Learn about European Naturopathic Healing Methods




STINGING NETTLE  Urtica dioica


Even the Stinging Nettle is the most common weed in Germany, it was the most recommended healing herb in my practice.

The leaves were preferably harvested (with gloves on, because they really sting!) when they were still young and tender (like in March or April) But you could take them until September. After blossoming the roots are harvested in fall.


JUICE

Fresh pressed juice of the leaves can be diluted with buttermilk and may be used as a spring-cleanout of the whole body.

For this the "every-day one-spoon-more" cure applies:

1. day 1 tablesppon of the juice (diluted or undiluted)

2. day 2 tablespoons

3. day 3.....   and so on

after 14 days the maximum dosis is reached and then you take every

day one tablespoon less, so that, after 4 weeks you are back to 1 tablespoon. Don't start with a higher dosis, because that couldlead to stomach problems and diarrhea.Very sensitive persons take only the dosis they tolerate and go back from then.


TEA

Stinging Nettle Tea was my absolute favorite, when I wanted my patients organism be cleansed out. It reduces acidity and alleviates rheumatic diseases and gout. A stinging nettle tea cure should not exceed 6 weeks

How to make the Stinging Nettle Tea:

Take 1 tablespoon full of dried (or one handful of fresh) leaves, add 2 pints of boiling water, let sit for 5 monutes andstrain. You may drink rt´that tea hot or cold, and you may add lemon or ginger or maple syrup to taste.

Stinging Nettle Tea cleanses the liver and helps for all kinds of muscle pain and pain in the bones.


SEEDS

You may harvest Stinging Nettle Seeds in fall and dry them. You crunch them in the coffee grinder or pound it and take every day 1-2 tablespoons ful for  invigoration.


VETERINARY MEDICINE

If you mix Stinging Nettle Seeds to the food of your hens, they lay more eggs.


RECIPE FOR THE BEAUTY

For a hair cure take half a pound of fresh stinging nettle leaves, cook in water for 30 minutes and strain. Cool it off and rinse the hair after it has been shampooed and rinsed with water. I know of one case where the Alopecia areata has disappeared after the patient did apply this cure for 3 months. (Another good advice is the application of Young Living Cedar Oil 5 drops with some neutral oil as a good massage on the scalp) The longer cooking procedure brings about more of the silicea, that builds up the structure of the single hair.


RECIPE FOR YOUR  KITCHEN


Salad of young nettle leaves

It takes a handful of young stinging nettle leaves, scald them with boiling water, strain and cut, cool off and add to the  salad sauce.


Stinging Nettle Soup

take 4 handful of stinging nettle leaves, 2 tablespoons with flour, 2 cups of milk, 1/2 a garlic clove, a hunch of nutmeg and salt, 1 tablespoon of butter, 1 tablespoon of Parmesan cheese.

Cook theleaves until they are soft, strain and set aside.

For the roux you melt buter in the pot and cook the roux by adding slowly the mixture of flour and milk. Add the stinging nettles, add salt and nutmeg to taste and top it with Parmesan cheese. It goes best with garlic bread and creme fraiche.