"Be Entertained by our Directory!"
Our Resource Directory makes it fun to search!
The Only Directory on the Internet of its kind!
The historical information presented here is for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
_______________________________________
Official Latin Name: Urtica dioica
Perennials - herb
They grow best in moist forests and prefer shady disturbed areas where they grow in patches. Stinging Nettles are one of the first forest floor plants to appear in the spring, usually in early March, sprouting up from under last fall's dead leaf litter. Each of its leaves are about 10 cm long, roughly heart-shaped (rounded at one end and taper to a point at the other) and have large teeth around the leaf edge. The edges of the leaves actually look jagged. They also have tiny hollow hairs on the main stem, leaf stems and on veins on both upper and lower sides of the leaves.
In April, greenish clusters of tiny flowers hang down from the joint of the leaf stem and main plant stem. At this point, they have reached their full size of up to 3 m tall. Plant size tends to vary depending on the amount of light and moisture.
Flowers later develop into seeds which are blown off the parent plant and grow nearby. Stinging nettle also spread using rhizomes or underground roots that shoot out to the side.
________________________________________
OUCH!
When a human brushes by the plant and it touches their skin, the tiny hollw hairs break off and release an acid which irritates the skin and causes white itchy spots to appear. The degree and length of itchiness depends on the individaul's skin sensitivity. Some people suffer for as long as 24 hours, while others only have the sensation for an hour or so.
_______________________________________________________
Tromping through the forest
In central Alabama where I was born and raised, the forest was just full of stinging nettle. I was always the first one to go tromping through the woods without a care in the world. When I returned home, I always returned with the whelps on my legs where the stinging nettle raked across my legs. Oh my goodiness what a burning itch it was! Did it ever stop me from rambling through the woods? Nope! I would just spit and rub the spit into the burning area and believe it or not your spit actually helps take the sting away. For years I was curious as to what this strage plant was that made me scratch and wiggle so much. As a young adult, plants were a great interest to me as it was for my grandmaw. I went to school for Horticulture and there I learned more about plants and herbs. It was there where I learned the acid in the stinging nettle is called formic acid, the same acid ants have in their saliva glands. Wow!
________________________________________
Organic Pesticide:
Stems and leaves steeped raw in a bucket of water for 24 hours to 3 weeks releases the formic acid into the water. The stems were then removed and the water used as an organic pesticide and applied to plants with mites, thrips or aphids.
_____________________________________________
Religious:
Sprinkle nettle around the room to protect it. It is also burned during ceremonies for exorcism. Stuffed in a poppet and sent back to the sender of a curse or bad spell, it will end the negativity. Nettles gathered before sunrise and fed to cattle is said to drive evil spirits from them.
incantation - Ritual recitation of verbal charms or spells to produce a magic effect - a ritual recitation of words or sounds believed to have a magical effect.
Find more definitions at:
_______________________________________________________
Herbal Medicine
stinging nettle (Urtica dioica/Urtica urens)
- Stinging nettle has been used for hundreds of years to treat rheumatism (disorders of the muscles and joints), eczema, arthritis, gout, and anemia. Today, many people use it to treat urinary problems during the early stages of an enlarged prostate (called benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH), for urinary tract infections, for kidney stones, for hay fever (allergic rhinitis), or in compresses or creams for treating joint pain, sprains and strains, tendonitis, and insect bites..........
- Stinging nettle may act as an expectorant (meaning that it can loosen and break up a cough). Nettle may also be effective for treating certain individuals with allergic rhinitis (hay fever). This traditional use has had a lot of historical value for......... read the rest at: http://www.umm.edu/altmed/ConsConditions/Coughcc.html
- Traditional Use: In folk medicine, the dried herb and fresh plant juice have been used as diuretics, astringents and blood builders, and to treat anemia (due to their high iron content). The powdered leaves or fresh leaf juice have been applied to cuts to stop bleeding or taken in tea to reduce excessive menstrual flow, as well as to treat nosebleeds and hemorrhoids. Nettle tea has been used to stimulate blood circulation and as a spring tonic for chronic skin ailments. France's official bulletin on herbal medicines notes that it is traditionally used for the treatment of mild acne and eczema. It is also a folk treatment for arthritis..... Read more at: http://www.allnatural.net/herbpages/stinging-nettle.shtml
_____________________________________________
RECIPES
Nettle Pudding
To 1 gallon of young Nettle tops, thoroughly washed, add 2 good-sized leeks or onions, 2 heads of broccoli or small cabbage, or Brussels sprouts, and 1/4 lb. of rice. Clean the vegetables well; chop the broccoli and leeks and mix with the Nettles. Place all together in a muslin bag, alternately with the rice, and tie tightly. Boil in salted water, long enough to cook the vegetables, the time varying according to the tenderness or other vise of the greens. Serve with gravy or melted butter. These quantities are sufficient for six persons.
read more at:
_____________________________________________
Making herbal tea
The young shoots are used for making the brew.
The standard way to make an infusion, unless otherwise specified, is to pour a cup of boiling water over the material to be infused, let it stand for 5 minutes, strain it, and drink it.
- Fresh plant material - When the recipe refers to fresh plant material to be used, a 1/4 cup fresh material is used, following the method above.
- Dried material - When the recipe refers to using dried material, use 2 teaspoons of material when making it.
- Bark or seeds - Should the recipe call for bark or seeds to be used, use 2 teaspoons of seeds or 1 tablespoon of bark.
- Sweetening your infusion - You could sweeten your health drink with honey, should you so require, and a dash of fresh lemon juice may also enhance the taste.
General warning when using herbal infusions Urtica dioica
- Only use the herbal material if you are 100% sure that it really the herb in question.
- If you are ill or have any health concerns, consult your health practitioner.
- Do not continuously drink the same infusion. At maximum use for 10 days and then skip 5 days.
- Only have one cup of herbal infusion per day, except during acute periods - such as when you have a cold or flu, you can then have it three times a day, but for a maximum of 4 days.
- When you use herbal remedies, be aware that they can be extremely powerful, and should you have any side effects when taking these infusions, immediately stop using the herb and consult your health practitioner right away.
Read more at:
_____________________________________________
NOTE: The information contained within the web site is for educational purposes only and is not meant to be a substitute for seeking the advice of a qualified physician and/or naturopathic doctor, and the information given within is not meant to replace modern medicines or established medical treatments without the proper guidance of a qualified health practitioner. It is only meant for educational purposes. Gone-ta-pott.com and its representatives make no claims as to the ability of plants and their derivitives to cure you or treat you of any ailment known to man. Before using any plants and their derivitives you should seek the advice and training of a qualified professional and your personal physician. DO seek guidance if you do not know how to use these plants and their derivitives properly. Gone-ta-pott.com and its representatives will not be held responsible for the improper ingestion or other improper uses of plants and their derivitives. By use of this web site and the information contained herein you agree to hold harmless Gone-ta-pott.com and its suppliers, heirs, employees and affiliates and you agree to the terms contained within the privacy and site use policy.
