Harvesting, preparation, medicinal properties of stinging and stinging nettle. Benefits of nettle for humans

Looking into ancient medical books or handwritten books of folk healers, you will notice: the benefits of nettle are undeniable.

1. The variety of recipes for all kinds of decoctions, solutions, tinctures and ointments based on it is amazing.
2. Since ancient times, it has served as a raw material for the manufacture of ropes, ropes and fabrics.
3. The luxurious braids of our grandmothers were also explained by the use of nettles for hair.

The juicy and burning queen of herbs has marched in triumph since ancient times and confidently entered our reality.

To this day, she is respected and revered both by herbalists and modern pharmacology and cosmetology. It occupies a worthy place among medicinal herbs on pharmacy shelves. There are two known varieties: dioecious and stinging. Both types have been proven to be useful, but the latter is preferable.

Why is nettle useful?

It's all about the amazing properties of this plant. Its fatty green pulp is enclosed in a stem, and on it there are leaves at an angle, containing a storehouse of vitamins, microelements, minerals, flavonoids and other biologically active substances.

It has been noticed that the apogee of their activity in young shoots occurs in spring.

100 grams of nettle contains:

• vitamins - C, E, K, group B, carotene;

  trace elements - Ca, K, Zn, Cu, Mn, S, Ba, Al, Fe;

  organic acids - formic, halusic;

  proteins and carbohydrates - 1.5%/100 g, 5%/100 g;

  other components - carotenoid, phytoncides, chlorophyll, histamine.

Nettle: benefits and harm

Nettle is definitely useful. However, it also has contraindications, so before taking this folk remedy, consultation with a specialist is necessary.

And another very important point: despite the fact that you can find this medicinal plant near your home, you still need to collect it away from:

busy roads,

passable roads,

industrial enterprises,

places with poor ecology.

Plan your collection for the spring. Young shoots are important(you need to pick off the tops 5-7 cm high).

Benefits of nettle

It has already been proven that nettle is useful, both in general and for male and female organisms separately. First, let's look at the general beneficial properties of this plant.

1. The high content of ascorbic acid or vitamin C (10 times more than in apples and black currants) helps improve immunity and normalize the gastrointestinal tract.
2. Vitamin E is famous for its antioxidant effect. By getting rid of free radicals, it delays old age. Especially necessary in old age:

   during menopause,

   diseases of muscles and joints,

   under high physical and mental stress.

3. Rare fat-soluble vitamin K has anti-inflammatory properties, ensures healthy bones (promotes the absorption of calcium), and also regulates the process of blood clotting upward, therefore it is in demand to stop bleeding.
4. Of particular value is the “company of energizers” - B vitamins. Their main function is energy. They give strength to the body as they help in energy production. The need for them increases significantly when:

   stress,

   lack of sleep,

   lack of fat in the daily diet,

   pregnancy and breastfeeding,

   for coffee and alcohol lovers,

   for certain diseases (arthritis, migraine, mental disorders).

5. The microelements contained in nettle somewhat replenish the huge list of the periodic table present in our body, contributing to its normal functioning. For example, iron, zinc, manganese, copper are extremely important for immunity, and it, in turn, determines resistance to viral infections and diseases in general. They also determine healthy metabolism. Calcium and potassium - for bone tissue and cardiac activity.
6. Chlorophyll is classified as a biologically active food additive. It is even available in liquid forms for those whose diet is deprived of green leafy vegetables.

   Important! The chemical formula of chlorophyll is similar to the formula of hemoglobin. It increases the number of red blood cells in the blood, which helps provide the body with oxygen. In addition, it is a powerful antioxidant, an effective weapon against oncology and inflammatory processes of any etiology.

7. The main function of organic acids is to stimulate metabolism.

Benefits of nettle for women's health

Since ancient times, nettle has been used in gynecology due to its specific properties. For example, with heavy menstrual flow, it reduces bleeding. Plus, it stabilizes the cycle.

During breastfeeding, when there is a lack of milk, nettle juice or brewed young nettle leaves are very useful.

To achieve maximum effect, this plant can be combined with lungwort, yarrow and horsetail.

Nettle for men's health

Our ancestors noticed long ago that nettle seeds support male strength. To achieve this effect, you need to make a special decoction and consume it before meals (about half an hour before). To prepare the decoction, nettle seeds are brewed in boiling water.

If signs of prostate adenoma are noticed, then you need to drink tea from nettle leaves. Just brew two tablespoons of dry leaves with a glass of boiling water, wait five to ten minutes and take morning and evening for 1-2 months.

Indications for use of nettle

Indications for use are determined by the composition of the drug and its properties.

So, let’s present only a partial list of “why”:

1. Improves metabolism and enhances immunity.
2. Prevention and treatment of diseases of the digestive tract.
3. Visual acuity and lower blood sugar.
4. Normal functioning of all internal organs and systems.
5. Increases libido and potency in men.
6. Normalization of discharge during menstruation and normalization of the cycle.
7. Prevention of cancer and inhibition of existing ones.
8. Skin cleansing for dermatitis and allergic rashes.
9. Stimulation of lactation in nursing mothers (in moderate doses).
10. Regulating the consequences of physical and mental stress.
11. Purifying the blood and improving its composition, removing waste and toxins.
12. Saturation of the body with vitamins and microelements.

Nettle for hair

Nettle is effective for hair. This is most clearly manifested during course exposure for at least two weeks.

The broth is used to rinse washed hair, and the juice in its pure form is used as a mask. The scalp and hair itself are coated with it. Leave for 20-30 minutes and rinse with warm water. Having done this for the entire intended course, you will notice that your hair has acquired silkiness and shine.

Alopecia (hair loss) is also treated in this way. There are known cases of favorable dynamics in the treatment of baldness.

Another great remedy that accelerates hair growth is nettle oil. Can be used as a mask before washing your hair, or as a balm after. Nettle oil is sold in pharmacies.

Contraindications

This miracle herb, oddly enough, also has contraindications. They are associated with a high content of vitamin K, which can thicken the blood, and therefore fall into the prohibited category:

1. patients with thick blood susceptible to thrombosis;
2. those suffering from thrombophlebitis (varicose veins);
3. pregnant women (in large doses can cause miscarriage);
4. suffering from migraines and insomnia.

By the way, in the Tula region there is an entire village dedicated to this plant. That's what it's called - Krapivna. And the annual International Nettle Festival takes place there!

Medicinal decoction of nettles

To prepare a general medicinal decoction of nettles, you need:

pour two tablespoons of the dry mixture into a jar,

pour a glass of boiled water (t=70C),

wrap in a towel and let sit for at least 2 hours.

