Which nettle is better? Nettle: medicinal properties, contraindications, benefits and harms. To normalize sexual function

The flowering plant nettle (Urtica) is a member of the nettle family. This genus includes more than 50 different species. In the wild, they can be found in temperate regions of both hemispheres. In mid-latitudes, the most common species are stinging nettle (lat. Urtica urens) and stinging nettle (lat. Urtica dioica), which is also called stinging nettle, stinging nettle or stinging nettle. Plants belonging to these species are very valuable medicinal and food raw materials, and chlorophyll is also extracted from them on an industrial scale, which is widely used in the pharmaceutical and perfume industries.

A perennial or annual plant such as nettle can be dioecious or monoecious. Solid oppositely located leaf plates have a serrated, jagged or three-to-five dissected edge. On the surface of leaf blades and shoots there is often a large number of stinging bristles. The false-spike inflorescences include staminate or pistillate flowers. The fruit is a compressed, flat-shaped nut covered with perianth.

The structure of the stinging hairs of this plant, which are a fairly large cell, is similar to a medical ampoule. They contain juice containing formic acid, choline and histamine. If you touch such a hair, its upper part breaks and sticks into the surface of the skin. The juice trapped under the skin causes a sensation of a sharp burn only in the place that came into contact with the nettle. As a rule, such burns do not harm human health. However, there are several tropical species of nettle whose burns can be fatal to humans. In Russia, nettle prefers to grow near fences, in vegetable gardens, damp meadows, wastelands, forest clearings, near roads, along the banks of reservoirs, in ditches, and also in ravines. The fact that stinging nettle has healing properties has been known to people for a very long time; therefore, this weed plant is grown both by gardeners and cultivated on an industrial scale.

Growing nettles

Nettle can grow quite normally without special care, but if it is planted in specially prepared and fertilized soil, the growth and development of the bush will noticeably improve. This plant is propagated by seeds and cuttings of rhizomes. It is not necessary to prepare seeds before sowing, but if they are stratified for 4 weeks at an air temperature of 0–5 degrees, their germination will increase by 20–30 percent.

Stinging nettle, which is perennial, is recommended to be grown in a well-lit area or in partial shade; the soil should be sandy or nutritious and well-moistened. The area must be cleared of rhizomatous weeds. Sowing is done in early spring or before winter, and the appearance of the first seedlings can occur already at an air temperature of 8 degrees. First, the seeds are mixed with sand and then buried 10–15 mm into the soil; a distance of 0.6 to 0.7 m should be left between the rows. The surface of the area with crops should be covered with a thin (about 0.5 cm thick) layer of humus or peat, and if the sowing was done at the beginning of spring, then until the first seedlings appear, you need to make sure that the soil is always a little moist. If the sowing was done before winter, then the first seedlings will appear in April, and if in the spring, then in May.

To propagate nettle by vegetative means in spring, its rhizome should be removed from the soil and cut into pieces, their length varying from 8 to 10 centimeters. Then the divisions are planted in a new place to a depth of 8 centimeters, while a distance of about 0.6 m should be maintained between the holes. In nettles propagated in this way, the beginning of budding is observed 4 weeks earlier compared to those grown from seeds.

Nettle care

For the first 2 months, the seedlings will be very weak, and their growth and development will be extremely slow. But then the bushes will begin to grow very quickly, and will soon become dense and branchy. There is absolutely nothing complicated in caring for this plant. He should ensure timely watering, loosening, fertilizing and weeding. For irrigation, it is recommended to use water from a spring, well or rain, and it must first be heated in the sun.

Nettle needs a large amount of nitrogen, but it is not recommended to use mineral fertilizers for feeding. It is better to replace them with rotted compost or manure.

Caring for this plant is made easier by the fact that it is highly resistant to pests and diseases. However, caterpillars of urticaria butterflies can still settle on it; they will have to be collected manually in June. Collecting them is quite easy because they settle in clusters, but do not forget about safety measures, as nettles can leave severe burns on your hands.

