5 Amazing Things You Did Not Know About Stinging Nettle Plant

Many of us consider it nothing but a nuisance. An irritant that we just want to get out of our yard before it grows too big. Yet the very weed we are most anxious to get rid of is a healer. Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica – meaning to burn) is one of the wonder herbs on the planet. The prickly bush has curative powers in the leaves; the stem and the roots.

The Nutritional Benefits of The Nettle Plant

  • Vitamins: Vitamins A, C and K, as well as several B vitamins
  • Minerals: Calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and sodium
  • Fats: Linoleic acid, linolenic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid and oleic acid
  • Amino acids: All of the essential amino acids
  • Polyphenols: Kaempferol, quercetin, caffeic acid, coumarins and other flavonoids
  • Pigments: Beta-carotene, lutein, luteoxanthin and other carotenoids
Stinging Nettle

The Benefits Of Stinging Nettle

1. Flushes The Kidneys

Susun Weed in her book, “Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year”, Tells the story of a woman who was due to be put on dialysis. Using nettles tea she was able to completely rebuild her kidneys.  Any accumulation of minerals in the kidneys, such as gravel and stones, is gently loosened, dissolved and eliminated by the consistent use of Nettle infusions.”

When used with large amounts of fluids in “irrigation therapy” it helps in healing urinary tract infections (UTI), urinary tract inflammation, and kidney stones (nephrolithiasis). 

2. Nettle Heals The Prostate

3. Helps In The Healing of Diabetics

4. Regulates High Blood Pressure

5. Helps With Arthritis

Stinging Nettle was used as far back as the ancient Egyptians to treat arthritis. The Arthritis Foundation tells us this about the nettle plant:

The antimicrobial, antioxidant, analgesic and anti-ulcer properties of stinging nettle have been studied in Germany and Turkey. Stinging nettle is high in potassium, calcium, and magnesium and may be helpful for gout.”

Don’t Use Nettle When It Is In Bloom

When the nettle begins to flower it signifies a change in the plant. A change that benefits butterflies and moths, but is dangerous to humans. As John Wright tells us (in his Hedgerow book):

‘At the first sign of flowers you must stop picking. The plant will now start producing cystoliths – microscopic rods of calium carbonate – which can be absorbed by  the body where they will mechanically interfere with kidney function.’

How To Use Nettle Leaf

To prepare Nettle tea, add a tablespoon of nettle leaves to a cup of hot water. Cover the cup and let it steep for five (5) minutes before straining it. Drink a few cups of nettle tea during the day. You can also add nettle to your salads and meals. Once the leaves are cut small they will not irritate when ingesting. Irritation occurs when the leaves touch the lips.