Stinging Nettle

The species name for ordinary stinging nettle is DIOICA and means two builders, coming from greek DI- ( two) and OIKOS (house ).
It refers to the male flower and the female flower found on various plants...

I have like many other unpleasant memories when it comes to stinging nettle, if you get burn  it makes it really painful .... For many years I looked "obliquely" at these prickly monsters!

Now I have at least forgiven the nettles and learned to take advantage of this "vitamin bomb", stinging nettle is Super healthy!

High content of chlorophyll, is rich in vitamin A, vitamin-B, vitamin-K, vitamin C. Has minerals potassium, manganese, silicon, potassium, iron and sulfur. Rich in both protein and fiber.

The fresh plant also includes phosphorus, histamine, acetylcholine and formic acid.
Stinging nettle is a perennial plant whose underground offshoots cause it to grow in large stands.

Both the leaves and the stem are equipped with "Burn hair" which is connected to a small poison bladder. The nettle has egg-shaped pointed leaves with sawn edge.

There are many different nettle relatives but a nettle in the mountain areas lacks almost completely "burn hair", mountain nettle is called and has rounded blade base .
Stinging nettle thrives where there is nitrogen-rich land all over Sweden and the nettle suffocates other herbs; therefore, it is a strong indication that the soil is just highly nitrogenous where the stinging nettles grow.

There is a plant called Nettle entanglement that lacks chlorophyll so that plant has solved it in such a way that it simply parasitizes on the stinging nettle.
If you see stinging nettles that are entangled in pale yellow or reddish winding plants without leaves... then you have met the "hive" entanglement.

In the 18th century, the stinging nettle was an important plant, the stem was digested ( repelled) and used to provide basic fibres that were then mixed with Lin.
The nettle fibers were spun into a fine fabric (hives) and clothes.
Also used to dye the fabric, ( plant dyeing) m.m.

The stinging nettle was used in lung soot and scurvy, what you did was to boil the nettle roots and so you drank a few glasses / day.

Fresh nettles were used on lame and removed limbs, laid "burn hairs" against the skin. They also dried Stinging beers and used as cattle feed.

Use:
*Nettles are good to basic up our body... because the body is alkaline.
* The nettles block the formation of the hormone DHT (dihydrotestoseron) it comes from the man's testosterone, that's what causes baldness.
Nettles can counteract that!
* The nettle is used to prevent intestinal disease, drink tea or nettle soup.
* Fluid drifting if you have problems with the urinary tract.
* Seems purifying to the blood if you have an allergy or leaky intestinal.
* If your feet are tired, use nettles in a foot bath.
* Strengthens tissues and helps the thyroid gland.
* The nettle acts anti-inflammatory , used as a cover in case of infection and good in case of flu and improves digestion.
* Can be used stinging nettle both internally and externally and has a positive property for hair, skin and nails
* Benefit from nettle cleansing and soothing properties helps Acne and Eczema and acts firming on the skin.

The spring shoots are good for nettle cabbage or nettle soup and it is said that the taste is reminiscent of spinach and cucumber after it has been cooked.

When you pick Nettles, there are a few things to keep in mind...
do NOT pick nettles that have grown in "shade", they contain higher levels of nitrates! DO NOT pick nettles on nitrogen fertilized soil, nettles can pick up and store harmful nitrates!!

Pick nettles, pre-trap or dry them and freeze in. The top to have as a basis in the dish, bread, etc. at any time of the year.
Freeze the leaves in just the right portions and it lasts for 1 year.

When you soak or boil the stinging nettle, the toxins disappear from the trikomer of the stinging nettles (= fine hair) and the stinging nettle can be eaten.

Tips!
If you burn yourself on a Nettle...
1: Do not scratch, do not touch the exposed area (easier said than done) because when you start touching or patting the skin you "push" the small chips further into the skin.
2: Pour water on to the area. The splinters that aren't stuck are washed away.
3: Take a piece of tape, gently put the tape against the skin and pull off!
Those nose selfies that stick out of the skin will get stuck and pulled away.

To keep pests and moths away indoors, plant a stinging nettle in pot. Even nettle water is good to fertilize other crops with.

I know there is a Nettle beer that is a favorite in the English Islands. Unfortunately I do not now the recipe...
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Enjoy all the good you can do from stinging nettle, there are lots of different alternativs!

/ NINA