Holistic Healing - Foraging Stinging Nettles

Stinging Nettle - These little beauties can be vicious, yet when handled correctly, they are not only harmless but an absolute must for the kitchen and herbal medicine cabinet

What is nettle and why do I need it?

The common stinging nettle grows in absolute abundance all over the UK. I'm willing to bet that most of you have been subject to a nasty sting or two at some point. I'll let you know a secret to avoiding these stings and the best, natural remedy to alleviate the sting (no it's not dock leaf) later in this blog.

Stinging nettles are packed with vitamins and minerals making them super nutritious. Apparently, they contain more calcium than both spinach and broccoli. I have read that the humble stinging nettle is one of the most nutritious plants on the planet. They're actually really tasty too, we regularly use them in salad, stir fry, omelette, smoothies and even cake (sounds weird but trust me, it's delicious!)

Stinging nettle's have many more uses beyond the culinary delights and herbal remedies mentioned above. They can be used to make rope or cordage, yellow dye from the roots and green dye from the leaves, as well as being an incredibly effective plant fertiliser.

We do have to remember that nettles are hugely important to wildlife. They support many different types of insect by providing food and shelter, in particular, the ladybird. With this in mind, we must make sure to follow the foragers code of conduct and only take what we need (maximum of 20% of the available plants), thus leaving enough for nature.

Traditionally, stinging nettles have been used medicinally for centuries, all around the world. One of the most talked about uses of the common stinging nettle in herbalism, is for the relief of symptoms from arthritis. It is said that rubbing the affected area with fresh stinging nettles, or an ointment made from stinging nettle can help considerably to relieve some pain and inflammation.

Another popular use is for the treatment of seasonal allergies such as hayfever. Using fresh (or dried) leaves in tea daily can help to relieve the symptoms. Some say that purposly stinging ones self is another effective method in relieving the symptoms of seasonal allergies but we cannot personally comment on this.

The seeds of the stinging nettle are the most nutritious part of the plant and are said to promote healthy hair and nails along with increasing energy levels. We use the seeds fresh where possible and also dry plenty for when they are out of season. The stinging nettle seeds can be sprinkled on salads, porridge, smoothies, soups or anything you fancy.

Where and when can I find nettle?

The stinging nettle can most commonly be found in towns, gardens, parks, fields, verges, hedges and any grasslands, so you will likely find some not too far from your front door. Whilst the nettle can be foraged all year round, it is not recommended to eat the plant once it has flowered.

There are a number of other nettles that grow naturally in the UK in much the same way as the stinging nettle. These are known as dead nettles, meaning they have no sting. There are a few variants of the dead nettle; red, yellow and white to name some. Whilst the dead nettles are edible (flowers and top leaves only) the leaves are not as tasty as the stinging nettle. The flowers do have a very sweet nectar, especially the white dead nettle, making them a welcome addition to salads.

How can I use nettle?

Obviously, the first thing that we need to do is deactivate the sting. It's the little hook hairs on the underside of the leaves and down the stem that cause the sting. It is recommended to wear gloves whilst harvesting the nettles, although, if you pull upwards, the hairs will not sting but there is a knack to this. Once these hairs are broken, the sting is deactivated and the nettle becomes harmless. You can do this by boiling, steaming, frying, drying or finely chopping the leaf.

Nettles have too many uses to list so we're going to give you a few of our favourites here.

Nettle and lemon cake

Ingredients

250g Plain flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

Roughly 100g fresh, young nettle leaves (use the top 4-6 leaves only)

200g butter, softened

150g Coconut sugar (or your sugar of choice)

3 large, free range eggs

2 tsp vanilla extract

zest and juice of 1 lemon

Method

Preheat oven to 325'F, 170'C, gas mark 3

Grease (and line if desired) two 7" round cake tins (loose bottom, springform is best)

Wash the nettle leveaves and add to a pan of boiling water (this will deactivate the sting) for 3-4 minutes until well wilted.

Drain the nettles and puree or chop as finely as you can.

In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Beat in the eggs 1 at a time and then add the nettles, zest and juice of the lemon and the vanilla extract. Mix well to combine.

Add in the flour, baking powder and salt and mix gently, just enough to combine. Do not over mix at this stage.

Distribute the mixture evenly between the 2 prepared tins and bake for 25 - 30 minutes in the centre of the oven or until a skewer inserted comes out clean.

Leave to cool in the tins for 10-20 minutes and then turn out on a cooling rack.

Leave to cool completely and then top with an icing of choice, or eat plain with a cup of lemon balm tea.

I don't always frost but if i do, I use a standard lemon buttercream frosting.

If these protective little hairs do sting you, the best remedy to alleviate the sting is by using plantain. Simply pick a leaf, roll it in your fingers for a minute to break up the veins. This will release a liquid to rub on the affected area. Follow the link to our plantain blog to learn all about it.

Nettle seeds for nutrition & energy

The female seeds are the ones we want to pick. They hang low, drooping, as seen in the photograph. We like to pick the seeds when they are still green, for us this is when the flavour is best.

Remove the seeds from the plant using scissors.

If you have no plans to use the seeds immediately, then place them on a baking tray or similar and leave to dry in a cool, dark and well ventilated area.

These are the female seeds, the ones that we want to pick.

Once the seeds are dry, place them in an air tight container. We use an old gin bottle with a cork lid, it keeps them nice and fresh.

Nettle as garden fertiliser

Making garden fertiliser from stinging nettles couldn't be easier.

Roughly chop 10 or more stems of nettles and place in a bucket. Pop a rock or something heavy on them to weigh the nettles down before filling the bucket with water.

Leave this mixture for at least 4 weeks to breakdown.

The liquid can be used to spray onto plants or poured directly onto the soil.

As a word of warning, this mixture will have a potent aroma, best to store away from your bbq or outdoor dining area.

Summary

Nettles have so many wonderful uses, they really are so much more than a stinging, invasive weed. Go ahead and pick some and let us know your favourite uses using the social media links below.