Common nettle and its extraordinary properties.
Spring is the time when we start harvesting the first herbs, so it is also worth looking for young nettles. Did you know that this ordinary weed has extraordinary power? For centuries, nettle has been appreciated in folk medicine. So let’s get to know the properties of nettle and check how to use it.
Nutritional properties of nettle.
Nettle contains many valuable vitamins: A, B, C, K and macro- and microelements: magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, iron, sulfur, potassium, silicon and sodium. These are the ingredients that our bodies need.
What will nettle help for?
- strengthens the body,
- will cleanse the body of toxins,
- as a source of iron, it will help in the treatment of anemia,
- has a beneficial effect on the condition of the skin, hair and nails,
- regulates the digestive process,
- removes excess water from the body,
- has a bactericidal effect.
When to collect nettle?
The best are fresh, young leaves, so we should collect nettle shoots in April and May (before flowering). This is when it contains the most nutritional value. Collect the nettle in protective gloves – it is best to cut the shoots with scissors and place them in a wicker basket (never in a plastic bag).
Remember to always collect nettles in trusted, ecological places, away from pollution, roads and farmlands, where chemical fertilizers and spraying are used.
We collected the nettle and what next?
Make nettle tea
Nettle tea is a drink that will cleanse and strengthen the body. Make an infusion of dried nettle leaves (about 2 tablespoons are poured with hot water). We can drink 2-3 cups of tea a day.
You can also wash your face with a cotton ball soaked in nettle infusion – the skin will be cleansed and nourished. Nettle tea is also an excellent antibacterial mouthwash.
How to dry nettle?
For teas, we collect only the top 4 parts of the nettle leaves. The plant should be rinsed with water and dried, the shoots are placed, for example, on a paper towel. Store in a dry place. Well-dried nettle should still be green in color.
Nettle smoothie.
Fresh nettle leaves can be used for a spring smoothie. Blend a handful of fresh nettle leaves with banana, kiwi and orange. This is a real vitamin bomb and a dose of energy for the body!
Nettle juice.
We will need about a kilogram of nettle leaves, they need to be washed thoroughly, chopped finely and squeezed through the juicer. You can also squeeze out the juice using gauze. It is recommended to carry out a 2-week treatment, drink a tablespoon of juice every day. Attention! We store the juice in the refrigerator for a maximum of 4-5 days.
Nettle mass.
Nettle mass is perfect for sandwiches, pasta or pancakes – recipe according to St. Hildegard.
Who should watch out for nettle?
People with diabetes, kidney failure and taking anticoagulant medications. You should not eat nettle before and after surgery (about a week).
Let us not treat nettle as an unnecessary weed, but let us appreciate its unusual properties. What is the most valuable is in nature!
St. Hildegarde … spring nettle.
We recommend a recipe for a delicious mass of young nettle shoots from “Hildegardowa Polish Cuisine”.
Ingredients:
1 kg of young nettle,
1-2 onions,
2 cloves of garlic,
2 tablespoons of clarified butter,
2 tablespoons of white spelled flour,
1 egg,
1 teaspoon “Spices for dishes – mixes”,
3 pinches of bertram,
3 pinches of galgantu,
½ a teaspoon “Fenugreek Spice Mixes”.
Wash young nettle shoots (best early spring), pour boiling water, boil briefly. Drain, possibly chop. Heat the clarified butter in a saucepan, add the onion and mash the cloves of garlic. Add the nettle and flour mixed with a glass of water and egg. Stir, season and boil for a few minutes. The mass should be dense “like spinach”.
Vegetable nettle can be served with spelled grains, pasta, couscous or bread. It can also be a great stuffing for pancakes or croquettes.
Nettle for hair and skin – properties and application.
Properties and use of nettle.
Most people associate nettle mainly with unpleasant to the touch and unnecessary weed, which does not know why it grows in the most unexpected places. However, it is worth looking at this plant from a different angle. It turns out that it has amazing health and care properties. This is what today’s article will be about – we will get to know the properties of nettle and its effects on skin and hair.
Properties of nettle and use. A mine of vitamins and minerals
What can we find in nettle?
Macro- and microelements – magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, sulfur, iron, potassium, iodine, silicon, sodium.
Vitamins – A, C, K, B2.
Acids and others – pantothenic acid, formic acid, glycerolic acid, glycolic acid, chlorophyll, beta carotene, mineral salts, flavonoids, serotonin, histamine, tannins, phytosterols.
How to use nettle? It can be used internally (drink as an infusion, honey, cocktail or nettle juice, swallow in tablet form; drying is also possible) and externally (hair rinses), and it is best to use both methods. Nettle tea has many medicinal properties, including: for problems with the prostate, digestive system, sugar and cholesterol in the blood. It also helps in weight loss.
The effect of nettle on hair.
By using nettle for hair care, we achieve the following effects:
- improvement of circulation,
- acceleration of regeneration and faster hair growth,
- reduced hair loss,
- reducing the problem of oily and dandruff,
- strengthening and giving shine.
Nettle tonic for hair.
3 tablespoons of dried nettle pour about 0.5 liters of hot water.
When the infusion is completely cool, remove the leaves and rinse your hair with it at the very end of washing (after using the shampoo and conditioner).
It is best to use the rinse once a week.
It is not recommended to use fresh nettle for the rinse, as it can dye the hair greenish.
Fortunately, nettle rinse is not recommended for blondes because it darkens the hair. Brunettes also need to be aware of this!
The effect of nettle on the skin.
What will we achieve by using nettle on the skin of the face?
help in getting rid of blackheads and narrowing of pores,
facilitating the healing of small wounds,
regulating the secretion of sebum,
cleansing the skin of the face.
People with oily and acne-prone skin will notice particular improvement.
Nettle tonic for skin.
Pour 3 tablespoons of nettle about 0.5 liters of water and let it cool.
Pour the cooled down infusion into the bottle.
We use the tonic by gently rubbing it into the skin of the face.
It is best to use it every evening.
In order for the preparation to stay fresh longer, it is best to store it in the refrigerator.
It’s best to make a fresh batch once a week.
Remember – to achieve the desired results, you must remember about regular use!
Important: Young nettle leaves have the best properties.
Nettle has a cleansing effect on the whole body, so when drinking infusions, you may initially see surprises on the skin, but this effect will pass quickly. Later, all that’s left is to enjoy a beautiful complexion and healthy hair.
Contraindications to the use of nettle.
Nettle is not recommended for people with uterine cancer and kidney cancer. Taking it is also not beneficial for people taking medications for diabetes (nettle enhances their effect). Use by pregnant women should be consulted with a doctor to be sure.