Nettle collection and storage

Nettle rhizomes, seeds and leaf blades are used as medicinal raw materials. The foliage of stinging nettle is collected in June–September, when the plants are in flower. Some gardeners advise collecting leaves by simply wearing gloves, others mow the grass, and when it completely withers, tear off the leaf blades with bare hands. It is believed that the best time to collect foliage is on Tuesday at dawn in the first quarter of the moon. According to lunar calendars, such raw materials will have special healing powers.

The collected foliage should be laid out somewhere in a shaded place (in the attic or under a canopy), having first spread a cloth or paper. It should be noted that the thickness of the layer should not exceed 3–5 centimeters. If you dry them in the sun, then some of the healing properties will be lost, and the leaves themselves will become colorless. To dry them, if desired, you can use the oven, but set the temperature to 50 degrees and leave the door open. On completely dried leaves, the midribs and petioles will break off without effort. They will have a slight aroma, dark green color and a slightly bitter taste. It should be noted that at the output the volume of raw materials will be equal to 1/5 of the original volume. The dried leaves need to be sorted out, and all yellow, black and brown leaf blades, as well as debris, must be removed. For storage, they are poured into bags made of fabric or paper, which must then be placed in a well-ventilated, dry, dark place. Raw materials can be stored for no more than two years.

Stinging nettle and stinging nettle seeds should be collected only after they are fully ripe. As a rule, this happens 20 days after the plant blooms, in September. The upper parts of the nettle should be trimmed, slightly dried and threshed.

It is recommended to extract stinging nettle rhizomes in spring or autumn. All dirt is removed from them, and then they are dried at a temperature of 40 degrees. For storage, choose a dark, dry and ventilated place. The rhizomes retain their beneficial qualities for three years. If you are harvesting nettle rhizomes, then keep in mind that you will need to leave 10–15 percent of the bushes on the site for renewal, because during the collection of raw materials you have to destroy the entire plant. At the same time, you need to know that in this area it will be possible to collect rhizomes again only after 3 years.

Types and varieties of nettles with photos and names

Types of nettles with healing properties:

This herbaceous perennial plant has a strong root, while its rhizome is horizontal and branched. The height of the bush varies from 0.6 to 2 m. Stinging hairs are located on the surface of all above-ground parts of the plant. On the elongated shoots there are straight or ascending hollow stems. The leaves are arranged crosswise opposite. Dark green, simple, solid, equilateral leaf blades have long petioles. Their length is about 17 centimeters and their width is approximately 8 centimeters. The leaves may have an ovate-lanceolate, oblong or ovate-cordate shape; elliptical plates with a deeply heart-shaped base are less common. The panicle-shaped axillary inflorescences include small light yellow unisexual pistillate and staminate flowers. The fruit is a compressed biconvex achene of pale brown or light yellow color. About 22 thousand seeds can ripen on one bush.

This annual dioecious herbaceous plant has grooved, tetrahedral, erect shoots, the height of which can reach 15–35 centimeters, with glandular, hard hairs on their surface. Dark green, serrate, oppositely located leaf plates are oval or ovoid in shape, and reach a length of 20–60 mm. There are a large number of burning hairs on their surface. Small axillary flowers are colored green, they are collected in a spike or are solitary. Such flowers are either staminate or pistillate. The fruit is a nut or multi-seeded capsule.

Properties of nettle: harm and benefit

Healing properties

Nettle leaves contain vitamins A, H, C, E and K, B1, B2, B4, B5, B6, B9, niacin, macroelements chlorine, calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium, trace elements copper, barium, aluminum, molybdenum, iron, zinc, selenium and manganese. Lemon contains a couple of times less ascorbic acid than nettle. Moreover, the amount of vitamin A in this plant is slightly greater than in sea buckthorn, carrots, spinach and sorrel. This plant also contains tannins, phytoncides, chlorophyll, flavonoids and organic acids - gallusic and formic.