Herbalists advise drinking a quarter glass of the strained mixture half an hour before meals, 2-3 times a day.

Important! According to traditional healers, the therapeutic effect depends on the time of administration: they recommend taking the decoction only at odd hours (9, 11, 13, 15, 17), preferably before sunset.

And you can drink tea from several leaves of the herb freely and without fear throughout the year. It will give you strength and energy.

Culinary delights

Nettle soup

The soup is easy to prepare and does no harm if you don’t get too carried away with it. We have already spoken above about contraindications.

1. Pour water into a three-liter saucepan. Boil.
2. Add salt, 3 pieces of chopped potatoes and 2-3 tablespoons of pearl barley.
3. Boil for 15 minutes.
4. Rinse a medium bunch of nettles under running cold water, rinse with boiling water, chop on a cutting board and place in a saucepan.
5. Add beef stew and 2 bay leaves there.
6. In the absence of contraindications from the gastrointestinal tract, the taste can be improved by frying (saute the onion until golden brown, adding the spice hops-suneli).
7. Boil for another 5 minutes.

The dish looks more appetizing if served in white soup bowls, garnished with half a boiled egg. Add sour cream to taste. Bon appetit!

Green nettle salad

1. Wash a large bunch of nettles, pour boiling water over them, chop them, and place them in a salad bowl.
2. Chop 3-4 boiled eggs, homemade tomatoes, and cut salted cheese into cubes.
3. Add 3 tablespoons of sour cream.
4. Stir.

Real jam!

The material presented may open your eyes and allow you to look at nettles a little differently. Nettle, of course, is not a complete alternative to medications, but it is an excellent addition to them.

Young leaves or dried powder are brewed to improve blood circulation and hematopoiesis, for anemia, and for blood clotting during bleeding.

The decoction is useful for diabetes, reduces blood sugar. For stomach diseases, nettle is an indispensable plant in the healing of the mucous membrane, and for heart diseases - for reducing blood pressure.

Decoctions are used to gargle and rinse the mouth for sore throats, stomatitis and periodontal disease. Apply compresses with a decoction to clean and speed up healing of the wounded skin. They use solutions that have bactericidal and cleansing properties for acne, furunculosis and dermatitis.

With the help of a decoction, they get rid of dandruff, flaking of the scalp epithelium, and strengthen the hair. The product is used to prevent hair loss. Pregnant women, people with accelerated blood clotting, and people with kidney problems are prohibited from drinking decoctions.

The beneficial properties of nettle leaves have been known since ancient times. Avicenna in his treatise recommended it to all girls and women as an effective remedy for infertility. Today, the positive effect of his recipes is explained by the fact that a decoction of nettle leaves saves from anemia, accelerates blood circulation, and promotes a rapid and complete supply of oxygen to the cells of the genital organs.

What is so unique about the chemical composition of nettle that it can speed up the recovery of even a seriously ill person?

1. The leaves of plants contain a huge amount of vitamin C; the content in nettles is 10 times higher than the amount in green onions.
2. Nettle is rich in carotene, which is responsible for cell growth and good vision. Vitamins PP and B, which improve the metabolism of proteins and carbohydrates and regulate the functioning of nerve cells.
3. Nettle leaves contain a lot of vitamin K, which is rarely found in green vegetable plants. It is responsible for the function of hematopoiesis, blood supply, and has the ability to increase blood clotting, which is especially useful in healing wounds, external and internal, to stop bleeding.
4. Nettle leaves contain essential acids that the body itself is unable to produce, but really needs them. They are rich in pantothenic acid, which promotes the speedy healing of diseased integuments.

5. The protein content in nettles is higher than in legumes, which makes it possible to include decoctions in the menu of people who are engaged in building muscle mass.
6. Nettle leaves lead in the presence of chlorophyll, this natural accumulator of solar energy rays, so important for people living in areas where there is little sunlight.
7. They are extremely saturated with phytoncides and mineral elements: iron, copper, manganese, potassium, calcium, chromium, biological active substances.

All useful elements nourish the decoctions, enter the brain, blood and body tissues, prevent the development of diseases by increasing immunity in healthy people and help sick patients overcome illnesses.

What do nettle infusions heal?

Herbal decoctions are prepared from stinging nettle or stinging nettle. But, before consuming them, you need to consult a doctor whether you can take home remedies or not. What is treated with nettle infusion? Basically, it is taken in the following cases:

1. To strengthen the immune system

As a remedy for vitamin deficiency and its prevention. The decoction has a strengthening effect and improves immunity.

2. As a hemostatic

To speed up the blood clotting process - for internal or external bleeding.

3. For anemia

For anemia, to increase the number of red blood cells, hemoglobin.

4. As a bactericidal

For the healing of purulent wounds, ulcers on the surface of the skin, as a bactericidal, anti-inflammatory agent.

5. Anti-inflammatory

For tonsillitis, stomatitis, and periodontal disease, rinse the throat and mouth with decoctions.

6. To cleanse the skin

As a means for cleansing the skin, internal blood purification for furunculosis, acne, prickly heat, skin lichen.

7. For patients with diabetes mellitus

Nettle decoction helps lower blood sugar, therefore it is useful for patients with diabetes.

8. For people with cardiovascular diseases

In case of heart and vascular diseases, it remarkably lowers blood pressure and strengthens blood vessels.

9. For problems with the gastrointestinal tract

It is advisable for patients suffering from dysbiosis or other gastrointestinal problems to drink decoctions in courses.

10. Antihemorrhoidal

As an effective remedy for getting rid of hemorrhoids.

11. To strengthen hair

To strengthen the roots and structure of the hair, rinse with nettle decoction, which prevents hair loss, gives natural shine and fluffiness, and eliminates dandruff and flaking.

12. For skin elasticity

Since ancient times, nettle brooms brewed with boiling water have been used for washing in the bathhouse. After the steam room, the skin becomes elastic, smooth, scratches and wounds heal quickly, the steam causes rapid cleansing of the lungs.

13. For rheumatism and osteochondrosis

Nettle is added to medicinal baths to increase skin tone and improve its health, treat rheumatism and osteochondrosis, and improve the functioning of respiratory processes.

14. For weight loss

To reduce body weight, cabbage soup and borscht made from nettle broth are included in the diet, and for skin elasticity after losing weight, external compresses and wraps are made with it.

Application and preparation of medicinal decoctions

In order for the effect on the body to be effective, it is important to know how to take nettle infusion. The main difference between the method of processing nettle raw materials and other plants is that nettle leaves cannot be boiled, they just need to be slowly poured with boiling water and left to steep under a lid.

