Naming |
| Botanical Name: |
Urtica dioica, Urtica lyollii-lyons,
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| Common Names: |
stinging nettle, common stinging nettle, great stinging nettle, common nettle, nettle,
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| Key Name: |
Stinging Nettle
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| Parts Used: |
Leaf, root, stem
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Characteristics |
| Identifying Character: |
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| Stem: |
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| Leaves: |
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| Flowers: |
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| Fruit: |
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| Taste: |
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| Odour: |
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| Root: |
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Distribution |
| Distribution: |
Nine of thirty species of Urtica, a herbaceous plant or shrub of
the Urticaceae family, are found i
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| Cultivation: |
Grows wild in moist areas stream banks, Gardens around cow barns etc,
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| Harvest: |
Food plants are harvested at a vary young stage so the stem is soft.
leaves can be harvested any time before flowering. The number of leaves do not increase significantly in number as the plant grows the size of the leave do grow as dose the stem and the length of the stem. The level formic acid is also increased. This is good if you are harvesting to make a tincture for arthritis.
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Medical |
| Therapeutic Action: |
Astringent,Diuretic,Pectoral,Rubifacient,Stomatic,Tonic
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| Medical Uses: |
The Indians used Nettle as a counter-irritant when in pain, by
striking affected parts with the branches. A root decoction was made to
bathe rheumatic pains and joint stiffness. Pounded leaves rubbed on
limbs, and hot poultices of the bruised leaves were also used to dress
rheumatic discomfort. Nettle is an excellent styptic, checking the flow of
blood from the surface almost immediately upon application of the
powdered root or leaves softened and bruised. (If the fresh leaves are
left on too long they will encourage water blisters.) For spitting of blood
and all haemorrhages of the lungs, stomach and urinary organ, this is
one of the most powerful agents in the vegetable materia medica.
Dr. George P. Wood, M.D., and Dr. E. H. Ruddock, M.D., ''Vitalogy''
(1925) relay the following: ''For haemorrhages the express juice of the
fresh leaves is regarded as more effective than the decoction, given in
teaspoonful doses every hour or as often as the nature of the case
requires.'' In decoction, Nettle is valuable in diarrhoea, dysentery, piles,
neuralgia, gravel, inflammation of the kidney. Tea made from the young
or dried root is of great help in dropsy of the first stages. A herbal
Nettle tea will expel phlegm from the lungs and stomach and will clean
the urinary canal. The seeds are used in coughs and shortness of breath.J. Kloss, in ''Back to Eden'', says: ''Use nettle simmered for
30 minutes and massage into the scalp after rinsing the hair to bring
back the natural colour.'' For those suffering from rheumatism, without
any relief, rub or stick the troubled part with fresh nettles for a few
minutes daily. The relief of joint pain will often surrender to a few
moments of unpleasant stinging.
Krapiva (Nettle) grows everywhere in Russia. After
300 years modern science has established and gives credit to one of the
secrets of Nettle as an antiseptic.
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| Constituents: |
formic acid acetylcholine, histamine,
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| Solvents: |
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| Dosage: |
Of the decoction, from 2~ fl. oz. Of the powdered root or leaves,
20-40 grains.
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| Administration: |
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| Preparation: |
Decoction
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| Chinese: |
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| Veterinary: |
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| Homeopathic: |
Tincture of the fresh plant in flower-Agalactia,
Bee stings, Burns, Calculus (prevention of), Deltoid (rheumatism of),
Dysentery, Erysipelas (vesicular), Erythema, Gout, Gravel, Haemorrhage,
Intermittents, Lactation, Leucorrhoea, Menorrhagia, Phlegmasia dolens,
Renel colic, Rheumatism, Spleen (affections of), Throat (sore), Uremia,
Urticaria, Nodosa, Vertigo, Whooping cough, Worms.
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Pollination and Pollinators |
| Apis: |
No
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| Pollinator: |
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| Pollen: |
No
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| Nectar: |
No
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| Nectar Notes: |
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Other |
| Non-Medical Uses: |
Stem for fibre vary soft and strong.
fibre in use since the Brons age, Used by Germons in the 1 world war as a replacement for cotton.
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| Culinary Uses: |
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| History: |
This herb as been in constant use since before the Bronze age. Used for food, medicine fibre and dyes.
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| Reference: |
25
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| URL: |
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| Share: |
Public
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