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Wednesday, April 16, 2014

N is for Nettles


A-Z Challenge
My theme is herbs
N is for Nettles

Traces of Nettles
being used for
medicine has
been found through
out history.  Yet....
the FDA lists Nettles
as an herb of
"Undefined Safety."

It's often known
as "stinging
nettles" because
it leaves your skin
stinging with little
bumps if you come in contact with it. I've gathered
Nettles since I was a young child, dried it and
used it in a tea. It likes a rich soil so it is often
found at the edge of gardens. I used to find it
behind the chicken coop where the chicken
manure enriched the garden. My grandmother
taught me how to cut it...... with scissors and
always wearing gloves. Then drop it into a
basket and you won't get stung.

The list of medical uses is very long and
I always had my own dried stash.

I'll list a few medical uses: An astringent
and diuretic. Mixed with alfalfa and red
clover, the recipe makes a glorious
mineralizing tea and is extra protection
against osteoporosis.  Nettles leaves are
a substantial nutritional supplement and
is a lot more sensible than dried pond scum
or dehydrated grass juice like barley or wheat.

39 comments:

  1. Nettles...yeah, not my fav plant, definitely! :D But here in Russia, we have eaten a Nettles Soup or 'Schi', and it was very tasty! As I can recall it, there were also some sorrel, potatoes, boiled egg split into halves and a good spoonful of sour cream... yum! ) if you'd like to see, it looked like this: http://ecodiet.ru/pictures/russkaya_kuhnya_retsepty_shchi_krapiva.jpg
    Well, I could try to make it myself, but some one has to cut it for me! ;))
    Bookmarking your nettles tea recipe, that sounds interesting to try! Thanks!

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    Replies
    1. Zara
      I wrote your reply and it sat in the computer for a while but then it got published down a couple of comments. Computers have a mind of their own. Ha

      Delete
    2. Hehe... it's ok, I have already found where it is! :)

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  2. Plus, there's the Hans Christian Andersen story, The Wild Swans about the princess (youngest of 12) who gathers nettles to knit into 11 shirts for her brothers who have been turned into swans. The shirts will return them to their human form.

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    1. Bish
      I'm not familiar with that one or perhaps I just forgot. At first I thought she wanted to drive her brothers crazy from itching with a nettles shirt. Ha Perhaps the moral of the story is the old, "no pain, no gain."

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  3. Hey Manzi, I got nothing on nettles. BUT, I wanted to let you know that I started taking dance lessons this week. It was so much fun I even went out and bought a pair of dance shoes. Yeah, it sometimes takes years for your suggestions to reach the stage of implementation. So, a couple of years from now we can expect me to try out these herbs... :)

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    Replies
    1. Robin
      I've often noticed that, and includes myself. The word or idea is just a seed and has to be in fertile ground for the idea to blossom forth. ta dum..... What kind of dance? Ballroom? Smooth, Latin or swing? You'll have to tell me all about it. I'm excited for you because I know how much you like to dance.

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  4. Zara
    Did you know nettles is also superb for a hair rinse? I make a strong tea from it and keep a big jar of it in the bathroom for when I wash my hair. It has so many wonderful uses. I'll have a look at the soup. It sounds delicious. If you gather it yourself, just wear long sleeves and rubber gloves (or any gloves). I also wear rubber gloves when I wash it but I don't think it stings when it's in water.
    Thanks for the link.

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    Replies
    1. Oh, thanks for the tip, Manzi! I'm interested in everything related to hair beautycare! Ok, after you had thoroughly instructed me, I'll have to gather it myself and make that soup! :D

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  5. I totally agree, the best thing ever. I keep it growing for just the reasons you said.

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    1. Farm Girl
      All the better if you live in the country and do not use chemical sprays. You have a wonderful chemical-free supply of nettles in the early spring.

      Delete
  6. gah, I think I knew them in my youth. I distinctly remember that contact with plants that looked like these and weren't so comfy to touch. Lawd, but we had no qualms about going through fields, yards, jumping fences... it's amazing burrs and pricks were the worst of what we got.

