Stinging Nettle, Urtica dioica

Warning: St John’s Wort interacts with a lot of modern medicines. It should not be taken by people already on an SSRI medication and may cause sun sensitivity to very fair-skinned people. It may interact with Warfarin, Digitoxin, and HIV medications. Do not take for 2 weeks prior to surgery. Check with your physician before using. Recipes. St John’s Wort Tincture: Ingredients: St John’s Wort flowers and leaves, 80 proof grain alcohol or vodka, a clean jar with a tight-fitting lid. Loosely pack the flowers and leaves into the glass jar, filling it to the top. Add the alcohol to the jar, covering the flowers and leaves. Cap the jar tightly. Label. Add more alcohol as needed to replace evaporation. Shake the jar daily and allow it to steep for 4 to 6 weeks. Strain the herbs out. Cap the jar and keep it in a cool, dark cupboard. Take the tincture for a prolonged period as needed to cure chronic conditions.

St John’s Wort Infused Oil: Four ounces(112g) of fresh St. John’s Wort flowers and 2 cups organic olive oil. Mix the herbs and olive oil in a double boiler and place them over very low heat. Steep the oil and herbs for 2 to 3 hours, keeping the oil at a low simmer. Strain the oil and remove the herbs. Store your infused oil in a cool, dark cupboard. *St John’s wort oil works well on its own, however, it can be even more healing when mixed with other herbs.

I love stinging nettle, though I know many who don’t due to its sting. It is nutritious, medicinal, and makes beautiful fiber. I even have a nettle shirt! Dock usually grows near it and can be used to take away the sting. It is in the Lamiaceae (Mint) Family. Identification: Stinging nettle is a perennial, growing from 3 to 8 feet (0.9m to 2.4m) tall. It is dioecious and herbaceous, dying back in the winter. The leaves are mostly oval or occasionally heart-shaped. The soft, green leaves are 1 to 4 inches (2.5 cm to 10 cm) long and are arranged oppositely on a square erect stem. The leaves have a serrated margin and cordate base. Both the leaves and stems are very hairy with non-stinging hairs and many stinging hairs. Numerous flowers appear June to September in dense inflorescences. They are greenish or brownish, growing in branched clusters. Male and female flowers grow on separate plants or branches. Stinging nettle is widely distributed, especially where the average annual rainfall is high. I find it in places with moist soil. Edible Use: The leaves are edible. Stinging nettles have a flavor similar to mild spinach when cooked. I eat them raw by folding over the leaves but most people blanch them in water to remove the sting before cooking and eating. Only eat stinging nettle leaves before the flowers appear. Beyond that time, they can cause internal irritation, especially of the urinary tract. The seeds are also edible. Dried nettle leaves and flowers make a nice herbal tea. Medicinal Use: Nettle can be taken as a tea or tincture and is my number one go to for allergies.

Allergies (including Hay Fe-

ver): Stinging nettle tincture is my first recommendation for allergies as it usually completely alleviates the problem. I often recommend coupling it with local raw honey. It is an excellent anti-inflammatory.

Arthritis, Gout Pain,

and Inflammation: Stinging nettle treats arthritis, gout, and other inflammatory conditions. It suppresses inflammation, flushes toxins from the body, and helps reduce the pain of these conditions. It is used in Germany as a treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis and is thought to inhibit the cascade of inflammation. Externally, a compress made by soaking a cotton pad in nettle tincture and placing it over the painful joint is helpful. Stinging an area can also help restore and repair joint injuries and reestablish nerve communication. I have used it successfully to treat shoulder injuries. Eczema and Skin Inflammations: Both the internal tincture and infusion of stinging nettle are useful for treating eczema and other skin inflammations.

Burns, Insect Bites, and Wounds: Use a double strength Nettle Infusion as a wash to treat burned skin, sunburns, insect bites, wounds, and other skin irritations. Stinging nettle has combudoron, which has been shown to help with burn treatment. Make the Nettle Infusion recipe using 2 tablespoons of dried or fresh nettle leaves. Use the cooled liquid to wash and treat these conditions, allowing it to dry on the skin. Menstrual Problems: Women with heavy uterine bleeding and other menstrual problems benefit from stinging nettle.

Sprains, Cramps, Tendonitis, and Sciatica:

Muscle cramping, injuries and nerve pain benefit from the application of a compress made by soaking a cotton pad in Nettle Tincture and applying it over the affected area. Fasten it in place for best results. Stimulates Blood Flow: Stinging nettle stimulates the circulatory system and blood flow. To stimulate blood flow and improve circulation, use a Nettle Infusion or Tea. It can also be used externally as the sting brings healing and blood flow to the area.

Anemia, Cardiac Insufficiency, Swellings, Enlarged Spleen and as a Whole-Body

Tonic: For serious conditions such as these, use fresh nettle juice prepared by soaking and blending the whole fresh plant. Hair Rinse: Use Nettle Tea as a hair rinse to increase shine. Couple it with Horsetail and Rosemary for maximum results. Recipes. Nettle Infusion: You will need 1 tablespoon dried and crushed nettle leaves and 1 cup boiling water. Pour the boiling water over the nettle leaves and allow it to steep for 10 to 15 minutes. Strain and drink twice daily. Nettle Tincture. Ingredients: stinging nettle leaves, fresh or crushed and dried (fresh is best), 80 proof vodka or other drinking alcohol of same strength, a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. Fill the jar with fresh nettle leaves that have been sliced into thin pieces and crushed. Pour vodka over the leaves and fill the jar, making sure all the leaves are covered. Cap the jar tightly. Label it. Let the tincture infuse for 4 to 6 weeks, shaking the jar daily. Add more alcohol if needed to keep the jar full. Pour the alcohol through a fine mesh sieve or a coffee filter to remove all of the herbs. Store the tincture in a cool, dark cupboard for up to 5 years. Dosage: 1/2 to 1 teaspoon, twice daily.

Stinging nettle, Frank Vincentz - Own work, CC by SA 3.0