Family:

Urticaceae

 

Part Used:

leaf, seeds, and roots.

 

Energetics & Taste:

Cooling and drying.

 

Habitat:

Native to Europe, temperate Asia, and western North Africa, but grows in temperate regions worldwide.

 

Key Benefits:

Nettle is a versatile herb, with every part of the plant offering medicinal benefits. The leaf is a powerhouse of nutrition, serving as a natural multivitamin rich in iron and calcium, making it excellent for bone health and blood-building. Nettle leaves are also high in fiber, protein, vitamin K, A, potassium, bioflavonoids, ascorbic acid, and chlorophyll. To use the leaves, harvest the young ones from healthy soil, dry them for infusions, or add them to vinegar. If consuming fresh, blanch them first—never eat them raw!

Nettle leaf is safe for pregnant women and acts as a diuretic rich in potassium. When freeze-dried, nettle leaf is particularly effective for seasonal allergies, as it helps inhibit histamine production, cooling and drying up those hot, runny allergy symptoms. The nettle seeds are renowned for their kidney-restorative properties, explicitly targeting the nephrons and offering nephroprotective benefits. Lastly, the root is a well-known remedy for prostate health, often used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

 

Contraindications:

Always wear gloves when harvesting nettle to avoid a rash, and never eat fresh without blanching; the leaves are no longer good after the plant has gone to seed or flower.