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    Replies
    1. Rosey
      We did explore when we were young and there were no worries that anything bad would happen to us. But we soon learned to respect the nettles fields. huh?

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    2. And any other sticky, crazy plant out to get us. :)

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  7. Knew what N would be when you gave the hint, this one I have surely used, although use them for too long and sty's come, blah to those. Even give you pimples inside the nose.

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    Replies
    1. Pat
      Yeah, I use herbs for a certain time frame and then switch around. But I always return to nettles as it's one of my fav.

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  8. I can't imagine using dried pond scum for much of anything. It always looks like a slab of dung when I scoop it out of the pond and let it dry. I'll take the nettles.

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    1. C Lee
      Hahaha Yeah.... even the name turns one off. But there is a lot of good in the algae too.

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  9. The leaves remind me of strawberry leaves. I wonder if they're related. I've been enjoying your theme, Manzi. You've got me interested again in learning and relearning about herbs.

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  10. I had tons of that in Florida. One day as my goats ate all around it, I reached down to grab a bunch to feed them and realized why they passed. Man that stung.

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    Replies
    1. Patti
      Hahaha... Sorry you had to learn the hard way but I gues we all did, especially when we were kids. You probably just forgot when you were little and dived into a nettle patch to retrieve a ball. Ha I wish I still had a goat. Goat butter is so hard to come by now. Myenberg goat butter from CA used to be sold in Mt but suddenly it is no where to be found anywhere here.

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  11. I use this herb for better breathing tea! Yes you do have to watch out for the sting parts and they will truly irritate you when it gets you.

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    Replies
    1. Emma
      Some herbs make the gathering a little more difficult and this happens to be one of them.

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  12. NOT my favourite
    Merle.............

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  13. Replies
    1. Holy Ghost
      I remember when I was a little kid, it seemd to almost reach out to sting me. Ha

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  14. Nettles are rich in iron so they're a good addition to any diet, although I've never had any. Feed some to your chickens on a regular basis and see how golden the yolks are. You can stir-fry young nettles as a spinach substitute I've heard.

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    Replies
    1. River
      Every spring, my grandmother gathered the young soft nettles for a mess of greens with our meals. I loved them even as a kid. The season was short because it was only good when the shoots were tender and soft.
      I walk Cody all over on the fair grounds and way in the back where no one ever goes, I found a nettles patch that is free from spraying. Last spring I got there when the tender shoots were perfect for a greens meal. I hope I remember to take the gloves and scissors when they will be ready in a few weeks.

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  15. I need to restock my teas, almost out of chamomile and linden flower, so I'll pick up a packet of nettle while I'm at the health shop.

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    1. River
      It sounds like you have a wide supply of teas, too. When someone stops at my house and I offer them tea, I first ask them what their "complaint" is.

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  16. I remember these well. When we were kids, we used to dare each other to touch them... then we would break out in a rash with these huge bumps. Man... were we dumb little kids.
    Can't wait to come have a cup of tea with you.

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    Replies
    1. Terry
      And we can go out and touch nettles for fun. Hahahaha

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  17. Very interesting, Manzanita. I am learning so much about herbs from you.
    I wonder why the FDA states that. Is it because no studies have been done on it?
    I hope you are having fun with your baby chickens!
    Happy Easter, my friend!

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    1. Julia
      Probably a good excuse but it stems back to Big Pharma and money. Why would they allow a plant to heal us ..... a plant we could buy for pennies or grow it in our garden.... when "they" can sell us a chemical drug for hundreds of dollars.
      Baby chicks are ready to go out in their new coop. They are getting to be little escape artists.

      Delete
  18. I used to drink the exact same tea.

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    1. Blue Grumpster
      Good for the liver. I drink it too for that very same reason.

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  19. Hi Manzanita .. nettles have amazing properties don't they - I seem to remember young nettles as a leafy steamed veg .. good foraging plants ..

    Cheers Hilary

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  20. Hilary
    Yum..... I love the tender tops of nettles in the early spring. And they grow "free" ....... all you have to do is just look for them.

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