The common stinging nettle, known by the scientific name Urtica dioica, is famously known for its prickling sting; a cause of great irritation. However, these nettles are very beneficial, both to us and wildlife. They are a great attractor for lots of wildlife, providing food for butterflies and caterpillars; a habitat for aphids and therefore attracting ladybirds who eat these and also providing shelter for other insects. They also have a lot of nutrients and antioxidants that are directly beneficial for humans, their wide list of health benefits is discussed later on in this blog.
Anatomy:
Stinging nettles are a herbaceous plant, meaning they have no woody tissue. The leaves are toothed and appear oppositely up the stem; with both the stem and leaves containing many protruding hairs, known as trichomes. They can be either stinging or non-stinging, but to be safe its best to avoiding touching them! While U. dioica does grow all year round, the foliage and flowers can only be seen across spring, summer and autumn. The flowers are either green or white which are wind pollinated, and appear in clusters on the stem and leaf axils. The plant is either dioecious, meaning it only produces all female flowers or male flowers, or it is monoecious where it contains both female and male flowers.
Chemical reactions of the sting:
The trichomes have bulbous tips which break off when disturbed, such as brushing against them. This reveals a needle-like tube that will pierce the skin. They contain a mix of acetylcholine, formic acid, serotonin and histamine, which is injected into the skin causing a raised, irritated bump that can persist for 12 hours. The itching rash causes irritation in humans and animals, but luckily it is not any more sinister than that. However, if there is prolonged exposure to a large volume of nettles, the accumulation of stings can end up poisoning you. This was seen in hunting dogs who would run through thickets of nettles, where they ended up becoming poisoned, sometimes even lethally.
Despite this, they are an important food source for many butterfly species and aphids, becoming great wildlife attractors when present. Furthermore, when cooked or dried that become safe for consumption and have a lot of health benefits for humans, and for use in animal feed.
Health Benefits:
The stinging nettle has many health benefits and was traditionally used as a medicinal herb in many folk medicines. It has a range of uses and is thought to treat many disorders, however there is sometimes a lack of evidence to fully support these claims.
Firstly, nettles are said to help improve arthritis by relieving the inflammation of the joints. Stinging nettle extract may be useful in reducing the body’s inflammatory response, balancing the symptoms and providing a great home based remedy for arthritis. However, this should not be relied on as more clinical trials are needed to fully test the long term benefits of this.
It has also be shown that nettles may help treat hay fever. This causes inflammation in the lining of your nose, and as previously states, nettle extracts are used to reduce inflammation. It will inhibit the inflammatory response to pollen, and block histamine receptors. While this provides a great natural remedy, there is not enough evidence to fully support how effective its use is.
Stinging nettles are also used as a diuretic which may improve urinary tract health, by flushing out any harmful bacteria which could be causing an infection. Furthermore, it can benefit people with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which causes an enlarged prostate gland in males. This can cause discomfort when urinating, research has found that stinging nettle extracts reduced prostate size and improved symptoms. The diuretic properties also help to detoxify the body, riding the body and kidneys of excess toxins that accumulate. Furthermore, they are also full of antioxidants and vitamins that are good for our health. The antioxidants defend our cells from free radicals that cause damage, leading to premature aging and disease.
Nettle Tea Recipe:
Nettle tea is not only a popular herbal drink, it also has medicinal properties and beneficial nutrients. It tastes similar to a vegetable broth and is very easy to make.
Step 1- Firstly identify the species, making sure to only pick healthy leaves. Then, gather your nettle leaves. It is best to pick them in the spring time, before they have flowered as some become bitter and unpleasant once flowered. Make sure to protect your hands and arms from getting stung by wearing appropriate clothing and gloves. Now gather the amount of leaves you want, depending on the strength of tea you want.
Step 2- Clean the leaves first and boil the water. There is an optional step to dry the leaves first, by leaving them in a paper bag to air dry.
Step 3- Place the volume of leaves you want into a cup, pour the boiling water over them and set aside to brew for a couple of minutes.
Step 4- Add sugar or honey to make it sweeter if the flavour is too strong. Once done, sit back and enjoy this warm, nutritional beverage.
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