Spotlight on Local Medicinal Herbs—Nettle
The spring season has fully arrived in the Northern Hemisphere and, along with it, the bountiful medicines of leaves, buds, and flowers. This season of renewal is always so potent after the long, cold, gray Washington winters, reminding us that even the darkest days can transform into lush and hopeful expressions of life. A popular old saying “hope springs eternal” has double meaning in these fecund months. Our focus today will be on a humble warrior of a plant that first bestows us with its offerings in the days near the vernal equinox: nettle (Urtica spp.). In alchemical herbalism, nettles are ruled by Mars and Aries, no big surprise for this assertive plant. Anyone who has accidentally brushed against one while walking in the woods can attest: this herb means business! More on the medicinal effects of the “nettle rash” in a bit…
Nettle is a member of the Urticaceae family, and is a tall, leafy herb which prefers moist, well-draining soil. It will often grow in thick patches near the banks of creeks and other running bodies of water, and prefers shade. Its leaves are covered in small needle-like trichomes that can pierce flesh, hence its common name: “stinging nettle”. It is native to most parts of the world, making it a true global folk medicine, and is generally considered a “tonic nutritive” herb, meaning it has multiple constituents that help the body function by providing it with various nutrients such as vitamins and trace minerals. It’s also considered an alterative, or blood cleanser, and an astringent.
The Doctrine of Signatures provides a few clues about nettle’s actions. As one of the first medicinal plants to arrive on the scene in the spring months, it shows us its powerful blood-purifying abilities, an antidote to the stagnation, over-consumption, and tendency toward illness that most of us experience in the winter months. It’s no accident that nettles crop up up when many trees and shrubs begin flowering and causing seasonal allergies; its high vitamin C and quercetin content makes it an excellent mast cell stabilizer to help relieve allergy symptoms. We also see the leaf’s use as a circulatory stimulant and anti-rheumatic by way of its spiny stingers that provide a counter-irritant and pain-relieving effect when applied topically over arthritic joints. This form of self-flagellation might seem archaic and strange, but it truly works. I have heard many anecdotes from older folks who thrash themselves with long stems of nettle to stop arthritic pain!
All parts of the nettle plant can be used medicinally, and textiles can be made from the tough skin of its stalk. It is generally used to support the immune system, urinary tract, circulatory system, respiratory tract, endocrine system, skin, and digestive system. Since it’s so mineral rich, it is an excellent tonic for anemic and otherwise undernourished, over-stressed, fatigued people. It can relieve cramps of all kinds, expel excess mucus, act as a diuretic, alleviate seasonal allergies, relieve eczema, and also assist the body in eliminating uric acid, thereby improving gout. Nettle root contains a constituent that can aid in resolving symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and nettle seed is nephroprotective, meaning it’s highly beneficial for kidney function, even having been shown to reverse chronic kidney disease in some case studies!
Nettle contains the following constituents: chlorophyll, calcium, magnesium, vitamin C, serotonin, 3,4-divanillyltetrahydrofuran, histamine, flavonol glycosides such as quercetin, acetylcholine, potassium, silicic acid, iron, and small amounts of protein.
Nettles are generally regarded as safe, although some sources caution against using long term high doses in pregnancy, due to possible abortifacient effects. Always consult with your healthcare provider (preferably one who is knowledgeable about herbs) if you have concerns. It’s inadvisable to eat raw nettle greens due to irritation of mucus membranes. A bit of light cooking will get rid of the “stingers”.
Dosing varies widely, and depends on the person, the plant part being used, and the method of administration. Tinctures can be dosed from 1-30 drops 1-4 times daily, depending on whether the malady is acute, chronic, physical, or energetic. As a tea, 1-3 cups daily is typically recommended. As a food, it can be cooked lightly and used in place of spinach or other leafy greens in all your favorite recipes. It can also be freeze-dried, and put into capsules (although most sources say fresh is best, and I agree).
Since I have gone into great detail in other posts about ways to prepare tinctures and decoctions, I’ll leave you with something a little more—appetizing. One of my all-time favorite methods of incorporating nettles into my diet is by making pesto! Delicious on everything, completely modifiable for all diets, and packed full of nutrients, this pesto will please even the pickiest eaters. Plus you get a bonus batch of nettle tea when you make this recipe. Enjoy!
Nettle Pesto
Ingredients:
10-20 fresh-picked Nettle tops, including stem and a few sets of leaves
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
1/4 cup raw or roasted nuts (I like pine nuts, walnuts, or almonds)
1/4 cup parmesan cheese (or pecorino romano)
juice of 1/4 of a lemon
2-3 cloves garlic
salt, to taste
1 large bowl ice water
Instructions:
Bring 4 quarts of water to a rolling boil.
Add nettle tops, cook for 90 seconds, remove, and place in bowl of ice water. They should still be bright green. Let them cool, squeeze out any excess water, and set aside. Save the water and drink as tea.
Pulse nuts, garlic, and cheese in a food processor until roughly chopped.
To food processor, add nettles, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt.
Turn food processor on, and slowly add olive oil until mixture is smooth and spreadable.
Store pesto in an airtight container, and drizzle with a layer of olive oil to prevent oxidation.
Use within one week, or freeze.
Optional modifications:
-Add basil, spinach, kale, garlic scapes, ramps, or other fresh seasonal herbs and greens.
-Use nutritional yeast instead of cheese to make it vegan.
-Use ghee (clarified butter) instead of olive oil.
-Leave out the nuts in cases of allergy.
Other notes:
I’ve made many rounds of fresh nettle tea only to discover spiders and caterpillars lying limp in the tea water. Carefully check your freshly picked leaves for insects and other critters before preparing your medicine!
Citations:
Bartram, T. W. (1998). Bartram’s Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine. https://openlibrary.org/books/OL18521549M/Bartram's_encyclopedia_of_herbal_medicine.
Hoffmann, D. L. (2003). Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine. https://openlibrary.org/books/OL8233157M/Medical_Herbalism.
Petruzzello, M. (2023, May 5). stinging nettle. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/plant/stinging-nettle.
Tilgner, S. (2009). Herbal Medicine from the Heart of the Earth (2nd ed.). Wise Acres.