The infusion time for the decoction for drinking and for lubricating, rinsing or compresses is different.

The concentration of the solution is also not the same. Therefore, we will consider in detail how to prepare a decoction of nettles, recipes for various methods of consumption:

• Multivitamin decoction for anemia, to improve immunity

Take 4-5 leaves of young nettle, and dry - 1 tbsp. with top. The raw material must be very slowly poured with a glass of not quite boiling water. Leave covered for 25 minutes. Drink it before meals, 1/4 of it, in portions.

• To improve blood composition

You can improve the composition of the blood and the rate of its clotting by increasing the number of red blood cells if you consume a decoction of 1.5 tbsp daily. l. dried leaves or 5 pieces of fresh leaves, brewed with 250 ml of boiling water. Take the drink in 4 equal doses.

• For skin imperfections

For skin diseases, acne, furunculosis, steam 50 grams of dry leaves in a liter of boiling water. You need to drink ¼ glass before meals until the inflammatory process passes.

• For diabetes

People suffering from diabetes take a decoction of nettle with blueberries or lingonberries every day for one month, then a break, and after two weeks they start taking it again. For the decoction take 20 grams. nettles and a large spoon of berries per 300 ml of water. The daily portion is 1 glass divided into 4 times. Doctors recommend that in spring and summer they eat borscht and cabbage soup made from fresh brewed nettles.

• Hemostatic agent

For internal bleeding, hemorrhoids and prolonged heavy menstruation, prepare a drink from 60g of nettle and 3/4 liter of boiling water. Let it sit for half an hour and drink a glass of decoction three times a day. If severe pain bothers you, then the daily norm is increased to 4 glasses. Cold lotions are applied to the hemorrhoids.

• Decoction for rinsing and external treatment of mucous membranes

10-15 grams of leaves are brewed for 15 minutes with ¾ cup of boiling water. Each time a new solution is prepared, rinsing should be done after 4 hours.

• Decoctions for washing wounds and applying compresses

300 ml. Boiling water is poured into 2 full tablespoons of leaves and steamed for 20 minutes. Strain the solution and perform the procedures.

• Decoction for weight loss

When losing weight, nettle decoction removes fluid from cells and tissues, due to its diuretic effect, accelerates carbohydrate metabolism and protects against stress. Pour a tablespoon full of a glass of boiling water and leave under the lid for 25 minutes. The serving is divided into 3 doses. By wrapping or lubricating the skin, the decoction tones sagging skin and muscles.

• For hair care

3 tbsp. brew 0.5 l. hot water, heat until boiling, leave for 20 minutes. Rinse clean, washed hair; there is no need to rinse off the decoction. It is not recommended to do the procedure for blondes, so that the hair does not acquire a greenish tint.

• For medicinal baths

For a therapeutic bath for rheumatism or osteochondrosis, fill containers with fresh nettle, then fill it with water at 55-60 degrees, cool to 42 degrees. Take it for 15 minutes.

Contraindications to the use of nettle decoction

1. Pregnant women and nursing mothers are prohibited from drinking the decoction.
2. Patients suffering from kidney disease should not use nettle products, which have a diuretic effect.
3. It is prohibited to use solutions in patients with increased blood clotting, and if there is a predisposition to the formation of blood clots.

Each person may have an individual, personal intolerance to any herbal mixture. In addition, the decoction can destroy the effect of tablets or other medications prescribed by the doctor. For people with chronic and genetic diseases, consultation with doctors is vital. For some types of diseases, you should absolutely not drink nettle infusion.

The medicinal plant nettle (lat. Urtíca) got its name because of the stinging hairs covering the leaves and stems of the plant. In Latin, "uro" means "burn." For food and medicinal purposes, the species of stinging nettle, widespread in Europe, Asia, China, India, North Africa, Australia and the USA, is used.

The weedy perennial herbaceous plant in Rus' has other popular names: zhguchka, strekalka, zhegala, strekuchka. It can be found in Slavic herbals starting from the 16th century as a wound healing agent. And in ancient times, there were beliefs that warriors whipped themselves with nettle stems to keep warm. The healing properties of nettle juice were described in treatises by Dioscorides and Hippocrates.

Blank

The raw materials are harvested from April to July by tearing off the burning leaf blades from the stems or mowing down the aerial parts, and then manually picking the leaves off the stems. Next, the nettles are dried, spread on natural fabric or paper in a layer of up to 5 cm, always in a dark room with good ventilation, for example, under a canopy, in an attic or in a barn.

On an industrial scale, raw materials are dried at temperatures up to 50°C in electric dryers. The shelf life of dried nettle leaf in paper or cardboard is up to 2 years. In most pharmacies in post-Soviet countries, stinging nettle is sold all year round. The plant is also included in medicinal herbal preparations, including multivitamins, kidney, hemostatic, gastric, wound healing, etc.

Useful properties of nettle

Stinging nettle, photo

Nettle leaves are used for economic and pharmaceutical purposes; its medicinal properties and contraindications are determined by the vitamins and minerals it contains. Fresh and dried plant materials are considered a natural multivitamin concentrate, due to the presence of ascorbic acid (up to 30 mg%), carotenoids (precursors of vitamin A), vitamins B and K.

Nettle contains chlorophyll, a green pigment that is the “blood” of plants and has a beneficial effect on the hematopoietic system of the human body. This powerful antioxidant improves the functioning of all organs at the cellular level, preventing oxidative stress and promoting the healing of internal and external damage.

Fresh plant materials also contain nitrogen-free extractive substances, small amounts of lipids, ash, crude protein and pure protein compounds responsible for the construction of cells and tissues. The dietary fiber present in raw nettle – fiber (36.5%) – provides the plant with powerful cleansing properties.

Burning leaves are a natural source of rare microelements, including potassium, copper, titanium, boron, nickel, manganese, iron, etc. Phenolic and organic acids, glycosides, phytoncides, tannins, sugars, porphyrins, secretin, present in stinging nettle, enhance the therapeutic properties of extracts and extracts from the plant, allowing it to be used in folk medicine as an internal and external remedy.

Use in cooking

Young nettle shoots collected in early spring are valued by nutritionists all over the world for their ability to restore the human body, exhausted over the winter. Juicy tender inflorescences, picked in early spring and dried, are added to teas and infusions, which are healthy and nutritious at any age.

Greens are added to soups, borscht, cabbage soup, fresh leaves are included in the recipe for vitamin salads, they are used to prepare original and very tasty fillings for pies, pies and pastries, as well as fermented and salted for future use in order to enjoy this priceless natural product throughout the year.

