As a part of our nature studies, the girls and I are gathering photos
and information about plants and herbs that grow naturally in our area.
Quite frankly, it got big. As a Native American interested in
alternative medicine, I knew the uses of some of these plants, but we
stumbled onto a wealth of info of which I had no idea! It was going to
be just one post, but I've decided to make this an
ongoing thing.
Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) -
Stinging
Nettles are perennials (they live for several years). They grow in
practically any weight of soil, in semi-shade (light woodland) or no
shade, but the soil must be moist. They grow best in moist forests and
prefer shady disturbed areas where they grow in patches.
Nettles are one of the first plants to appear in the Spring. Each of its
leaves are about 10 cm (4 inches) long, roughly heart-shaped and have
large teeth around the leaf edge. They also have tiny hollow hairs on
the main stem, leaf stems and on veins on both upper and lower sides of
the leaves.
When a human brushes by the plant, the tiny hollowhairs
break off and release formic acid (the same acid ants have in their
saliva glands), which irritates the skin and causes small itchy spots
to appear. The degree and length of itchiness varies from person to
person. Applying a paste of baking soda made with a little water
soothes the sting for most people if applied to the site immediately.
Human spit rubbed into the itchy area will help if baking soda is not
handy.
Only use young leaves and wear stout gloves when harvesting them to prevent being stung. For medicinal purposes, the plant is best harvested in May or June as it is coming into flower and dried for later use.
- Leaves are cooked as a potherb and added to soups.
- They can also be dried for winter use (usually as a tea).
- Old leaves should not be eaten, as they can irritate the kidneys.
- Extracted chlorophyll is used as a colouring agent in foods and medicines.
- Leaf juice can be used as a rennet substitute for cheese making.
- Nettle beer is brewed from the young shoots.
- Once cooked or dried, nettles are easily digested.
- High in minerals (especially iron) and vitamins (especially A and C).
- Used in the home as a herbal remedy and nutritious addition to the diet.
- Leaf tea traditionally used as a cleansing tonic and blood purifier.
- Often used in the treatment of hay fever and arthritis.
- An infusion is very valuable in stemming internal bleeding.
- Used to treat anaemia, excessive menstruation and haemorrhoids.
- Externally used to treat skin complaints, especially eczema.
- The fresh leaves can be rubbed onto the skin to treat rheumatism.
- An infusion of fresh leaves is healing and soothing as a lotion for burns.
- It is used externally in the treatment of chickenpox and bruises.
- The root has a beneficial effect upon enlarged prostate glands.
- Fibre from the stems is used for making string, cloth, and good quality paper.
- Pulp is used in the manufacture of sugar, starch, protein and ethyl alcohol.
- An oil obtained from the seeds can be used as lamp oil.
- Leaves are also an excellent addition to the compost heap.
- Soaked for 7 - 21 days in water, leaves make a very nutritious liquid feed for plants.
- This feed is both insect repellent and a good foliar feed.
- The growing plant increases the essential oil content of other nearby plants, making them more resistant to insect pests. Works best with fruit trees.
- Flies are repelled by the plant.
- A bunch of freshly cut stems is useful as a repellent in food cupboards.
- If plant juice is rubbed into small cracks of leaky wooden tubs, the tub becomes watertight again.
- A hair wash made from infused leaves is used as a tonic and antidandruff treatment.
- A yellow dye is obtained from the root when boiled with alum.
