Nettle

Diamon Naturals

Alaena Charlotte Diamon

Nettle (Urtica dioica)

Name: The English name of the plant is thought to derive from an old Anglo-Saxon or Dutch word noedl meaning needle because of its sharp sting. The genus Urtica is from the Latin "uro" - "I burn" and the species "dioica" is from Greek and means "two households" and refers to the dioecious plants (single sex plants either male or female).

Parts Used: Whole plant.

Description: Slightly bitter, bristly Perennial herb; Cool energy. The minute (1/12"), green flowers lie in the axils of the leaves in long slender draping clusters. The plants are often unisexual, but some may have male flowers in the upper axils and female flowers in the lower axils. Stinging Nettle leaves are barely heart-shaped at the base, mostly oval, coarsely toothed, taper sharply at the tips, are about 2"-4" long, and also bear the notorious stinging hairs. The irritant substance which causes the sting when the prickly hairs are touched is a mixture of histamine and formic acid. The stalk is angled and covered with stinging hairs, and reaches 1' - 4' in height, and the root is creeping. Flowers summer to early autumn.

Habitat: Grows in poor soil and waste areas that are moist.

Constituents: Histamine, formic acid, serotonin, minerals, vitamins, tannins.

Uses: Blood purifier. Nettle is one of the most widely available plants we have, with a long history of medicinal use. It is a blood builder, a tonic that benefits the entire body, especially the lungs, stomach, circulatory system and urinary tract. Nettle is 10% protein and has a high iron and vitamin C content, which aids iron absorption, making it useful in cases of anemia. It encourages mother’s milk, lowers blood sugar and high blood pressure, relieves symptoms of PMS and decreases profuse menstruation. The fresh young tops were eaten as a spring tonic to cleanse the system after the stodgy food of winter. Many households brewed their own Nettle beer to ease rheumatic pain, and Nettle tea is still considered helpful for arthritis and gout. Nettle is a traditional remedy for falling hair; the silica it contains strengthens the hair, giving fullness and shine. Nettle is said to promote hair growth when used internally as well as externally. It is a specific in cases of childhood eczema and beneficial in all varieties of this condition, especially in nervous eczema. As an astringent, Nettle may be used for nose bleeds or to relieve the symptoms whenever there is hemorrhage in the body, as in uterine hemorrhage. Recent German research shows it may be helpful for prostate cancer. For bleeding such as endometriosis or uterine bleeding, combine equal parts of Nettle, Agrimony, Bayberry, and Cinnamon bark, steep in boiling water for twenty minutes, and take a cupful every hour, tapering off as bleeding subsides.

Miscellaneous: Nettle fiber has been used to weave cloth for centuries – a Danish Bronze Age grave contained Nettle fabric and during World War I, when cotton became scarce, both Austria and Germany made use of Nettles. The fiber from the dried and soaked plant is similar to hemp, and it served a variety of purposes in the home, from coarse sheets and cloth to sacking and fishing nets. Roman soldiers stationed in Britain reputedly chafed their skin with Nettle to restore the circulation to limbs and warm their skin in the cold climate. The juice of the Nettle is an antidote to the pain of the sting, and dock leaves also dispel the irritation, however Nettle loses its sting when boiled or dried. An herb under the dominion of Mars.

Caution: Large doses of Nettle tea may cause stomach irritation, burning skin, and urinary suppression. Do not eat uncooked Nettle, as it can cause kidney damage.

Flower Essence: For releasing pain and grief related to partings and endings; for those who are often in conflict with others; for healing deep hurt from abandonment. Eases emotional stress associated with a broken home. Good for adopted children or parents who have adopted children, and divorced people. Sibling rivalries and other problems in an existing family unit can be treated with this plant.

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