Use in cosmetology

Almost every woman knows that nettle is the best remedy for all hair types. Our ancestors also rinsed their hair with a decoction of nettles, strengthening them and healing their hair. Such procedures were especially beneficial for hair loss.

Plant extracts are present in many modern products used in the care and treatment of hair diseases, ranging from baldness to dandruff. Until now, extracts from raw materials are actively used in home cosmetology for the preparation of effective compositions for the care of the face, body and skin appendages (masks, peelings, creams, conditioners, lotions, shampoos, etc.).

Treatment with nettles in official and folk medicine

Aqueous extracts from nettle leaves are an ancient remedy that helps with all types of internal bleeding, including gastrointestinal, uterine, hemorrhoidal, pulmonary, liver, etc. The hemostatic properties of the plant are provided by vitamin K, which increases blood plasma clotting.

The juice of young nettle shoots is a multivitamin that stimulates all types of metabolism. It is also used to treat wounds and burn surfaces as a regenerating, disinfectant and wound-healing agent, provided with a high concentration of chlorophyll.

Traditional medicine advises the active use of fresh nettle bushes externally in the treatment of pathologies of the joints and lower back. In particular, healers prescribe whipping the lower back with a broom of juicy nettles for lumbago and radiculitis, preferably in combination with bath procedures - steaming.

The use of nettle leaves is advisable to improve blood composition, especially with anemia. Preparations with the plant increase the hemoglobin content in the blood plasma and increase the number of red blood cells produced, due to the presence of easily digestible proteins, iron and vitamins in the extract.

The benefits of nettle for maintaining health were also appreciated by patients with diabetes. The fact is that it contains the hormone secretin, which stimulates the production of insulin by the pancreas. Thus, taking plant-based products is useful for people suffering from pathologies of this organ (pancreatitis), and for lowering blood sugar levels.

Phytosterols in stinging nettle are beneficial for men's health. Nettle drinks (tea, infusion) improve the condition of the prostate gland, which leads to increased potency and is a prevention of prostatitis.

But the burning leaves bring the greatest benefit to women. Infusion and decoction of nettle during menstruation, accompanied by bleeding, normalizes this process, relieving cramps and painful manifestations. Taking extracts from the plant can significantly reduce the amount of menstrual flow, if necessary.

A pressing question arises: how to properly make a nettle decoction? Dried raw materials are used to prepare the elixir. One and a half tablespoons of the herb are poured with hot water (0.3 l), the product is simmered in a water bath for 5 minutes, left under the lid for 2 hours, filtered and taken warm, 100 ml three times a day before meals. Treatment is carried out during menstruation.

Contraindications for use

Like any medicinal plant, stinging nettle has contraindications and restrictions for use. First of all, recipes with leaves and their inclusion in the diet are contraindicated for people with individual intolerance.

If you are taking pharmaceutical drugs as prescribed by a doctor, then you should inform him about starting therapy with nettle, since some pharmaceutical products are incompatible with extracts from it. For example, nettle extract has a depressant effect on the central nervous system if antidepressants are taken simultaneously.

Since the plant has powerful hemostatic properties, in the presence of atherosclerosis, varicose veins, thrombophlebitis, its preparations can cause serious harm to the patient. It is worth considering that an increase in blood clotting when taking nettle extracts increases the risk of blood clots in people prone to this pathology.

During pregnancy, it is strictly not recommended to use nettle internally, even in the form of light tea, as this can provoke uterine contractions and miscarriage. Gynecologists do not recommend treatment with nettle preparations in the presence of cysts, polyps, or any types of tumors, even if they are accompanied by bleeding.

Given the beneficial properties of nettles, it makes sense to diversify your diet in the spring by including fresh leaves in your everyday meals. And also take care of the preparation of raw materials so that you always have on hand a powerful remedy, so popular in folk medicine, of course, if you and your family members have no contraindications to its use. Let the wisdom of nature always help you to be young and healthy!

Good day, dear guests and friends of the blog! Nettle is known to everyone as a weed that stings unpleasantly and clogs flower and vegetable beds. But from time immemorial, villagers have added it to their diet and the food of their pets, knowing that the grass will give strength and make them hardy. The beauties understood that there was no better remedy against hair loss. Rural healers generously used the plant for treatment. What else is the herb nettle famous for, the medicinal properties and contraindications of which will be discussed in the article?

Today it is difficult to say who was the first to highly appreciate the plant. According to the information that has reached us, the benefits of the herb were well described by the ancient Greek healer Hippocrates. The works of his compatriot Dioscorides deserve more respect; the hemostatic qualities of the plant were in great demand among the military doctor.

Nettle is one of the herbs, drugs based on which are used in official medicine. In some foreign countries, it is credited with antitumor properties and its expectorant properties are revered. Its ability to restore hemoglobin and activate carbohydrate and metabolic processes has been experimentally proven.

Prostaforton and Bazoton created on its basis are used as anti-cancer agents. Urtiphylline treats wounds and burns. The famous Allochol owes some of its popularity to nettle, the extract from which is used as one of the active ingredients.

The reason for the demand for the plant is its unique composition. Young nettle leads in vitamin C content, exceeding twice the amount in currants, while the recognized standard, lemon, is four times inferior. A few more facts about this plant may pleasantly surprise you:

1. In terms of iron content, the grass leaves behind even some iron-containing medications.
2. Nettle boasts a high content of carotene, there is more of it than in carrots or sea buckthorn.
3. The plant contains large amounts of magnesium, sodium, potassium, calcium, iron and iodine. It holds high positions in the content of vitamin B1, B2, PP. A daily dose of vitamin A will be provided by 20 leaves of the miracle plant.

Nettle is used to treat almost all diseases, but the following medicinal properties are most in demand:

• used to stop bleeding, including uterine bleeding,
• diuretic and choleretic effects,
• cleanses the blood
• used as an anti-inflammatory agent,
• restores the functioning of the female genital organs, mucous membranes of internal organs,
• reduces sugar content,
• accelerates regenerative processes.

Despite such high characteristics, the plant can greatly harm health. Doctors categorically do not recommend using nettle as food or as medicine for people prone to blood clots and pregnant women. In all other cases, there are no contraindications.

All nettles are recognized as medicinal; stinging nettle is considered the most common. Do not be confused; dead nettle does not belong to this category. All parts of nettle are medicinal. But the greatest hopes rest on the leaves.

nettle leaves

When preparing medicinal compositions, freshly cut leaves or dried material are used. The grass is collected at the time of flowering, starting in spring and throughout the summer.