The foliage has a hypoglycemic and hemostatic effect, and it also fights inflammation. The leaves also help increase hemoglobin levels, uterine tone and the number of red blood cells in the blood. These healing raw materials are used to treat diseases of the bladder and liver, anemia, radiculitis, pulmonary tuberculosis, rheumatism and metabolic disorders in the body. Nettle has also proven to be highly effective in the treatment of non-infectious chronic prostatitis and prostate adenoma.

In alternative medicine there are recipes for remedies that have a laxative, diuretic, anticonvulsant, wound-healing, expectorant and restorative effect. If you use the foliage of this plant systematically, you can quickly get rid of small wounds and ulcers, while nettle infusion, used as baths, compresses and lotions, can save hair from loss. Since ancient times, this plant has been used to treat hair. To do this, you need to combine 200 ml of just boiled water with 2 or 3 large spoons of dried leaves, after 1 hour, strain the infusion. Nettle infusion can be used for the same purpose. To prepare it, you need to combine 1 tbsp. water, 1 large spoon of dried crushed rhizome and the same amount of dry foliage. Boil the mixture for 30 minutes and then cool slightly. It should be rubbed into the scalp, but there is no need to wash your hair afterwards; just lightly dry it with a towel.

This plant is also used to create a nutrient mixture that is recommended for feeding tomatoes. To do this, healthy leaf blades and shoots must be cut off before seeds form. Take a large container and fill it with nettles, which are mixed with the remains of baked goods. As a result, the container should only be ¾ full. Then water is added to the mixture, in which the yeast must be dissolved, but the intended level cannot be exceeded. Place the container in a sunny place for 3–5 days, which will allow the mixture to ferment, but do not forget to stir it systematically. Tomatoes should be fed with this mixture once every 7 days.

Nettle soup is very popular. Pour olive oil into a frying pan and simmer nettle leaves and white onions in it for 7 minutes. Salt the water and boil the potatoes in it, from which you prepare mashed potatoes using a blender. In this case, the container with potatoes is not removed from low heat and cream, cow’s butter and milk are gradually introduced into the puree. At the end you should add the onion with nettle leaves and mix everything at low speed. You can add grated Gaudi cheese or sour cream to the soup, poured into bowls. For 1.5 kg of potato tubers, take 0.5 liters of milk, 0.3 liters of cream, 2 small spoons of cow butter, and a bunch of fresh nettles. The remaining ingredients are added to taste.

Contraindications

Pregnant women should not use nettle or products made from it, especially in the last trimester. People suffering from thrombophlebitis should also avoid it.

Stinging nettle can be found on river banks, wastelands, and roadsides. Thickets of this stinging plant, sometimes reaching two meters in height, are a common sight in areas with a temperate climate.

Nettle is a perennial plant; its stems are tall, tetrahedral, and its leaves are ovate-lanceolate.

It blooms from June to September with greenish flowers, united in inflorescences.

Although the plant is considered a weed, due to its unique chemical composition it has been used in folk medicine for a long time.

All the wealth is in the leaves; they contain not only vitamins K, C, E, B, carotene, but also tannins, organic acids, salts, and chlorophyll. The list could take a long time.

A clear indication of the benefits is that nettle contains almost twice as much vitamin C as lemon and black currant, and is ahead of carrots in terms of carotene.

By eating a salad seasoned with nettle leaves, you can provide yourself with vitamins for a day.

In the old days in Rus', nettle leaves were added to bread, soup, porridge and thereby saved themselves from vitamin deficiency and scurvy.

Hippocrates and Dioscorides - scientists of Ancient Greece discovered the healing properties of the juice of fresh nettle leaves, described them in their treatises, and advised using the juice to treat wounds. Vitamin K provides hemostatic properties; it improves blood clotting and prevents inflammation.

Chlorophyll, which is part of the leaves, also accelerates wound healing. But its beneficial properties do not end there. It is beneficial for the respiratory system, improves the functioning of the heart and blood vessels, improves metabolism, and tones the intestines. Chlorophyll is used in the production of drugs for the treatment of radiation therapy.

Hair, skin and nails need vitamins that are found in nettles, namely E and B. They also accelerate the healing of burn wounds, slow down aging, relieve chronic fatigue, and help reduce the harmful effects of medications.

