Stinging Nettle

In our Materia Medica classes, you learn about medicinal plants, their properties, benefits, applications, case studies, and much more. Today, we are giving you a sneak peek into the plant stinging nettle.

Stinging nettle belongs to the plant family Urticaceae, which is often referred to as the Nettle family. That plant family is known for having stinging hairs (also called trichomes).

Common Name: Stinging Nettle
Latin Name: Urtica dioica

Etymology: Urtica is from a Latin word, which means to burn (or to sting).

Dioica is from a Greek word meaning “of two houses” that refers to the plant usually having male and female flowers on separate plants.

Our instructor, Kimberly, adores Nettle. Here are her thoughts about it:

“Stinging Nettle was my gateway herb into herbalism. I am truly so grateful for Stinging Nettle! She was the first plant that healed my physical, emotional, and spiritual body, and made me believe in the power and magic of plants and plant medicine. Throughout the years, Nettle has become one of my guardians and one of my best plant friends. She grows in my garden by the back fence; she comes back every spring stronger than the year before, her presence in my life never falters. Nettle is a powerhouse of nutrition. I make everything from smoothies, nettle chips, soup, tincture, tea, and vinegar. I feel blessed to know her.”

Parts of the Plant Used

  • leaves as a food (various methods)
  • leaves as nourishing herbal infusion- 2-4 cups daily
  • tincture of the Leaf or Root- 3-6 droppers full 2- 4x’s daily or as needed- pulse dosing acutely
  • freeze-dried capsules
  • Nettle seeds- eaten or extracted in alcohol

Precautions for Harvesting Nettle

  • Because this plant stings you, wear pants & a long-sleeve shirt to protect your skin from any contact
  • Wear gloves (leather or rubber) to protect your hands from the hairs
  • Use scissors or shears
  • Harvest the younger leaves because they are more tender and less bitter & gather before the plant goes to seed

Primary Constituents

30% Protein
High fiber
Minerals- Iron, Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium
High in Vitamin C- 4 times the amount in an orange.
Vitamin B6
Vitamin K
Vitamin E
Flavonoids: Polyphenols and Carotenoids
Phytosterols- for reducing LDL-cholesterol
Biogenic Amines- Histamine, Acetylcholine, Serotonin
Chlorophylls
Acids- Tartaric, Oxalic, and Formic

Stinging nettle actions include:

  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Diuretic
  • Local anesthetic
  • Astringent
  • Hemostatic
  • Nutritive/alterative, and
  • Rubefacient

Stinging Nettle Pesto Recipe

Ingredients

A bowl full of Stinging Nettle.
Pistachios
Garlic
Parmesan cheese/Nutritional Yeast
Salt
Pepper

Directions

1. Bring a pot of water to a boil.
2. Boil Nettle leaves in water for two minutes.
3. Drain.
4. Add all ingredients to a blender and blend well.

Enjoy!