Nourishing With Stinging Nettles
Stinging nettles sting.
My first encounter with nettles was not pleasant. I was about 10, and my family was camping in the early spring, in Idaho’s beautiful mountains. I had followed my brother through the shrub to where he was fishing and I ran into a nasty clump of nettles. At the time, I didn’t know enough to look for lamb’s quarter or dock to soothe the nettle’s sharp bite. Instead, I chose to run screaming back to camp, seeking my mother’s aid to treat the flaming red blisters on my legs.
Despite my first meeting with nettles, I have grown to love their amazing nutritional and healing properties. They are one of the few herbs that I can recommend to almost anyone – young, old, weak, strong, nursing mothers and athletes. To date, I haven’t come up with someone that can’t benefit from nettles.
A bit of nettle history
Nettles have a long history of medicinal use – dating back to the bronze age. Native Americans used them to stop bleeding after child birth, Victorian women used nettle tinctures to thicken their hair. Soups were used to build strength and stamina – the list is long as you will see below. Nettles are hardy and grow wild across all parts of Europe, America and much of Canada. Guarded by heavy gloves, people will brave their vicious bite to, harvest them for fresh eating and to dry for later use. All parts of the nettle plant have medicinal properties earning them a place of honor in many kitchens. For ease – possibly, I’m just lazy – I get my nettles dried and in bulk unless a local grower or forager has some fresh available. I use them regularly for my family, self and my clients.
Western uses and nutritional profile
Long inhale and go….
allergies
any Lung disorder
asthma
bleeding anywhere
building bones and teeth
chronic cough
chronic nose bleeds
diabetes
eczema
gout
heart failure
hair conditions of any sort
hives disorder
hot flashes
mood swings
PMS
recovery from surgery or serious illness
regulate the adrenals and thyroid
uterine bleeding
wound healing
whew…
Nutritionally, 1 cup of stewed or blanched nettles has a mere 36 calories, 6.5 g of carbs, 2.5 g of protein and no fat. It’s the mineral profile that make nettles magical. They are an excellent source of iron, calcium, vitamin D and vitamin A. Nearly three times the daily RDA of vitamin A can be found in 1 cup of nettles and they are fantastic source of Vitamin K which is essential for proper blood clotting and bone health and calcium absorption.
Left - a lovely nettle pasta that Clara brought back from Spain for me. Right - Pasta with nettle pesto and pine nuts.
Eastern energetics of nettles
Time to go East and look at nettle’s energetics – their post metabolic nature. Nettles have a sweet, salty flavor. They cool the body and dry excess damp conditions, while nourishing Yin. They astringe, nourish, dissolve masses, restore and stabilize. Let me explain further what nettles do.
Strengthen and heals the Lungs, nourishes the skin and treats eczema — Nettles rock when it comes to allergies, asthma, skin and Lung issues. They are wonderful at moving congestion out of the lungs – helping you to expectorate. They gently nourish the tissue of the lungs and relieve coughing and wheezing. I recommend those with allergies start drinking nettles regularly before allergies hit. If you always have allergies…don’t stop drinking them. Nettles effect on Blood, Fluids and Lungs mean they are fantastic for any skin condition. Eat them, drink them, and use them topically as a wash on eczema, hives or shingles.
Detoxifies the body, reduces tumors and dissolves stones —Nettles help to flush and alkalize the body of toxins from environmental chemicals and food toxins (preservatives, additives, poisons, etc.). Often these toxins are stored in the body in form of tumors and stones. Nettle seeds especially nourish the endocrine system and is an antidote to poison.
Drains fluids, promotes urination, astringes, dries damp conditions and reduces infection — Remember stabilize and astringe? Nettles energetically drain areas where moisture has accumulated in the body inappropriately. Areas of damp congestion like bloating, gout and edema if left unchecked will continue to pool and can become toxic – at the same time, nettles are wise enough to stop diarrhea and excess bleeding. By moving the excess fluid out through urination (diuretic), nettles help reduce infection and allow the body to break down stones. Nettles are wonderful at clearing sinus congestion.
Builds Blood, enriches Liver and Kidney Yin — From an Asian medicine view, Blood is more than the red stuff in your veins. Blood nourishes the tissues and flesh, roots the Shen (anchors the spirit) and allows for a regular menstrual flow in women–to name just a few of its projects. Nettles specifically build Blood and Yin. Yin (the opposite of yang) is the quiet, cooling, moistening fluids and nature in the body. When Liver and Kidney Yin are depleted we will see symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, dry skin, dull hair and brittle nails. Hot flashes? That’s a pattern of Liver and Kidney Yin deficiency that nettles treat.
Stops discharge, bleeding and hemorrhage — Discharges and excess loss like diarrhea and leucorrhea are reduced by nettle usage. Nettles are excellent at stopping blood loss–doesn’t matter what the cause is–because of nettles high levels of vitamin K and the astringing nature, they will help slow and stop bleeding of any type. Nosebleeds, heavy menstrual flows, postpartum….any type. Check with your healthcare provider if you are on blood clotting or thinning medicines before taking nettles.
Nettles help regulate the metabolism and nourishes connective tissues — Blood and Liver Yin deficiency often appear as loss of stamina, tiredness in evening, dizziness and metabolic and hepatic disorders. This may appear as hypoglycemia, diabetes, rickets, hives, shingles and anemia, adrenal deficiencies and chronic weakness.
Promotes lactation and replenishes blood after giving birth — When Blood and Yin are adequate and flourishing, mother’s milk will flow easily and abundantly. Nettles are a very effective way to nourish breast milk and supplying vital minerals to replenish mom after childbirth. Nettles balance estrogen, so they benefit women’s cycles at all stages of life.
Want gorgeous hair and strong nails? Use nettles — Hair and nails are the ‘odds and ends’ of Blood and Yin. In other words, nail and hair health is dependent on flourishing and abundant yin and blood… Nettles to the rescue. But some of the hair loss is coming from thyroid or adrenal dysfunction? Falls into the realm of yin and blood in Chinese medicine again.
How to use nettles
Fresh juice made from the whole plant is the most potent. However, you must to have access to the fresh plant, which is at its peak in March and April and you will need some serious gloves. The freeze dried herb as an infusion or tincture is a close second. I buy my nettles dried…allowing me to use it as teas, in seasonings or soups or as tinctures. If you have fresh nettles handle with care – using tongs, drop fresh nettles into boiling water for 30 seconds. Immediately drain and plunge into cold water – use in your favorite recipe or dry for later.
A few ideas of how to start sprinkling nettles into your diet.
Nettle tea —straight up or with flare. It’s lovely combined with a fruity or floral tea.
Nettle and Herbs Goat Cheese — Mix dried 1 T. dried Italian herbs (rosemary, sage, etc.) with 1 T. dried nettles. Mix herbs into 3-4 oz of soft goat or sheep’s cheese for a flavorful spread.
Blend in a 1/2 cup of dried nettle leaf into vegetable soup while it’s cooking.
Use leftover nettle leaves from teas to fertilize your garden and enrich compost–your garden will thank you, and return the favor.
Be well!
April