May nettle is especially valuable and has a high vitamin reserve. Among its advantages is that it does not thicken the blood. The leaves are dried separately from the stems; the latter reduce the quality of the material and affect the preservation of chlorophyll.

Folk recipes (vodka, tincture, tea, decoction):

• Infusion. Place 1 tbsp in a glass. spoon of dry leaves, pour boiling water. After a quarter of an hour, the medicine is ready. Drink 1 tbsp. spoon before eating. Indications: internal bleeding, rheumatism, urolithiasis, diabetes mellitus, gout, colic, to normalize stool, swelling.
• Decoction. Place 1 tbsp in a saucepan. spoon of nettle, pour a glass of cold water, bring to a boil. Simmer for a quarter of an hour. Take a tablespoon of the drink before meals. The infusion treats nosebleeds, cardiovascular diseases, and kidney diseases.
• Vodka tincture is a good alternative to fresh leaves. Nettles are cut, placed in a glass container, and filled with vodka at the rate of 10 parts liquid to 1 part herb. They insist on fourteen days without access to the sun. Strain, the tincture is ready for use. Taken orally and used to wipe painful joints, wounds and bruises.
• For throat diseases and the need to strengthen your gums, rinse them with a decoction of 50 g of dry herb, poured with a glass of boiling water.
• Prepare an effective cough remedy from the flowers of the plant. Pour boiling water over a teaspoon and leave for half an hour. Drink like tea.

Nettle juice: medicinal properties

The juice contains all the medicinal components of the plant in concentrated form. Therefore, it is used in spring and summer. It is obtained from plant leaves through a juicer or meat grinder, followed by squeezing.

You can leave it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days; if necessary, preserve it for a long time by freezing it in the freezer. The cake obtained after the juice is used for bathing. The juice is used as medicine and for preventive purposes. Recipes:

• Mix a liter of honey with 600 g of juice and get an excellent vitamin drink. Take three times daily to boost immunity, as a natural energy drink, to help treat illness. Dose: teaspoon.
• In a liter jar, without compacting, place the leaves and herbal tops. Add water, leave for 10 hours. Add the juice obtained after pressing to compotes and teas as an anti-allergic, blood-restoring composition.
• To speed up the healing of wounds, bedsores and boils, apply tampons moistened with juice to the wounds.
• In order to get rid of kidney stones, drink 50 g of fresh juice every day in several doses.
• To restore your sense of smell, drip the juice into your nose.

Nettle seeds

The seeds of the plant, in addition to medicinal components, are distinguished by a high content of essential components. Nettle seed oil is used to lubricate joints, areas of radiculitis pain and bruises, and to treat fractures and sprains.

To prepare a medicinal potion, grind the seeds in a mortar, pour in twice as much vegetable oil by weight and leave for 10 days without access to the sun. The medicine is well preserved in the refrigerator.

Nettle roots

Root harvesting is done in the fall. Dug up and cleaned, they are dried in attics or spread out on paper. When exposed to air for a long time, the quality deteriorates, so dry rhizomes are immediately placed in cardboard boxes or canvas bags. For treatment, decoctions and tinctures are made. Several recipes:

1. To treat chronic cough, try making nettle leaf jam. Finely chop the herb and cook in sugar or honey syrup. Dosage: a tablespoon of jam 3 times a day.
2. Gastrointestinal diseases, diarrhea, and fever are treated with tincture, which is prepared in advance. Grind 2 tablespoons of root, pour in 0.5 liters of vodka and leave to steep for a week. For treatment, 30 drops 3 times a day are enough. The tincture helps with radiculitis, boils and joint pain.

Nettle for hair

The benefits of nettle for hair have been appreciated for a long time and the simplest and most effective natural herbal preparation has not been found to date. It’s nice that the plant is free and accessible. After several weeks of use, not only does hair loss stop, it becomes strong and fluffy. Dandruff, itching and seborrhea go away, and a healthy glow appears.

We offer you several miraculous recipes:

1. For better hair growth, rub the juice of a young plant into your scalp.
2. The decoction will help your hair gain strength. To prepare 3 tbsp. Pour boiling water over spoons of herbs. After half an hour, you can rinse your hair.
3. To strengthen your hair, use cotton pads to rub the tincture into the roots every day with gentle massaging movements, being careful not to damage the structure. To prepare the composition, take 2 tablespoons of dry or 250 g of fresh leaves, pour boiling water and leave for seven hours.

Video - nettle herb beneficial properties for hair, rinse

Nettle tea

Nettle-based teas have a therapeutic effect and are used as prophylactics, multivitamin drinks, and to reduce nervous agitation. Add honey and sugar to taste. The herb, rich in vitamins, generously releases them into the liquid when poured with boiling water.

The recipe is the same as for regular tea. Take 2 tbsp. spoons of dried grass, pour boiling water, after half an hour the tea is ready. Drink twice a day.

Useful properties for women

Despite the fact that nettle is strictly contraindicated for pregnant women, the herb perfectly solves women's problems:

• The baby's health is directly related to breastfeeding. In order to increase lactation, it is useful to take nettle juice, you can mix it with honey and milk.
• The infusion will help relieve pain and reduce bleeding during menstruation. Take half a tablespoon each of agave and nettle. Pour a glass of boiling water. Simmer for two minutes over low heat, set aside for an hour. Divide the resulting drink into four doses before meals.
• With heavy periods, freshly squeezed juice helps; take it three times a day, a teaspoon before meals. Nettle teas help well; you can drink up to three of them a day. As a result, not only bleeding decreases, but also the level of hemoglobin increases, and a diuretic effect is observed.
• Cervical erosion is treated with tampons moistened with plant juice. They are left for an hour. At the same time, douching is performed. The course of treatment is up to 3 weeks.
• Thrush is treated by douching; to prepare the medicine, take 20 g of chamomile and nettle and 0.5 liters of boiling water. Leave for 20 minutes.

Beneficial properties for men

If purely male problems arise, the seeds of a miracle plant will help. There are several treatment recipes:

• The prepared medicine is divided into three doses. Pour 300 g of boiling water over a tablespoon of rhizomes and simmer for 10 minutes, leave for half an hour. Take before meals for two months.
• The seeds will also help with prostatitis. A teaspoon is poured into a glass of boiling water and taken as tea half an hour before a meal or an hour after a meal.
• To increase potency, 20 g of seeds are infused in red wine for a week, taken a tablespoon as a tincture.

Video - green smoothie made from nettles

I hope that the above information will make you stop near a small plant, remember its benefits and take a medicinal assistant to your home. You will not regret. The plant is truly priceless; it helps with almost all diseases.

