Stinging nettles, another harbinger of Spring. High in minerals, stinging nettles are extremely nutritive. They are one of the most food like nutrient dense herbs and make a great Spring tonic, supporting general drainage and elimination. They work well seasonally in recipes, in place of spinach or other dark leafy greens. Try them in soups, frittata, pastas or spanakopita. Best to blanch the leaves in water first, then chop finely and add to foods. It also makes a great vinegar, which can then be added to salad dressings.
It can be used with success to help build the blood in cases of anemia, weakness or deficiency. Its influence as a general tonic, high in minerals and of benefit to the metabolism and thyroid function makes it of use in strengthening hair as well as being an important support for deficient states in general. It is a very safe herb and is commonly used during pregnancy to help boost nutrition as well as being helpful to support lactation.
Its energetics are interesting - in that it is not only nutritive and building, it is also stimulating, drying and alterative. Its stimulating effects support circulatory balance in the body. Though it is a very safe herb, for some people it can be too drying. In that situation, find a better suited herb, or be sure to balance out its effects by consuming it together with more moistening and mucilaginous foods and/or herbs such as plantain or marshmallow root.
Being an alterative herb, it is important in addressing skin eruptions such as itching, hives and eczema. Its alterative effects can help clear stagnant tissue states associated with inflammatory tendencies and deep seated chronic imbalances in the metabolism.
Nettles can be of help in addressing arthritis as well as reducing the tendency to stone formation. It can be of great benefit to help clear and prevent gout, having a special affinity for clearing uric acid and other metabolic wastes from the tissues especially those associated with nitrogenous breakdown products. In this case the body may tend to a fishy or urine like odor, indicating the need for nettle’s alterative support.
Acting deeply on the body’s metabolism, it tonifies the spleen, supports thyroid function, enhances insulin secretion and the modulates the expression of TNF alpha, reducing overall tendencies to inflammation.
Stinging nettles are one of the backbone herbs used in addressing allergies and histamine issues. Tincture made from the fresh plant and/or freeze dried preparations of the herb seem most effective here.
While nettle in general has an important affinity to the kidneys, it is the seeds that are particularly powerful at strengthening the kidneys where kidney function has become compromised.
Nettle seeds also have an adaptogenic effect making them helpful in increasing the resilience of the body under stress. Fresh nettle leaf tincture has been found to have an effect on helping to reset the sympathetic nervous system patterns of overdrive to a more balanced expression. The root has traditionally been used with great benefit for prostate issues.
Nettles are perennial and grow prolifically in our region. While some people are able to harvest them with bare hands, the sting does have quite a bite and I recommend harvesting with gloves. They are best harvested early in the season, unless it is the seeds you are after, which come on in late summer and early fall.