For a larger quantity of tea you will need: 5 spoons of dried stinging nettle leaves; 1 liter of boiling water See our Muddler HERE; Pour water over Stinging Nettle Leaves We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Thank you very much for this article. Stinging Nettles can be dried for later use. Making Stinging Nettle Root Extract. You all did! All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. Our goal at Lady and the Carpenter is to honor the tradition of quality woodworking. It quickly got worse. Interactions And Warnings: Stinging nettle contains vitamin K and so could interfere with the anticoagulant drug, warfarin (Coumadin). As a kid, I spent many summers fly fishing along rivers and streams which were often laden with stinging nettle (Urtica dioica).Back then I would curse it endlessly and avoid it at all costs. By Gabe Garms. References Okay, I know that my sanity is up for debate but let’s just assume I am perfectly sane for a few minutes…. How to use stinging nettle tea foliar spray. It is allowed to infuse for 5 minutes by being added to the boiled water for four to five minutes and consumed in warm. Thank you! Positive Effects of Stinging Nettle Tea: May reduce inflammation, which can occur as a result of many different health problems and is … For tips on how to harvest nettles for your tea, keep reading! If drying Stinging Nettles for later use either dry on a rack in a warm room or place in a dehydrator on low (under 100 degree) until the leaf is crispy. To make nettle tea, start by washing the leaves in a sieve under running water to remove any dust or bugs. It is time consuming (and sometimes painful) to harvest. The stinging nettle plant, while in it's natural state, will stimulate your bodies natural allergic reaction. You can buy it online or purchase it from a local gardening store. Stinging Nettles are rich in vitamins and minerals. Anemia 6. The active compounds in stinging nettles are reported to deter aphids, mites, and thrips. Unfortunantly I am not a doctor or a chemist. When cooked (undercooked leaves will leave a stinging sensation in your mouth and throat) they can also be used for pesto, boiled for a spinach like side dish, baked to make chips, they can be a rennet substitute for cheesemaking and more. Yes! They do actually taste like spinach and since I was harvesting  and cooking them anyway why not eat them and get some more healthy benefits? According to Wikipedia It is native to Europe, Asia, northern Africa, and western North America, and introduced elsewhere. Urinary tract infections 8. They're usually angled the same way, so you can avoid most stings if you move along the plant from the opposite direction, or pinch the leaves from straight above and below. Well, my son has been fighting allergies this season more than he ever has. There are also many uses for stinging nettle root that rely upon historical health knowledge. I hope you are having an amazing day! wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. I greatly enjoyed your informative post. Alternative practitioners believe that stinging nettles can reduce pain and inflammation associated with both infectious and non-infection conditions. I also use a tamper when packing in these leaves. This is a great post. After some local success, we attended a Mother Earth News Fair in Albany, OR. If you are careful to separate and use only the leaves, maybe there is no difference to using only the young nettles? Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) is full of the entire spectrum of vitamins and minerals we need. For example, the Arthritis Foundation suggest taking up to 1,300 mg of stinging nettle as a tea, capsule, tablet, tincture, or extract. They are absolutely vicious. 1) I also want to save space 2) less air means they hold their properties longer. I have been filling my dehydrator so that I have some available for those winter colds. Yield 5 – 100 ml bottles. I was trying every home remedy to reduce coughing including Vicks, Tea with lemon and honey, having him sleep on an incline, steamy room then cold night air… I became desperate to find a solution that didn’t involve multiple medications. Nettle tea is an herbal "tea" made from the leaves and roots of the stinging nettle plant. I NEED HELP. Why pack them? With the confidence generated from that fair, I went full bore into the woodworking business, continually adding to my tool inventory, creating a website, and expanding the product line from one item to over forty items. Many sources say they are bad for the kidneys. Yes, it should be safe, but you can ask your doctor if you're concerned. Just dispense one little pellet (yes, just one, not 5 pellets like it says on the label. Every four hours involved having him drink some tea with honey and then going under a blanket with the humidifier for 10 minutes than the night air for 10. If you have any comments or questions please share them below. With homeopathic remedies, you must not touch the pills. How is Made Stinging Nettle Tea? When he started to cough that afternoon  he was immediately given about 1/4 cup of Stinging Nettle Tea to sip on. They re-mobilise nutrients to the flower for fruit development