When leaving the page, leave comments and do not forget to share the article about the medicinal properties and contraindications of nettle with your friends on social networks. Be healthy.

Urtica) is a numerous genus of annual or perennial herbaceous plants that belong to the dicotyledonous class, order Rosaceae, nettle family.

When creating botanical nomenclature, Carl Linnaeus left a generic name for this plant, received from Pliny the Elder. The etymology of the name is associated with the Latin words “uro” and “ussi”, meaning “to burn” or “to be burned”, eloquently speaking about the ability of the plant to cause noticeable painful burns to a person when its stems or leaves are touched. The Russian definition comes from two Old Slavonic words: “krapat” - meaning “to splash” and “okrop” - corresponding to the concept of “boiling water”. Thus, it turns out that nettle is a plant that burns like boiling water and leaves burns in the form of drops or splashes.

Nettle - description and characteristics

Depending on the species, nettle can be either a monoecious or dioecious erect plant with one stem and several lateral shoots. The height of nettle varies from 0.55 m to 2 m. The edges of nettle leaves, located opposite each other, are solid, with light or deep serrations, and also deeply dissected into 3-5 parts. The stipules located at the base of the petiole are paired and quite often fused together.

The stems and leaves of nettle are colored in various shades of green, and their surface is in most cases covered with a huge number of stinging hairs. Each of them is a kind of ampoule containing acetylcholine, serotonin, histamine, as well as formic acid, tartaric and oxalic acid. When it comes into contact with the body of a person or animal, the siliceous tip of the hair breaks off and penetrates under the skin, and along with it the contents of the “ampoule,” causing a chemical burn at the point of contact. Histamine, serotonin and acetylcholine cause pain and redness, while tartaric and oxalic acids, found in some types of nettles, are responsible for the duration of pain.

The branching inflorescences of nettle of the false-spike-shaped or paniculate type consist of small unisexual, less often bisexual, flowers.

Classification of nettles

The genus Urtica consists of more than 50 species of nettle, some of which are recognized by modern science as subspecies and synonyms. Below are the types of nettles with an indication of their growing area according to data from the website (www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/search?q=urtica):

• Urtica andicola
• Urtica angustifolia– Angustifolia nettle. Russia, China, Japan, Korea
• Urtica aquatica
• Urtica ardens. China.
• Urtica atrichocaulis. Himalayas, southwest China
• Urtica atrovirens. Western Mediterranean
• Urtica ballotifolia
• Urtica berteroana
• Urtica cannabina- Hemp nettle. Russia and Western Asia from Siberia to Iran
• Urtica chamaedryoides. Southeast North America
• Urtica circularis
• Urtica dioica- Stinging nettle. Europe, Russia, Asia, North America
• Urtica echinata
• Urtica ferox– Ongaonga nettle tree. New Zealand
• Urtica fissa. China.
• Urtica flabellata
• Urtica galeopsifolia– Stinging nettle. Central and Eastern Europe, Russia
• Urtica glomeruliflora
• Urtica gracilenta. USA (Arizona, New Mexico, western Texas), northern Mexico
• Urtica haussknechtii
• Urtica hyperborea. Himalayas from Pakistan to Bhutan, Mongolia and Tibet
• Urtica kioviensis- Kiev nettle. Eastern Europe
• Urtica laetevirens– Nettle is light green. Russia, Japan, Manchuria, Korea
• Urtica leptophylla
• Urtica lilloi
• Urtica longispica
• Urtica macbridei
• Urtica magellanica
• Urtica mairei. Himalayas, southwest China, northeast India, Myanmar
• Urtica masafuerae
• Urtica massaica
• Urtica membranacea. Mediterranean, Azores
• Urtica Mexicana
• Urtica minutifolia
• Urtica mollis
• Urtica morifolia. Canary Islands (endemic)
• Urtica orizabae
• Urtica parviflora. Himalayas
• Urtica pilulifera– Ball nettle. Southern Europe, Russia
• Urtica platyphylla– Flat-leaved nettle. China, Japan, Russia
• Urtica praetermissa
• Urtica pseudomagellanica. Bolivia
• Urtica pubescens– Nettle pubescent. Northern Russia, central Asia
• Urtica purpurascens
• Urtica rupestris. Sicily (endemic)
• Urtica sondenii– Sonden nettle. Northeastern Europe, northern Asia
• Urtica spiralis
• Urtica stachyoides
• Urtica subincisa
• Urtica taiwaniana. Taiwan
• Urtica thunbergiana- Thunberg's nettle. Japan, Taiwan
• Urtica triangularis

• • Urtica triangularis subsp. pinnatifida

• Urtica trichantha
• Urtica urens- Stinging nettle. Europe, Russia, North America

Types of nettles that grow in Russia:

• Urtica angustifolia– Nettle angustifolia
• Urtica cannabina
• Urtica dioica- Stinging nettle
• Urtica galeopsifolia
• Urtica kioviensis- Nettle Kyiv
• Urtica laetevirens– Light green nettle
• Urtica pilulifera
• Urtica platyphylla– Nettle
• Urtica sondenii– Nettle Sonden
• Urtica urens- Stinging nettle

Types of nettles, names and photos

Below is a description of several varieties of nettles:

• Stinging nettle ( Urtica dioica)

This is a perennial herbaceous plant with a well-developed creeping root system. The erect, hollow inside stem, having a tetrahedral cross-section, is abundantly covered with simple and stinging hairs. There is an abundant amount of burning hairs in the nodes. The height of the stem ranges from 0.6 to 2 m. At the beginning of the growing season, the nettle stem has a simple structure, however, starting from mid-summer, numerous axillary shoots form on it. The leaves of stinging nettle, painted dark green, have an elongated ovate-lanceolate or oval-heart-shaped shape. Their length can reach 5-17 cm, while the width of the leaves is 3-7 cm. The edges of the leaf blade are cut with rather deep teeth. The length of the petiole is 1-6 cm. Paniculate inflorescences consist of small unisexual flowers of pale green color. Nettle fruits are elliptical or ovoid in shape, their length is 1-1.3 mm, width - 0.8-1 mm. The flowering period of this type of nettle begins in the first ten days of May and ends in late autumn. Stinging nettle is widespread throughout almost the entire territory of Eurasia, as well as in most countries of North Africa, China, South-West and Central Asia. Also introduced to the North American continent and Australia. In Russia, nettle grows in forest and forest-steppe zones, ranging from the European part to the Caucasus, Eastern Siberia and the Far East. Thanks to its horizontal branching root system, dioecious nettle is capable of forming extensive thickets in damp meadows, along the banks of rivers and reservoirs, on deserted abandoned lands, along roads and fences.

