Nourishing Nettles
“Nettle is a gateway herb for the Green Witch, weaving us back into the fabric of all inside of us and in the Earth that is wild, vital, and free. The first drink of a strong cold overnight infusion satiates a primordial thirst for deep nourishment that often the cells and soul did not know they had until then. With daily use, we notice how different we are when we are flooded with nourishment, our basic needs met, our heart open, the taste for wildness and aliveness igniting our spirit, joy, and sense of self”
-Miernowska
Singing nettles (Urtica dioica) is an extremely nourishing herb which comes alive every Spring. Brightly offering her medicine to those who may be weakened from the long winter and are in need of deep nutritive rejuvenation. I love the quote above from Marysia’s book The Witch’s Herbal Apothecary, linked below in the references section. I 100% agree about quenching a primordial thirst that you didn’t even know you had. I have been making an overnight nettles infusion to drink with the sunrise, and I feel extremely present in my physical body. She is grounding, supportive, and energizing. Her earthy flavor is not bitter, and it holds the energy of the cosmos in each sip. I often only need one cup, other times I sip on the infusion throughout the whole day.
Botanical Name: Urtica dioica
Family: Urticaceae
Parts Used: whole plant, aerial parts and roots
Biochemical constituents: Constituents found primarily in the aerial parts are vitamins A and C, beta-carotene, calcium and potassium, phosphorus, chlorophyll, magnesium and tannins, flavonoids, sterols, and amines. Constituents found primarily in the root include polysaccharides, lectins, fatty acids, terpenes, and coumarin.
Properties: Anti-inflammatory and analgesic (may decrease pain associated with inflammation), hypotensive and diuretic (blood pressure lowering), antihyperglycemic (blood sugar lowering), antioxidant, antiviral, antiproliferative effects on prostate cells, hepatoprotective (liver support)
Uses: May be beneficial in cases of arthritis, gout related pain, prostate enlargement, allergic rhinitis (allergies), eczema and skin inflammations, burns, insect bites, and wounds, menstrual complaints, and digestive upset. Safe to say it is an all around full body tonic
History
Stinging nettle is a perennial herb found in most temperate climates in both hemispheres around the globe. The genus name Urtica comes from the Latin verb urere, meaning "to burn," because of its urticate (stinging) hairs. It has been used since ancient times, with Dioscorides (first century C.E.) and Galen (ca. 130–200 C.E.) in ancient Greece reporting diuretic and laxative effects for nettle leaf. Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder (ca. 23–79 C.E.) reported hemostatic properties. It is also widely used for gynecological complaints by North American First Nations Peoples and in Ayurvedic Medicine among other things. In African medicine, it is often used as a snuff to treat nosebleeds, excessive menstruation, and to treat internal bleeding. In Germany, stinging nettle herb is licensed as a standard medicinal tea for diuretic action. It is also used as a component of prepared medicines intended for supportive treatment of rheumatic ailments and irrigation therapy in inflammatory conditions of the lower urinary tract.
Uses
Pharmacologically, Stinging Nettles has been studied for the uses of increase urinary flow in cases of BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) and other inflammatory lower urinary tract disorders, diuretic, treatment and prevention of kidney stones, and supportive therapy for rheumatic ailments. In France, it is permitted usage topically and orally for mild to moderate acne, and traditionally used to support achy joints. In the United States, nettles are often included in herbal supplement tonics particularly for lactating women. There are no known contraindications or side effects, and no known contraindications for pregnancy or lactation.
To Use
Our favorite and the easiest way to use nettles is to include it in your diet as an herbal infusion. Use dried nettle leaf and flower 5-10 grams, and infuse into 2-4 cups of water for 4-12 hours. Drink up to 3 cups per day as needed. Nettles is not bitter, but does have an earthy flavor and is best when you don’t try to sweeten it. It is often prepared into soups and stews and pairs well with miso, though we prefer to drink it by itself.
Caution
If you meet singing nettle in the wild, be sure to use caution to avoid the stinging hairs. The stinging hairs will prick you and then leave a small welt for anywhere from 15 minutes to hours depending on your individual sensitivity, after which the sting may itch and burn, but ultimately is relatively harmless. Some traditional uses even intentionally sting rheumatic and arthritic joints with nettle in order to increase blood flow to the joint. If you do get stung, burdock is another plant that often grows near nettles, and will remove the sting if crushed and applied to the skin affected. Best to wear long sleeves/pants/and gloves if intending to harvest nettles.
Magickal Associations
Gender: Masculine
Element: Fire
Planet: Mars or Saturn
Powers: Exorcism, Protection, Healing, Lust
Magickal Uses: Carry a sachet of nettles to ward off evil, freshly cut nettles placed underneath the bed of a sick person will aid in their recovery. To induce lust, nettles have been used by Mexican spiritualists in purifications baths because it is “more carnivorous” than other herbs, so it works more efficiently.
References
Apelian, N., Davis, C. (2019). The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies: The healing power of plant medicine. Published and copyrighted by Claude Davis.
Bombardelli, E. and P. Morazzoni. 1997. Urtica dioica L. Review. Fitoterapia 68(5):387401.
Braun, L., Cohen, M. (2010). Herbs & Natural Supplements: An evidence based guide 3rd edition. Elsevier Australia: Chatswood, NSW.
Cunningham, S. (2019). Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs. Llewellyn Publications: Woodbury, MA.
Joshi, B. C., Mukhija, M., Kalia A. N. (2014). Pharmacognostical review of Urtica dioica L. International Journal of Green Pharmacy
Kregiel, D., Pawlikowska, E., Antolak, H. (2018). Urtica spp.: Ordinary Plants with Extraordinary Properties. Molecule 23(7): 1664. DOI: 10.3390/molecules23071664
Miernowska, M. (2020). The Witch’s Herbal Apothecary: Recipes and Rituals for a Year of Earth Magick and Sacred Medicine Making. Quarto Publishing Group: Beverly, MA.
Roschek, B., Fink, R., McMichael, M., Alberte, R. (2009). Nettle extract (Urtica dioica ) affects key receptors and enzymes associated with allergic rhinitis. Phytotherapy Research. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.2763
Safarinejad, M. R. (2005). Urtica dioica for Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. Journal of Herbal Pharmacotherapy. DOI: 10.1080/J157v05n04_01
Wichtl, M. and N.G. Bisset (eds.). 1994. Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals. Stuttgart: Medpharm Scientific Publishers.
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