such as Nitrogen and other compounds. Look for them in rich soil, disturbed habitats, moist woodlands, thickets, along rivers, fence lines, and along partially shaded trails. Lady and the Carpenter. Some of the claims are better supported by research than others. Raspberry leaves, like echinacea or goldenseal can be prepared by mixing with plants.. How To Prepare Stinging Nettle Oil? ), only when symptoms arise. Strain out nettle. CAUTION: They can still sting when dried. In case of its raw form, the herb may cause irritation and hence is not advisable to be used. I do not monitor my blood sugar at all. For tips on how to harvest nettles for your tea, keep reading! is STINGING NETTLE can help to treat edema?? This in turn reduces the quality and nutritional makeup up the vegetative parts of the plant such as stem and leaves. Pour boiling water over it and let it seep for 10 to 15 minutes. You can see it started full and just a gentle push gets me triple the space. Please contact your physician and do your research BEFORE giving anyone (including yourself ) natural remedies. Things you need for preserving your nettles: 10 Great Reasons to Buy American Made Wooden Clothespins, ou can find a quality tamper and other quality kitchen items at our store secure.ladyandthecarpenter.com, Fun low-cost Activities in the Pacific Northwest, 14 Ways to use a Wood Mallet: A Valuable Tool for Any Home, How Stinging Nettles saved my sanity…Making Nettle Tea. Apart from the fact that nettles do sting, nettles are a wonderful ingredient to use in soups, pasta dishes, frittatas—basically in any cooked dish where you would use young spinach. My most recent purchase was a CNC computer-driven machine, which can create virtually any pattern or shape. By using our site, you agree to our. How many cups of nettle tea a day should I drink to make it effective? Stinging nettle or common nettle, Urtica dioica, is a perennial flowering plant, native to most of the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, and northern Africa.Nettles usually appear in bunches or groves in the same places year after year. I hope you’ve enjoyed this post. Now everyone and their mother makes a nettle soup or nettle tea. Finally sleep would come…just to do it all again in 3-4 hours. 1. You can dry nettle leaves as you would any herb. © Copyright 2020. Avoid nettle tea if you are pregnant, as it may cause contractions or miscarriage. WoooHOOOO! Can I prepare a day's worth of tea and drink it cold? He woke up in a few hours and no cough. Thanks to fermented stinging nettle tea, create your own 100% organic fertilizer and parasite repellent!. Start with a small amount to check for any allergic reactions. As with most teas, the stinging nettle tea can be obtained through scalding or infusing. That evening someone suggested Stinging Nettle Tea. Only use as needed (again, not like the label says – 3 times a day. We will now process each stem individually until the useful fibres are separated from each. Stinging nettle can lower blood pressure, which means it could heighten the effect of blood pressure medications. When we moved onto our new property the first thing we learned was to avoid Stinging Nettles. A bunch of sting-free, leaf-free stems ready for the next stage. Compost stems or dry and use in tea. How to Prepare Stinging Nettle? Despite the painful stings the fresh plant delivers, brewed or cooked nettle is safe to eat. I can see the appeal of purchasing it. A nettle being pulled through the hand from base to tip stripping all the stings and leaves along the way. This is the best way to prepare the healing fire so that the stinging nettle can retain its healing properties. Here's my tutorial on drying herbs. I just want to be certain it is OK to try it and to stop if I experience any sort of negative effect. I can’t easily fit my hand in a jar (especially if all I have are regular mouth jars) so a Tamper is awesome for that since one end fits into a regular jar and the other fits into a wide mouth opening. Then, cook 1 loose cup of nettles in boiling water for 10 to 15 minutes until the water turns light green. My understanding is the plant itself changes when it flowers. Avoid eating nettles while pregnant. Instructions. I know at this point you are hoping for some 2-minute miracle cure… but this night was the worst of all. Resources for Making Nettle Leaf Tea He hated it but after a bit his cough changed. Not in a bad way, but in an “I’m walking around a harbor on a foggy day” way. If you don't want to get your kettle mucky, just pour boiling water over the leaves and let steep. You can use the water for a tea and eat the leaves as a side dish. They loose there sting when dry. About 4am the cough stopped and he slept. I have not seen the medical research, but I have decided to error on the side of caution. Next, strain the tea before serving with sugar, if desired. The bit about not using nettles that have flowered – I wonder if issues only arise if you include the flowering parts in the tea (or whatever you are making). Many experienced foragers pick barehanded, but they often contradict each other when giving advice. However, if you are still struggling with allergy