• Stinging nettle ( Urtica urens)

widespread in the Russian Federation, Germany, Poland, Romania, France and other European countries, as well as in North America. This is an annual plant with a powerful but rather short vertical root and a tetrahedral erect stem 15-50 cm high, the surface of which is covered with shallow vertical grooves. The small leaves of stinging nettle are dark green in color, reaching 1-6 cm in length and 1-4 cm in width, with a serrated edge, like the trunk, covered with numerous stinging hairs and a small number of simple hairs. The shape of the leaf blade can be oval or ovoid with a pointed nose. Unisexual small greenish nettle flowers can be either solitary or collected in spike-shaped inflorescences. The length of the petiole is 0.5-4 cm. Nettle fruits are ovoid in shape, their length is 1.5-2 mm, width - 1.1-1.3 mm. Ripe fruits usually have red-brown glands. Stinging nettle blooms from mid-May to late autumn.

• Nettle Kyiv ( Urtica kioviensis)

grows in Germany, Poland, France, Spain, Italy, in other European countries, as well as in Palestine. It is listed in the Red Book and is distributed in the European part of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. This is a perennial monoecious plant with numerous lodging herbaceous stems no more than 1.2 m high. The leaf blades are dark green in color and have an oblong-ovate shape with a jagged edge. The surface of nettle leaves and stems is covered with sparse, stinging hairs. The paniculate inflorescence bears male and female flowers. The growing season of this type of nettle continues until the onset of stable frosts, down to -5 o C. Kiev nettle grows on swampy soils, in deciduous forests, along the banks of lakes, rivers and streams. Flowering lasts from early June to late July.

• Flat-leaved nettle ( Urtica platyphylla)

grows in East Asian countries, China and Japan, in the Russian Far East, the Commander and Kuril Islands, Sakhalin and Kamchatka. It is a perennial plant with a short vertical root and a rather tall, erect stem and numerous thin side shoots. The height of the stem varies from 50 cm to 1.5 meters. The shape of the leaf blades can be ovoid or elongated-ovoid, their length varies from 4 to 20 cm, the width reaches 12 cm. The surface of the leaves, stem and side shoots of nettle is covered with stinging hairs. Paniculate or spike-shaped inflorescences, appearing in July-August, consist of very small flowers of a grayish-green color. Flat-leaved nettle blooms from July to October.

• Nettle angustifolia ( Urtica angustifolia)

found in mixed mountain and riverine forests, along roads and in populated areas of China, Korea, Japan, and Mongolia. On the territory of Russia it grows in the Chita and Irkutsk regions, Krasnoyarsk Territory, Altai, Buryatia and the Far East. This is a perennial herbaceous plant with a height of 15 cm to 1.2 meters with creeping rhizomes and an erect stem with sparse side shoots. The leaf blades are elongated-lanceolate or lanceolate (sometimes ovate-lanceolate), 4-12 cm long, 1-4 cm wide, with a serrate edge, painted in various shades of green. Inflorescences are paniculate, strongly branched. The whole plant is covered with many simple hairs, among which there are a few stinging ones. Nettle fruits are elliptical, ovoid or rounded-ovoid, fruit length 0.8-1 mm, fruit width 0.7-1 mm. Flowering of angustifolia nettle begins in June and, depending on the place of growth, can last until October. Can form hybrids with stinging nettle and flat-leaved nettle.

• Urtica cannabina)

grows almost throughout the Russian Federation, Central Asia, Mongolia and China. It is mainly found along roads, in vacant lots, railway embankments, and in populated areas. This is a perennial plant with a powerful, horizontal, non-creeping root system and an erect tetrahedral stem with vertical ribs. The height of the nettle stem can reach 70-150 cm. Quite large leaves are dark green, up to 15 cm long, three-dissected or tripartite (with pinnately dissected segments). The stems and leaves are densely covered with clusters of fine stinging hairs and a small number of simple hairs. Inflorescences consist of many small unisexual flowers. The length of the petiole is 3-8 cm, which is 2-3 times shorter than the blade. Nettle fruits are ovoid or elliptical in shape, fruit length is 1.9-2.5 mm, fruit width is 1.2-2.8 mm. The flowering period of this type of nettle lasts from early June to mid-August.

• Urtica galeopsifolia)

grows in European countries, in the south of Russia (in the Caucasus). This is a perennial plant with a creeping root system. The height of the tetrahedral erect stem, densely pubescent with simple hairs and a few stinging hairs, can reach 2 meters. Nettle leaves are arranged oppositely and have an elliptical or oblong-ovate shape. The leaf length is 6-14 cm with a width of 2.5 to 5 cm. The nettle leaf has a round or heart-shaped base, as well as a pointed tip. There are usually no burning hairs on the leaf blade. The length of the petiole is 1.5-5 cm. Nettle fruits are ovoid or elliptical in shape, their length varies from 1 to 1.3 mm, and their width is 0.7-1 mm. This type of nettle can be found in damp marshy areas, in lowlands and near rivers, in forests and bushes.

• Nettle Sonden ( Urtica sondenii)

perennial plant with a creeping root system, grows up to 1 meter in height. The nodes usually contain both burning and simple hairs. There are no hairs in the internodes. Nettle leaves have a narrow-ovate or oblong-ovate shape. The length of the leaf varies between 4 and 12 cm with a width of 1.5 to 4.5 cm. The apex of the leaf is pointed, the base is rounded, wedge-shaped. The leaf has 12-25 pairs of teeth. On the leaf blade only occasionally there are a few simple and stinging hairs, mainly located in large veins. The length of the petiole is from 1 to 6 cm. The nettle fruit has the shape of an ellipse or egg, the length of the fruit is 1-1.3 mm, the width is 0.6-1 mm. Sonden nettle grows in northern Europe, eastern Central Asia, and Russia. Usually this plant grows in forests and floodplains, meadows and near water bodies. It is very rare to find this type of nettle in cities or near roads.

• Nettle light green (Urtica laetevirens )

perennial herbaceous plant that blooms from June to August. The stem, whose height is 40-100 cm, has stinging hairs. The pointed nettle leaves, serrated along the edges, have a broadly ovate shape. The upper inflorescences are long, staminate, the lower ones are short and intermittent pistillate. The fruit of nettle is an egg-shaped nut. Light green nettle grows in the Russian Far East, found at the foot of cliffs and in the shade of forests. Prefers broad-leaved, coniferous-deciduous and poplar forests.

