, Wesley, and Carol, for the warm welcome! I hope to discuss another prickly plant--the rose--in February, so please check back then.

-- posted by Audreydee

Top 5. Jan 22, 2000 2:48 AM

» Jojo - can't wait til spring!

Ah spring and the nettles come popping up. It's hard to keep up, but eating them is a good way to keep them down.

No lite te Urtica carborundorum

Theres tonnes of the stuff around my place - much to some people's chagrin. Have heard that stuff about people flaying themselves with it. I brush by it so often that I don't notice it after a while (immunity?) and whether or not that is medicinal is subject to interpretation -- I'm not the best control subject, not having rheumatism and all.

Apparently though, it works by stimulating the effected area and increasing bloodflow. You can say that many times and still garden visitors are not convinced of the value of stinging nettles. I'll print out your article and keep it in my pocket so I can orate the myriad features and benefits on the stinging nettles side.

At least there is one good thing for sure - it is an indicator plant for rich, moist soil. So dig it up and plant something NICE everyone says.

Thanks for the extra tidbits of knowledge.

And welcome to Suite101.com - I'm looking forward to your article about roses!

-- posted by Jojo

Top 6. Sep 8, 2001 1:54 PM

» Tina_Coruth - I had no idea!

Hi Audrey,

I had no idea nettle was so valuable. Thankyou for the information in such an entertaining story!

Tina

-- posted by Tina_Coruth

Top 7. Sep 29, 2001 1:06 PM

» pogomcl - the nettle

there are many kinds of nettles actually; some of which don't even sting. The white dead nettle is great for making soups and omelettes.. and the white flowers are used for teas. In fact, Austrians and Czechs use stinging nettles for tea; and they are used in facial cremes and one of my favorite shampoos is made from stinging nettles. They were also used and are being used again today to stimulate nerve endings for rehabilitation therapy.

-- posted by pogomcl

Top 8. Apr 14, 2005 8:32 AM

» hmp5000 - nettles and allergies

I used to drink nettle tea all the time when I was at home to help with my allergies. Now that I don't have access to the actual plant, do you think the "Stinging Nettle" capsule from GNC will do the same? It is a "whole ground herb that's minimally processed; dried and pulverized."
Thanks for your help

-- posted by hmp5000

Top 9. Apr 14, 2005 11:20 PM

» biogardener - Availability

In 1945, my family survived on spinach which we made from two plants growing wild in Germany. One was lamb's quarter and the other was stinging nettle. In Germany, we always call it Brennessel, literally burn nettle, and in English, I always call it stinging nettle, because there are other nettles, and I don't know of any use for them.

Germans have always used stinging nettle as the #1 remedy for allergies. It is also far more nutritious than spinach, and certainly has a higher iron content.

I am growing stinging nettle in my garden and on my country property after digging some up by the river and planting it. I harvest it young and tender and share it with others. I do let it sting my legs on purpose, because is supposed to be good for arthritis. I don't have arthritis, but I figure it can't hurt. I also supply a lady in church with fresh stinging nettle every week, because her doctor has prescribed it for her arthritis, and she drinks the tea.

To pick the nettle, I put put my left hand in a plastic grocery bag and cut it with scissors in my right hand. After it wilts, it does not sting any more.

-- posted by biogardener

Top 10. Apr 17, 2005 11:19 AM

» Audreydee - Re: nettles and allergies

In response to nettles and allergies posted by hmp5000:

Yes, Dr. Weil highly recommends stinging nettle for allergies. He advises, however, that you "look for capsules of freeze-dried leaves. Test by opening a capsule and placing a small amount on the tongue, which should produce a temporary stinging and numbing sensation."

Apparently freeze-drying is supposed to preserve the potency of the plant better than air-drying. So, if you can find the freeze-dried type, you might want to purchase it instead. Hope this helps!

-- posted by Audreydee

Top 11. Apr 18, 2005 2:32 PM

» biogardener - Fallacy

Apparently Dr. Weil assumes that stinging nettle is not available fresh to people which, of course, is not true. I just picked my first stinging nettle of the year an hour ago. It is lovely and tender, 2 inches high, and washed by last night's rain. I made some tea with it fresh, and shall eat the softened herb afterwards. I added one other herb which has sprouted just for flavor, because nettles by themselves have almost no taste.

Nettles, like almost all herbs, are used dried only if not available fresh. In Germany, where the allergy cure comes from, people go through herbal cures first thing in the spring, as soon as fresh herbs are available outdoors. Then they drink tea from freshly picked herbs all summer long. If they don't have a garden, they know of protected areas where wild plants grow without being touched by herbicide, or they buy them fresh at a farmers' market.

If you don't have access to organically grown nettles, dig some up and plant them in your organic garden. By the time they come up next year, they will be fine to use. That is how I did it.

For winter use, I simply freeze my herbs without drying them except for the relaxant herbs which I want to place in pouches and pillows.

-- posted by biogardener

Top 12. Apr 19, 2005 8:45 AM

» Audreydee - Re: Fallacy

In response to Fallacy posted by biogardener:

Yes, fresh nettles are best for those who can find them. But, since hmp5000 mentioned not having access to the plants, capsules of freeze-dried nettle are probably the next best thing. Unfortunately, not everybody has access to garden space either. It would probably be a less stressful world if we all did!

-- posted by Audreydee