issues, I can highly recommend a homeopathic remedy called Histaminum hydrochloridum 30C. Next, strain the tea before serving with sugar, if desired. I’ve read so many versions of how long dried nettle should be steeped for tea. Can I boil the leaves still on the stem or do I have to take the leaves off to make tea with it? I use them myself all the time. University of Maryland Medical Center: Stinging Nettles, – Airtight Storage containers (I prefer mason jars), – Tamper  or muddler for packing dried nettles (Yes, they still will sting you….Try out our Tampers and muddlers), Dehydrate Nettles and other herbs at very low temperatures. Allow to steep for 10 minutes. It may even be downright nutritious. Taste the tea and add any more sugar if needed. You can also turn your tea pink by adding lemon juice. Visit our STORE to view our inventory of fine, handcrafted items, or CONTACT US to create your own custom item. Tendonitis Although researc… We create treasures that last a lifetime–handcrafted items that bring back the joys of simple living. • 1 cup dried nettle leaves • 4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar. They are mean little buggers). I just ordered some Nettle leaves in hopes that it will help ease hive outbreaks that my daughter has been having. And how many times a day can this be had? Some say minutes, others say days Help! Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Pour one cup of boiling water over one teaspoon of nettle leaf. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 86,352 times. I can also buy it in the bulk herbs section at my local health food store. I have hayfever and am hoping this will help. Discover fermented stinging nettle tea, an excellent fertilizer for plants in both gardens and vegetable patches, and an amazing pest control agent for most parasites like aphids.. It is often considered to be one of the best herbal infusions for overall health and wellness. The world of herbal teas is gigantic - you can mix a range of herbs and flowers together to brew soul-soothing teas at home. There are so many positive potentials that not taking it seems the wrong answer unless a doctor says no! To keep the plants alive, harvest just the top two or three pairs of leaves. I have indications of pre diabetes according to a blood test. What is the quantity of dried nettle leaves for one cup of tea? wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. These may have a different appearance. Various studies point to it raising blood sugar levels and others show that it lowers them, so if you are diabetic you should monitor your blood closely. Last summer's drought eventually killed the, "I liked that the sources for the data were listed in the footnotes. Combine the leaves with 4 cups boiling water and steep for at least 15 minutes, or overnight. Not only is it highly nutritious (rich in Vitamin A, C, D, K, iron, calcium and protein), it’s also delicious, versatile, easy to recognize, and free. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. In addition to feeding the soil and roots, you can also spray diluted nettle tea onto a plant’s leaves. After my initial laughter died down, I began researching existing clothespin products. Muddle or crush the leaves to help release oils during steeping. So I use my tamper for this task. There was nothing that made it stop. How to Make Nettle Lea Tea. I was exhausted and so was he. Find some medical info! Place dried leaves in an airtight container. Mommy gets sleep too!! So, I checked with my doctor before taking it. ", "Very helpful. Well, I was desperate. One of the best ways to benefit from stinging nettles is in a tea. Also, DO NOT rely only on personal testimony (including mine). Come join some more of our adventures on our BLOG. It can be steamed or sautéed similarly to … Briny without being offensive. Then inclined sleeping. When applied as a foliar spray, stinging nettle tea works as a strong insect repellent. This article has been viewed 86,352 times. Stinging nettle tea is most often used to treat urinary tract or bladder infections, but the medicinal benefits of the plant go much further. Last Updated: February 6, 2020 Nettle tea is an infusion or decoction, depending on how you prepare it. Didn't notice a color change after addition of, "Can't take iron pills. I have arthritis in my hand , thumb and wrist, will nettle tea greatly improve symptoms? On several occasions I expressed my deep dislike and was lectured on  how I could boil them and they tasted like spinach, how they are great for chickens, how I can make them into tea, etc… I then would ask: “Why would I pick something that bites back instead of just growing spinach?” Seriously, If I have to wear full-body armor to harvest it then it clearly wants to live more than I want to eat it. Children and breastfeeding women should not drink nettle tea, as the effects on children are unknown. One works perfectly well.) If you have ever had a sick kid get better after nights of exhaustion, you know my elation. You can find a quality tamper and other quality kitchen items at our store secure.ladyandthecarpenter.com. A few years ago my wife, Hilary, proposed opening my own business, something I