Once prized as a valuable source of food, medicine, and material to make cloth and cord, the nettle (Urtica dioica) is now seen as a troublesome weed to be vigorously cut, strimmed and sprayed to control or kill it.
The humble stinging nettle goes by many names including burn nettle, devil’s plaything, and hoky-poky. Nettle grows abundantly and is probably the first wild plant we learn to identify as children, and once touched it leaves a lasting memory and earns our respect.
The serrated-edged leaves are covered in tiny hollow hairs, sharp enough to penetrate our skin to inject us with their cocktail of chemicals including formic and oxalic acid, histamine, and serotonin, leaving us with an itchy rash and peculiar numb sensation around the area.
Historically, nettle has been used as a food and fabric dye and its strong fibres can be made into clothing and strong cord. During World War 1, when cotton was very scarce, nettle fibres were cultivated on a huge scale to make uniforms for soldiers, and in World War 11 nettles were used to dye any camouflaged fabrics. Being such a hardy and vigorous grower, nettles would have been a welcome substitute for green vegetables in times of rationing, and if the tops are frequently nipped out it can be used as a pick and come again leaf or dried and used as a tea.
Uses: Medicinally, nettle is used (both topically & internally) to treat arthritic joint pain, seasonal allergies, eczema, and anemia. It is also a great tonic for the hair and scalp. Nettle is best picked from February until early May, as after that time they become course and the flower heads start to appear. Older nettle which is around knee height and beginning to come into seed is best left alone as it will contain calcium oxalate crystals and cause irritation to the gut and urinary tract. Save these nettles for picking their seeds only.
If you have a patch that you frequently pick or cut back so there is constant new growth you can get another couple of months of use from it but you probably won’t get the benefit of nettle seeds. Maybe have one patch for picking leaves and another for harvesting seeds!
Nutritional value: Stinging nettle is incredibly nutritious with excellent levels of iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamins A, B, C & K, silica, and Quercetin as well as being high in chlorophyll. Nettle is excellent as a general tonic to boost lethargy and a vitamin and mineral boost. It works to balance the body including calming the nervous system.
The seeds can be harvested and dried around July to September, they have a lovely nutty taste and can be sprinkled onto salads or stirred into natural yogurt or smoothies. The plant puts a lot of energy into making seeds and they are fantastic to eat for an energy boost and also traditionally used to support adrenal fatigue and the feeling of being burnt out. Pick on a sunny day and spread them out to dry on a large baking tray or even an old bed sheet if you are drying a large volume. Stir and turn occasionally so they are thoroughly dry, which may take a whole day in the sun.
Nettles are a tasty alternative to spinach or kale and work well in pasta, lasagne, pesto and even stirred into cake, scone and bread recipes. Just don’t be scared of them, yes you may need gloves to pick them, but once lightly boiled, steamed or blitzed in a blender they lose their sting. Many people overboil nettles, particularly when making soup and the end result is greyish-green and revolting. Think along the lines of preparing spinach, so 4-5 minutes of steaming or a brief stir fry, will preserve the flavour, colour, and those important nutrients.
Wildlife: Nettle is very valuable to wildlife and provides food, shelter, and protection for many species. Butterflies such as the peacock, tortoiseshell, red admiral, and the comma rely heavily on the nettle. Ladybirds will often be found on nettles and they will eat any unfortunate creepy crawlies that land, they are also a big hit with finches especially when the plant goes to seed and the pheasants just love pecking at the drooping seed heads.
Recipe for Nettle Hair Tonic-Rinse
This recipe can be used for us as a final hair rinse to stimulate hair growth or as a coat rinse for your dog to ease itchy skin.
You will need:
A large bunch of freshly picked nettles
Sprig of Rosemary
An optional drop of lavender essential oil or rosemary oil (best avoided in epileptic animals, just to be extra safe)
500ml water
500ml Organic Apple Cider Vinegar
Put the nettles & rosemary sprig into a large pan with the water and cider vinegar and gently simmer for 40 - 50 minutes. Just check it halfway through cooking and top it up with more water if necessary. Take off the heat and set aside to cool before stirring in a drop of essential oil if you choose to do so. Strain through a muslin cloth or fine sieve over a bowl and then bottle. Use as a final rinse after shampooing or as a cooling coat rinse on a hot day.
Store in the fridge and use within 2 weeks. You could also find some suitable small containers to hold liquid and pop a bit extra in the freezer. Just remember to label it so it`s not confused with nettle soup!
Cream of Nettle Soup
This is a simple but very tasty way to cook and serve young nettle tops.
1 colander of washed, young nettle tops
I medium onion or shallot
1 tablespoon of salted butter
1.5 pints of light stock such as chicken or vegetable
Seasoning & grated nutmeg to finish
A quarter pint of milk
I tablespoon flour
1 Tablespoon of sour cream
Pick through the nettles as you wash them, removing any damaged leaves or coarse stalks, and then place them into a saucepan with enough salted water to cover. Gently simmer for 10 minutes and then drain.
Meanwhile, melt the butter in another pan and add the chopped onion to cook until softened, stir in the flour, and then add the stock, stirring all the time until it comes to a boil & starts to thicken. Add the drained nettles, salt and pepper and heat through for 10 minutes. Liquidize the soup in a blender until smooth. Return it to the pan and then add warm milk and stir.
Garnish with a spoon of sour cream, grated nutmeg or a squeeze of lemon juice.
Caroline Hearn ~ Hedgerow Hounds