Stinging Nettle: 5 Things You'll Want To Know About This Incredible Herb

Stinging Nettle as it is just starting to bloom. It's best to harvest & use this plant BEFORE the flowers bloom.

Stinging Nettle is amazing, plain and simple. I've been using it personally and professionally for 7 years for...everything! Well, almost.  Nettle changes lives, it could change yours...for real.

1. Urtica Dioica, Stinging Nettle is packed to the gills with more vitamins and minerals than most greens AND protein to boot.  In fact Stinging Nettle has more protein, cooked or uncooked than spinach, nearly double the amount of calcium found in whole milk and has close to 3x's the amount of Vitamin A found in carrots.  Guess what one of my top picks for getting clients off of caffeine? Nettle tea!

2. Although best known for allergy relief, Nettle affects the entire nervous system.  It calms the mind, heals nerves, calms inflammatory joint pain, flushes the kidneys and revitalizes hair, skin and nails... and this is just scratching the surface of it's amazingness.

3. It's simple to use fresh or dried: Eat it! Cook it up in soup, smoothie or bake like spinach, perhaps spanikopita?  Or brew it like tea, or take as a tincture.

4.  You can use it externally: Make nettle tea or a vinegar tonic and use as a hair rinse to strengthen & add gloss to your locks.  Add a few handfuls of nettle to the tub and take a super relaxing soak for your mind, body by absorbing the goodness through your pores.  OR do it old school- find a Nettle field or cut some fresh Nettle and whip it!  It's no joke that Stinging Nettle stings and back in teh day whipping your afflicted body parts, especially for arthritic conditions was a way to alleviate pain and calm inflammation.  The stimulating affect of nettle sting sure does wake up the whole body, thus also the immune system- which is a good thing.  some fellow herbalists still use this methods with success- if they can convince their client to do it!

5.  Nettle might be waiting for you in your backyard! nettle grows widely in the Pacific Northwest, North America (especially the U.S and Canada), northern Europe as well as prats of Asia.  There's nothing batter than picking, making and using your own medicine.  So grab your native plant ID book and take a walk outside.  If you think you've found it, but aren't quite sure (check with an herbalist/botanist) or- just rub  your bare arm on the plant, you'll know if  you've got the right one, real quick:)

Add Some Nettle To Your Life! You'll Be Glad You Did.

XO AMANDA

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*The information shared on this blog is for educational purposes only.  If you are pregnant, nursing, have  serious health condition or are taking prescriptive medication please consult your healthcare practitioner before using herbal supplements.