Nettle preparations can be used to treat diseases that are based on allergies. These include urticaria, hay fever, allergic conjunctivitis, and pruritic dermatitis. The effect in the treatment and prevention of these diseases is achieved due to its antihistamine effect, the ability to relieve inflammation, and relieve pain.

Nettle can be used to treat anemia. Iron, protein, vitamins help improve blood quality. More red blood cells are produced, and hemoglobin levels increase. Infusions and decoctions of nettle leaves help to get back on your feet faster after operations and restore skin after burns.

Nettle contains secretin, a hormone essential for the pancreas, which can stimulate the production of insulin. Taking drugs with nettle extract reduces sugar levels in diabetic patients. Nettle helps in treating the pancreas.

Nettle has good diuretic and choleretic properties; drugs are made on its basis, the purpose of which is to treat diseases of the main human organs, such as:

1. Liver.
2. Kidneys.
3. Gallbladder.
4. Bladder.

Men appreciated nettle, it is good for men's health. It is very useful for men to drink nettle tea to prevent prostatitis. The phytosterols included in the composition help normalize the functioning of the prostate gland, and together with vitamins improve potency.

May nettle: video

Like any medicinal plant, nettle has contraindications. Harm may occur if infusions and decoctions of nettle are used simultaneously with pharmaceutical medications.

The effect may be negative. First of all, this concerns hypertension. You should not take medicine to lower blood pressure or drink nettle infusion.

It is not advisable to take antidepressants and nettle medications at the same time, as it suppresses the central nervous system and enhances the effect of medications on it.

Consulting a doctor will help you understand whether nettle preparations can be taken together with other medications.

The hemostatic properties of the plant can harm patients diagnosed with:

• thrombophlebitis;
• varicose veins;
• atherosclerosis.

Taking nettle preparations increases blood clotting and increases the risk of blood clots.

Bleeding: cysts, polyps, tumors should not be treated with nettle preparations, they should not be used by women at any stage of pregnancy, it is fraught with uterine contractions and miscarriages.

At home for treatment you can use:

• decoction
• infusion

How is the juice used?

The juice helps with various diseases. If you suffer from stones in the gall bladder, bile ducts or bladder, drink a dessert spoon of freshly squeezed juice before each meal, but no more than 4 times a day.

If there is internal bleeding, drink 1 teaspoon of juice, no more than 5 times a day. To prevent hypovitaminosis, it is enough to take a teaspoon 3 times a day.

The juice can be consumed freshly squeezed or prepared for future use. Vodka taken in the same proportion as the juice is suitable as a preservative. Store this infusion in a tightly closed bottle, placing it in the refrigerator. If you drink fresh juice with a teaspoon or a dessert spoon, then you should drink the vodka tincture in double size.

Juicing is easy.

• Grind,
• roll the gauze several times
• put the pulp in it and squeeze out the juice.

You can prepare a decoction of the roots, seeds and leaves of nettle. A decoction prepared from the roots treats cholelithiasis, urolithiasis, prostate adenoma, gastritis, colitis, and cough.

For preparation:

chop dry roots, take 2 tbsp. l, pour a glass of water, boil the mixture for 10 minutes, placing it on low heat. Cool. Strain. Add boiled water, you should get at least a glass. Drink six tablespoons throughout the day.

A decoction of the seeds treats cough and insomnia. To prepare you will need:

• seeds 2 tbsp. l;
• water 1 tbsp.

Bring the mixture to a boil, cook for 8 minutes, leave for an hour. The finished broth is filtered and topped up with chilled boiled water. The broth should be no less than a glass. If you have a cough, drink a tablespoon 4 times a day; if you have insomnia, then before going to bed drink a quarter glass of the decoction.

Decoctions prepared from the leaves can be used externally for hair problems. You can wash your hair with it without using detergents at least three times a week for a month. Grind the dry leaves, take 100 grams, add water and 9% vinegar. Proportion 1:1. Boil for half an hour. Cool. Strain.

