Nettle Leaves

NETTLE Urtica dioica (TSOUKNIDA) - Urtocaceae Family Common Names: Stinging Nettle, Common Nettle, Greater Nettle HISTORY OF USE Stinging nettle has a long history of use as a survival food, superfood, and herbal remedy. Nettle is an herbal multivitamin and contain a high protein content. Around the 3rd century B.C., the Greek Hippocrates prescribed nettle juice to treat snakebite and scorpion stings. Roman soldiers braced the herb’s sting, applying it heavily to their frigid skin when in cold climates. The sting warmed their skin, called urtication, which is a current treatment for joint stiffness including arthritis. Early european herbalists used nettle tea to fight against colds, coughs, scurvy, nosebleeds, and tuberculosis. Nettle gained a reputation as a hair-growth stimulant. Native American women used nettle tea during pregnancy to strengthen the fetus and ease delivery. Nursing mothers ingested nettle to increase lactation. In the 19th century, nettle was recommended as a diuretic to alleviate urinary, bladder, and kidney issues. CULINARY USE Nettle can be added to any soups or stews to add a nutrient boost, with its wide array of vitamins and minerals, nettle can be considered superfood. MEDICINAL USE Nettle strengthens and tonifies the whole body. It is a good source of Vitamin C and can correct scurvy, which is caused by Vitamin C deficiency. It also fights Benign Prostate Hypertrophy by increasing urine volume and lessens the need to get up at night to urinate. Reproductive system: excellent reproductive tonic for both men and women. Helps alleviate symptoms of PMS and menopause. Excellent tonic for pregnancy. Urinary system: nettle can strengthen weak kidneys and relieve urinary tract infections. Respiratory System: nettle combats allergies, hay fever, and asthma. Digestive system: excellent for the liver. Circulatory system: nettle is useful in diuretic therapy, which treats high blood pressure. This same diuretic action helps to decrease fluid associated with congestive heart failure. Musculoskeletal system: Arthritis (including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout) symptoms are decreased with the use of nettle. HERBAL ACTIONS Astringent, diuretic, tonic, hypotensive FLAVOR & ENERGETICS Sweet, bitter, earthy CONSTITUENTS Chlorophyll, iron, calcium, potassium, silicon, magnesium, manganese, zinc, and chromium, vitamin C CAUTIONS The formic acid, which otherwise causes an urtica rash from touching the fresh plants, is neutralized in the drying process. Nettle is a wild edible, and has no known side effects. TEA BLENDS For the nervous system, combine with lemon balm, chamomile, horsetail. For urinary health and for relief of edema: take with dandelion. DISCLAIMER This information is not intended to treat, diagnose, cure, heal, mitigate, or remedy disease. It is for educational purposes only and should not be implemented without the express consent of your healthcare practitioner.