had always wanted to do. Learn more from my own mother about brewing nettle tea in the video below. Keep the blanching water for nettle tea. Nettle root is available at many natural food and holistic medicine stores. Now he only has tea about once a day. I also added honey for its sweetness and natural ability to soothe sore throats. ", http://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/practical-guides/a-cup-of-nettle-tea/, http://www.wolfcollege.com/stinging-nettle-harvesting-processing-and-recipes/, http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74146.html, http://identifythatplant.com/three-members-of-the-nettle-family/, http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Patrizia_Pinelli/publication/23243878_Extraction_and_HPLC_analysis_of_phenolic_compounds_in_leaves_stalks_and_textile_fibers_of_Urtica_dioica_L/links/5411a9d10cf29e4a23297a6f.pdf, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3349212/, http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ronald_Wrolstad/publication/222708063_Tracking_color_and_pigment_changes_in_anthocyanin_products/links/00b4951684d0c1c2d8000000.pdf, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Steps to Pan Blanching Stinging Nettle. A friend of mine bought it on the internet. Hay fever 7. This article has been viewed 86,352 times. Boiling with the stems will help the tea turn pink if you add lemon juice. Kashmiri Kahwa. Pat dry by rolling in an absorbent towel. Mint Images/Getty Images. Strain and add the apple cider vinegar. Recently I learned that Dock weed is good for neutralizing the sting as well. If using dried nettles, cut up the dried leaves into small pieces and place in a tea infuser. It has worked great for my son! https://www.wolfcollege.com/stinging-nettle-harvesting-processing-and-recipes However, she suggested making clothespins as my initial product. % of people told us that this article helped them. Thank you so much for joining our adventures. It is “contraindicated in pregnancy,” says naturopath Dr. Robert Kachko, ND It can alter the menstrual cycle, and may contribute to miscarriage. Nettle leaf tea can be steeped using a cup of boiling water, containing two to three teaspoons of pure dried Nettle leaf. Would I actually get sleep tonight? This compound is destroyed when the plant is dried, so gathering nettles after flowering is fine to prepare dried herb tea or powder. Either way is fine. Some medical articles state that when nettles flower and go to seed they form cystoliths or calcium concretions (aka bladder stones) that are bad for the urinary tract. As noted above, the water from blanching the nettles can be kept as a tea. 2. is this herb DIURETIC? Gather about one cup of fresh Stinging Nettle Leaves (cautiously!…with gloves and long sleeves, pants and close toed shoes. Some folk medicine traditions use this alteration for different health benefits. Among the conditions stinging nettles are purported to treat are: 1. These little plants are great. Once it cools, put it into the refrigerator. We have been continuing this routine with nettle tea for two weeks along with storing up plenty of Nettle Leaves for Winter. The best cure we found was to smear mud on it to stop the sting. Website by. To make nettle tea, start by washing the leaves in a sieve under running water to remove any dust or bugs. (under 100 degrees). If using fresh nettle then carefully collect some from an area away from car traffic, pesticides and animal waste. The stalk gets stringy but also…you don’t want to harvest nettle for food after they flower as old leaves contain cystoliths that may irritate the kidneys. The arthritis thing… we were told by and elderly German woman that parents in Germany will tell their kids that if they are stung by nettle that they won’t get arthritis. That little stinging action is awful. In this case, 88% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. The chemicals responsible are anthocyanin and the related anthocyanin glucosides. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. You may drink it immediately or filter it through a sieve to remove any lingering nettle bits. Start by brewing your old friend, nettle tea, in a quart jar. Therefore, I would recommend that if you do separate the leaves from mature nettle plants that you only dry them for use. This will help you avoid using harmful chemical products while not losing in efficiency! When making tea use ONLY young plants that have not flowered or gone to seed. A friend suggested nettle tea but didn't know how to make it. First things first, the stinging power of nettles is instantly dismantled when they're cooked (and by cooked, we mean anything from pureeing into a soup or quickly steaming/blanching the leaves). Very helpful. It's good for optimizing kidney function. I like a cup in the morning and a cup in the evening. If you find out I would be interested in the answer, Thanks. But first, you need to get a hold of the root without causing yourself considerable distress. into the cap and toss it in your mouth. Ingredients: 2 cups dried or 4 cups of fresh stinging nettle roots; 3 to 4 cups vodka or brandy (80 proof) 1-quart jar; 5 amber glass bottles with dropper