Infusions

A tincture prepared from the roots helps: with bleeding, diarrhea, irregular periods, prepare it for 10 days. You will need:

• vodka 0.5 liters;
• dried roots, chopped 2 tbsp. L.

Take 30 drops*3 times a day.

An infusion of dry leaves can treat gingivitis, stomatitis, and periodontal disease. Used for rinsing.

Easy to prepare:

3 tbsp. Pour l dried and crushed leaves into a glass of boiling water, close, and let it brew. You can rinse your mouth with warm infusion after 30 minutes, strain first.

Helps lose weight, cleanses the body of toxins, strengthens the walls of the blood vessels.

Both dried and fresh leaves of the plant are suitable for brewing tea.

First, they should be placed in a bowl and filled with plain water at room temperature. Cover with a lid and bring to a boil over low heat. Immediately after boiling, remove the broth from the heat.

The tea should steep for 25-35 minutes. Drink nettle tea no more than 3 times a day, 20 minutes before meals.

Nettle is very useful for men. Helps increase the production of the male hormone testosterone, treats the prostate, helps with frequent emissions, urological inflammation and male infertility.

Seeds 1 tsp infused in 1 tbsp will increase potency. boiled water. Leave for half an hour. Drink a glass twice.

A very effective tincture prepared from 0.5 liters of dry red wine and 5 teaspoons of dry stinging nettle seeds. Boil the mixture for at least five minutes, then leave and strain. Drink a tablespoon before each meal. Daily norm 3 tbsp. l.

Nettle juice will help with heavy periods. It can be prepared only from fresh leaves that are picked when the nettle blooms profusely. When your period arrives, dilute 1 teaspoon of juice in a quarter of a glass of water and drink before each meal.

A decoction of dried nettle also helps normalize menstruation; you can dry it yourself, or it’s easier to buy it at the pharmacy.

For a glass of boiling water 1 tbsp. l, boil for several minutes. Leave for two hours, strain. The norm is 3 times * 0.5 tbsp before meals.

Taking the decoction significantly reduces the amount of discharge. There is also a pharmaceutical preparation containing nettle, it is produced in the form of tablets - Secrets of Longevity.

You can force menstruation if it does not occur on the desired day. Pour 1 tbsp. l leaves 1 tbsp boiling water, leave for an hour, drink in one go. Your period should come the next day.

Nettle has a stimulating effect on hair roots, promotes their growth, and increases thickness. A rinse made from nettle makes hair stronger and more beautiful.

You will need:

fresh leaves 10 tbsp. l, 2 l of boiling water, can be used after an hour. First wash your hair with shampoo and then rinse with infusion.

This product will not only add beauty to your hair, but also reduce hair loss.

Nettle is included in many folk recipes for the treatment of a number of different diseases. It has gained popularity due to the presence of beneficial compounds that have a beneficial effect on the body. During growth, the succulent stems and leaves accumulate a significant amount of microelements, vitamins and other biologically active substances necessary for the body.

Stinging nettle is widely used not only in herbal medicine, but also in cosmetology, pharmacology, and gynecology. First courses are prepared with it; its leaves are poured with boiling water to make a pleasant, refreshing tea.

But you need to use nettle with caution, because, like other plants that deserve frequent mention in folk medicine, it has its contraindications. Therefore, before use, especially if we are not talking about a one-time dose, it is necessary to consult with your local doctor.

People have been paying attention to the beneficial properties of nettle for a long time, but the popularity of this plant does not decrease even today. Young leaves are used in cosmetology, dermatology, gynecology and many other medical fields.

In our latitudes you can find two species - stinging nettle and stinging nettle. It is the latter that is considered the most useful. It grows in forests and park recreation areas, near houses and rivers, and in wastelands. The leaves are equilateral and have a bright green color and long petioles. Stinging nettle differs from the dioecious variety by the presence of small, dense hairs on the leaves.

This useful plant can be bought at a pharmacy or collected yourself. To obtain a therapeutic effect, it is enough to brew tea; nettle leaves also make excellent and, most importantly, healthy cabbage soup.