• nettle tree or Ongaonga ( Urtica ferox- "fierce nettle")

grows exclusively in New Zealand. This is perhaps the only nettle with a woody stem, the height of which can reach 5 meters and a thickness of 12 cm. The stem with numerous branched side shoots and large leaves, 8-12 cm long and 3-5 cm wide, is densely covered with stinging hairs up to 6 mm long. The light green leaves have an elongated triangular shape.

• Urtica mairei

grows in southwest China, northeast India, the Himalayas, Myanmar, Nepal and Bhutan, where it is found in partially shaded moist forests, along the banks of streams, on roadsides and mountain slopes, and also near human habitation. It is a perennial herbaceous monoecious plant with a stolon-like root system and an erect stem with sparse lateral branches. The height of individual specimens rarely exceeds 1 m. The leaf blades, painted dark green, have a heart-shaped, ovoid, sometimes oblong shape. The length of nettle leaves is 10-15 cm, width - 3-6 cm. Petiole length is 3-8 mm. The inflorescences are unisexual, paniculate, 4-10 cm long, with small flowers of a grayish-green color. The fruits are light brown in color and have an oblong-spherical or spherical shape. The flowering period of nettle lasts from May to August.

• Urtica pilulifera)

a perennial plant with a straight or ascending stem covered with a bluish coating, height from 20 to 75 cm. The leaves of ball-bearing nettle are quite wide (up to 9 cm), ovoid in shape, with a rounded base and a pointed apex. The inflorescences are collected in a spherical head. The fruit is a heart-shaped nut, no more than 3 mm long. This type of nettle is widespread in Crimea and the East Transcaucasian region. The plant loves landfills, roadsides, and is often found as a weed in cultivated crops.

Where does nettle grow?

The growing area of ​​nettle is very extensive. It includes not only vast territories with a temperate climate in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, but also a very wide zone in the tropics. This plant can be seen in cool shady forests of Europe, Russia, the Caucasus, China, Canada, North America, and Japan. Nettle is also found in damp, warm thickets of Malaysia, the Philippines, India, Thailand, Korea, Australia and other countries.

Chemical composition of nettle

Nettle is a real storehouse of vitamins and elements valuable for human health. It contains:

• ascorbic acid (twice as much as in black currant berries);
• vitamins K, E and B;
• beta-carotene;
• chlorophyll and phytoncides;
• organic sugars and fiber;
• glycosides;
• tannins;
• oil (in plant seeds);
• iron, manganese, boron, nickel, copper.

Such a rich combination of beneficial substances determines the multifaceted use of leaves and other parts of nettle in a wide variety of areas - from cooking and cosmetology to medicine.

Nettle - medicinal properties and uses

• Nettle has long been used in cooking. Young leaves and shoots are used to prepare various sauces, borscht, soups and cabbage soup. In their raw form, nettle leaves are added to dietary salads. Often nettle greens are pickled for future use in the winter or dried to make tea. Powder from specially processed leaves is used as a component for the production of vitamin seasonings, as well as confectionery and meat products.
• Steamed nettle shoots are added to cows' feed to increase milk yield and increase the fat content of milk, and chopped nettle greens are given to laying hens to increase their egg production.
• Nettle is indispensable in the production of light, strong, environmentally friendly fabrics, as well as ropes and ropes.
• The food, perfume and pharmaceutical industries cannot do without chlorophyll, which is produced on an industrial scale from nettles.
• But this plant has found its greatest use in medicine, both folk and traditional. Infusions of nettle leaves have long been used to stop bleeding of any nature, including uterine and gastrointestinal. Many stomach preparations contain an extract from nettle leaves.
• In addition, nettle is a raw material for the production of cosmetic products for facial skin and hair care. Pharmaceutical preparations or self-prepared products based on nettle extracts are recommended for the treatment of weakened hair and scalp. Nettle tincture or shampoo with an extract of this plant perfectly stimulates the proper functioning of capillaries, accelerates the flow of oxygen and essential nutrients to the hair follicles, and optimizes metabolic processes. Healing masks are prepared from crushed nettle leaves by steaming the raw material with boiling water and applying the cooled pulp to the hair. Such procedures are excellent for seborrhea and hair damage.

Harm and contraindications of nettle

When treating bleeding caused by a cyst, polyps, tumors of the uterus or appendages requiring surgical intervention, as well as people with increased blood clotting and kidney disease, taking drugs from nettle should be approached with caution.

Today, many herbalists grow nettles at home to prepare medicines. Despite the fact that many types of nettle are weeds, this process requires some effort.

The main condition for successfully growing nettles is the correct choice of planting site. It is necessary to select a well-moistened and shaded area with sandy or fertile soil that is free of perennial weeds. Nettles are sowed in late autumn, before the onset of frost, or in the spring immediately after the snow cover melts. Nettle seeds mixed with fine dry sand are sown in grooves no more than 1.5 cm deep, after which they are sprinkled with a thin layer of peat or humus. The distance between adjacent grooves should be at least 0.6-0.7 m.

After sowing, the area is abundantly moistened and maintained in this condition until the first shoots appear. This usually happens when the average air temperature rises to +8 o C, in the second half of April or early May.

When growing nettles by cuttings, in the spring you need to dig up rhizomes near the mother plant and cut them into planting material 8 to 10 cm long. The cuttings are immediately planted in the ground to a depth of no more than 8 centimeters with an interval of about 0.6 m. At first the plant may look weakened, however, after 40-50 days, its condition stabilizes, and the seedling grows sharply.

Caring for nettle plantings is quite simple. You only need to periodically weed the weeds, loosen the soil and water the area. Fertilizing with natural organic fertilizers gives good results.

• Burns received from contact with the plant are quite harmless, but touching the nettle tree (lat. Urtica ferox), which grows in New Zealand, causes great suffering to a person. Despite this, nettle leaves are the basis of the diet for the larvae of the Red Admiral, a butterfly common in New Zealand.
• In extreme conditions, nettle leaves are used to preserve some perishable foods. Even in extreme heat, fish or meat covered with nettle leaves stays fresh for several hours.
• In England and some other countries, wine is made from nettle leaves.
• In ancient Rus', nettle had several nicknames, among which was “fire-grass”. This plant was considered to be a fire element, so it was believed that it was under the protection of Perun and should only be cut with a very sharp knife.
• The heroine of H. H. Anderson's fairy tale "The Wild Swans" freed her brothers from evil spells with the help of shirts woven from nettles.
• It is believed that this plant is a stimulant and increases performance and endurance, so nettle decoctions were given to soldiers before battle, and powder from dried and ground leaves was sprinkled on wounds to stop bleeding.