lids; Method: Fill a quart jar with nettle roots. I try to make sure I glean information from a reliable source. Nettle, or stinging nettle, is a shrub that comes from northern Europe and Asia. If I have periodic high blood pressure issues, is it safe to drink nettle tea? The results were staggering; people lined up around the corner for two whole days to purchase our clothespins. We make about a quart at a time and then he reheats it in small portions. Some tea in the AM loosed up what gunk accumulated over night. With gloves on, wash stinging nettle by swishing in bowl or sink full of cold water. Before bed he drank a little more and went to bed, still inclined. He doesn’t like drinking it, but he recognizes that it is much better than that horrible cough all the time. I live in Georgia, and have never heard of Stinging Nettle. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Stinging nettle tea and infusions are easy to make and have many health benefits! Please contact your physician and do your research BEFORE giving anyone (including yourself ) natural remedies. Talk to your doctor first if you have issues with blood sugar (including diabetes), blood pressure, blood disorders, or if you are on any medication — even an over-the-counter painkiller. Enlarged prostate 9. Serve in mugs with a nettle for decoration. "I have an entire patch of nettles that grew wild in a raspberry patch. For those new to Nettle, a small amount (~1-2 cups of tea) is a good way to start. In fact, it has so much calcium that it is an excellent remedy for growing pains in children. Start with small quantities, especially if you have any medical ailment or history of allergies. So, it was added to my “I will eat it ONLY if I become desperate” List. Will be getting more this spring. Anyway, there are several websites which suggest it may not be OK for diabetic or pre diabetic people so medical advice would be the safe way to take it. Yes. I knew that I could make a far better quality clothespin–I just didn’t know if they would sell. We have 1000’s of stinging nettles here in the ferm and when weeding the garden we often get stung. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. We are still using the humidifier, some allergy meds and the tea but as the trees clear out their pollen he is getting better and better. Oh the Hallelujah Chorus sang through the trees! A very young plant, if the top is clipped, will grow outward into a bushy nettle good for later harvesting. Nettles are hardy weeds, though, so this may not be a concern. Yet I see no other references to this in the literature. The key is to look closely at the plant and figure out where the hairs are. I found the nettles have stopped 90% of my arthritis in my hands. One night involved all remedies (including meds and inhaler) to no avail. Scientific research backs the proposition that nettle tea acts as a kidney tonic. If so, please pass it along, or Pin It so you don’t forget about the amazing qualities of nettles. Picking stinging nettle and using it in various recipes is well worth the effort. I didn’t have a doctor appointment till the next day so I did some research online. ", "Made me realize the nettles in my garden are too old to use.". Muscle and joint pain 2. Pour 40% vodka over them. Dr. Kachko warns that people with heart disorders, kidney problems, or hormone-mediated cancers should use caution. Then, cook 1 loose cup of nettles in boiling water for 10 to 15 minutes until the water turns light green. Yes his cough changed but we were up ALL night with the cough. I place mine in large mason jars, cover them with paper and store in the back of a cabinet. Brew hot first, then let steep. Stinging nettle root appears to have different pharmacological effects than the leaves. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. However, dried leaves to not have the potency of fresh so you will have to use a larger quantity to get the same effect. Instead of that deep solid cough it seemed to be loosening up! Some subspecies of nettle will flower in late fall. This may be due to variation between subspecies of nettles. To us, stinging nettles smell fishy. Nettles are great for so many applications. Weird. This has not been scientifically studied. He soon coughed up the yuck and no more coughing. Yes, fish. It helps reduce blood creatinine levels and improves uric acid clearance in people with kidney problems. Don’t drink Nettle tea if you are pregnant! It is best if your container is covered to block out light and/or is kept in a dark location. It works for pretty much all allergies, not just seasonal ones, near as I can tell. Arthritis 4. You can also turn your tea pink by adding lemon juice. raspberries, but the nettles came back with a vengeance! I keep a winter's worth of nettles which I dried last year. Gout 5. So here is the part where I give you all sorts of important info: I am not a medical doctor! Where does it grow? How to prepare Nettle leaf tea? Fish. Son and Mom got barely any sleep. They are mean little buggers) Boil Hot water (2-3 cups) Muddle or crush the leaves to help release oils during steeping. No coughing all night!! 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