Of course, to collect plant materials, you should choose places away from the highways, in ecologically clean areas, so as not to cause harm to the body instead of the expected positive effect. Dusty leaves of stinging nettle growing on roadsides are contraindicated.

What it contains

Humanity has been using herbal treatment since antiquity, and stinging nettle occupies one of the leading places in herbal medicine, without losing its popularity over the centuries.

This plant contains a set of microelements that have a positive effect on many systems of our body. Vitamin K present in the leaves has anti-inflammatory properties and has a significant effect on blood clotting. In addition, nettle contains calcium, flavonoids, formic acid, tannins and many other chemical elements.

Nettle can quickly and effectively remove harmful toxins from the body, and when used in a course, cleanse the skin.

This plant, like carrots, contains a large amount of beta-carotene, which has a beneficial effect on the organs of vision and protects the cells of the body as a whole from free radicals.

The green leaves of stinging nettle contain a lot of vitamin E and B vitamins, as well as iron, chlorophyll, coumarins and flavonoids, which have powerful antioxidant effects.

By the way, chlorophyll is necessary not only for plants. and for humans. It is no coincidence that today they produce a huge number of food supplements containing green molecules of this substance.

Young May nettle is added to salads, and nettle tea can be drunk all year round by brewing it on dried, stored leaves.

Key Benefits

1. Biologically active compounds in nettle stimulate metabolism and improve immunity.
2. Stinging nettle is very useful for people suffering from chronic ailments such as tuberculosis and atherosclerosis.
3. Nettle tea has been proven effective in treating problems of the digestive system, in the fight against nausea and increased gas formation.
4. Nettle leaves are also successfully used for diseases of mucous surfaces (throat diseases, nosebleeds).
5. The plant can be eaten (the “green borscht” made from nettle is especially popular) and used as a medicinal or homeopathic remedy to relieve irritations caused by allergic rashes, such as urticaria, dermatitis, etc.
6. It is especially worth noting. People familiar with this disease know how painful it can be and how difficult it is to deal with unpleasant symptoms.
7. Nettle leaves have another unique ability related to the regulation of hematopoiesis in the body.

For men

Nettle seeds have long been considered an indispensable remedy for maintaining male strength. To do this, plant raw materials are brewed and the resulting decoction is consumed half an hour before meals, in the morning and in the evening. In the early stages of prostate adenoma in men, tea made from dry leaves is useful: 2 tbsp. l. dry product is poured with a glass of boiling water and infused for 5-10 minutes. Men should take this tea morning and evening for one to two months.

For women

Since ancient times, stinging nettle has been used in gynecology. Even then, people noticed that the plant has a positive effect on a woman’s body: during heavy periods, it reduces bleeding and normalizes an unstable cycle.

The main element that affects blood clotting is vitamin K, which has a beneficial effect on the physiological processes occurring in the body during menstrual periods.

In case of prolonged and/or painful periods, you can use nettle tea. This drink increases the number of platelets and hemoglobin levels in the blood. Another positive property of nettle is its ability to purify the blood.

In gynecology, herbal preparations are often used, since in combination they have maximum effectiveness. To enhance the positive effect, nettle can be combined with lungwort, yarrow and horsetail.

If there is insufficient milk supply during breastfeeding, you can drink nettle juice diluted in purified water, or add young leaves to tea.

Beautiful hair

Folk recipes that came to us a long time ago, from our great-grandmothers, most often turn out to be the most effective. Look at old photos - all the women have thick, luxurious long braids.

1. The plant helps fight scalp diseases, prevents hair loss, and promotes rapid growth.
2. There are many ways to use nettle as a hair care product. The plant can be added to store-bought shampoos and conditioners, or you can make home remedies based on it, apply it to your hair as a mask, and use it internally as a tea.
3. With proper use of nettle, you can get rid of problems such as dandruff, brittle hair, split ends, and excessive oily scalp.
4. Nettle “works” as an antiseptic and has anti-inflammatory properties.
5. With regular use of the decoction, you can achieve a radiant shine, your hair will become noticeably thicker and healthier.
6. Systematic rinsing of the head after washing with nettle decoction helps restore hair damaged by frequent dyeing or perming, improves its color due to the content of minerals and beneficial microelements that the female body lacks.

The beneficial substances contained in this herb will not disappear, even if you use it in dried form from autumn to spring.

Men can also use the hair care recipes given here, although, in truth, they care about their beauty much less than the fair sex.

Moreover, there are simply no contraindications for washing hair with stinging nettle decoctions.

The ideal remedy for improving the growth of beautiful and healthy hair is nettle oil. It can be used as a mask before washing your hair, and as a balm after using shampoo. This oil will protect your hair from the harmful effects of hot air from a hair dryer when drying and styling your hair.

Nettle oil is sold in pharmacies. But you can make the decoction yourself - for free. Both leaves and stems, and even roots of the plant are suitable for its preparation. With regular use, your hair will soon shine with shine and health!

Another significant advantage in favor of nettle decoctions is that they are practically odorless.

Why is it dangerous?

The leaves and stems of the plant are also useful for internal use, but within reasonable limits. When treating with nettle, it is better to treat this process with caution and ask a doctor for advice, since this plant has its own characteristics and contraindications.

• Affects blood thickness and clotting. Therefore, if a person has high blood pressure, has hypertension or atherosclerosis, nettle cannot be used for medicinal purposes.
• For varicose veins and thrombophlebitis, the use of products based on this plant material is also not recommended.
• The use of nettle is also contraindicated for those who have kidney problems.
• Under no circumstances should you drink decoctions from the leaves of the plant during pregnancy, as they can stimulate uterine contractions and lead to premature birth.
• Another contraindication is any type of tumor.

If used thoughtlessly, any remedy can cause harm instead of the expected recovery. Be careful and thoroughly study the chosen treatment method before implementing it.

The beginning of May is the time to help the body, weakened over the long winter, replenish the lack of vitamins and nutrients; in this article we will recall forgotten recipes for nettle dishes. Let's discuss their benefits, find out who should not eat nettles, how to select and prepare raw materials for use.

Stinging nettle is a herbaceous perennial plant. People call it sting, sting. Distributed everywhere, growing near housing, near roads and vacant lots, in shady places and in gardens. This is not a simple weed, but a multivitamin plant that can be used for food purposes from early spring until October.

This weed has been eaten since ancient times. She saved from hunger in wartime and in lean years. The plant has not only healing life-giving powers, but also nutritional properties. They used it as an independent product and to enrich other dishes.

What are the benefits of nettle (Urtica dioica L.)

Nettle's content of vitamins and microelements is not inferior to berries and fruits. It surpasses many legumes in protein content. It is high in fiber, which promotes normal bowel function and creates a feeling of fullness.

Urtica dioica juice is a good aid in losing weight. Since its calorie content is only 24 kcal and there is almost no carbohydrates, it is ideal for dietary nutrition.
To understand the benefits of nettle, let’s find out its composition. The herb is rich in vitamins:

• retinol (vit A)
• nicotinic acid (vit PP)
• thiamine (vit B1)
• ascorbic acid (vit C)
• riboflavin (vit B2)

It contains a lot of minerals - Ca, Mg, K, Na, Fe, P, J, selenium. The herb drives bile well, increases resistance to bacteria and viruses, and immunity. Stimulates the metabolism of carbohydrates and proteins, accelerates the flow of energy processes.

This is not a complete list of the beneficial properties of the plant, and they are preserved in culinary products. That is why it is so popular among lovers of a healthy lifestyle.

Who would not be interested in recipes for nettle dishes, contraindications

Despite the obvious benefits, nettle recipes are not suitable for everyone. You should not eat it:

1. pregnant women
2. suffering from thrombophlebitis
3. patients with hypertension

Because it increases blood clotting, and in addition can provoke premature birth. It is also contraindicated for kidney disease. People with allergies will also have to pass by the stream.

You can start harvesting nettles for culinary purposes from May until late autumn. It is better to do this in environmentally friendly places. Away from roads and industrial facilities. Otherwise, instead of benefit, we will gain harm.

You can collect grass at the edges of forests, along river banks and in your gardens. You should choose a healthy plant:

• leaves should be free of foreign inclusions, evenly colored; withered leaves will also have no benefit
• the stem should be strong, densely leafy
• It is necessary to collect nettles at the growth stage of up to 20 cm, it contains a higher content of useful substances
• The optimal collection time is morning, after rain and dew has dried.

Cut the grass with a sharp knife. A short time after cutting, the stinging sensation goes away and the leaves can be separated from the stem.

How to prepare nettles for use

Before use, sort the plant and rinse under running water. A distinctive feature of the sting is that it is covered with stinging, brittle hairs, so wear rubber gloves.

To get rid of this heat, rinse it with hot water or soak it in boiling water for a few minutes before cooking. Then let the water drain and lay it on a towel to dry. After this simple procedure, the stinging sensation will disappear.

Experienced housewives have long learned to use nettle in cooking. Each has its own set of delicious recipes.

These are all kinds of soups, salads, main courses. They use it as a filling for pies, dumplings, and dumplings. Pilaf and porridge are cooked and added to sauces.

They make purees and juices from it, and brew it as a delicious tea. It is fermented and frozen for the winter. They make butter for sandwiches from it. You can make hair oil, but that’s another, non-culinary story.

First meal

Soups made from nettles are especially tasty. It gives them a subtle sourness and delicate aroma. You can prepare soups with meat or broth. Or it can be made without meat, which will especially appeal to vegetarians.

First courses are prepared for one serving, because after heating they lose their taste and attractiveness.

Nettle soup “Spring”

We already know where and how to collect raw materials, so let’s move directly to the recipe. To prepare you will need:

• bunch of string – 300 grams
• 3 small potatoes
• onion, 1 carrot
• water or broth
• dill, parsley optional

Cook the potatoes until done. Add onions and carrots pre-fried in oil. If you cooked it without meat, you can add rice or pearl barley, the soup will turn out even tastier and more satisfying. Even at the beginning of cooking, you can add 100 grams of cheese. 5 minutes before readiness, add nettles and salt. When serving, add an egg.

Fresh nettle cabbage soup

Cabbage soup made from May nettle herb is very useful if you prepare it skillfully. They can also be cooked with or without meat. We will need:

• bunch of sting 300-500 grams
• potato
• onion, dill, parsley
• 1 onion
• salt, lemon juice, pepper to taste
• egg 1, carrot 1
• butter

In a saucepan in butter, fry the chopped onions and carrots, as you are used to. Add the potatoes cut into strips and simmer for 5 minutes. Pour broth over the stewed vegetables and cook for 10 minutes. And after the vegetables are ready, add chopped greens and nettles.
Add lemon juice, pepper, salt to taste and cook for another 3 minutes. When serving, add finely chopped egg and sour cream.

Second courses

You can prepare a large number of main dishes from nettles. These are purees, pilaf, snacks and much more.

Spicy nettle with rice

Prepare the string, wash it, chop it. Pour boiling water over it and let the water drain. Keep it on a hot frying pan for 2 minutes. Add oil, herbs, pepper and rice. Pour in water and cook over low heat until tender. You will need:

• bunch of nettle grass 500 grams
• butter 40-50 grams
• parsley, pepper
• rice 200 grams
• flour 15 grams

Finally, add flour diluted with cold water and bring to a boil. Simmer for another 5 minutes. Add minced garlic if desired.

Scrambled eggs nettle

Make scrambled eggs with nettles for breakfast very quickly. To do this, prepare:

1. onion 1 head
2. bunch of nettles
3. celery or parsley
4. egg - two pieces
5. sweet pepper, salt

Fry the onion in a hot frying pan, add chopped nettles and other greens. Mix everything and simmer for 7-8 minutes. Beat in the eggs and simmer until done.

Green sauce

Nettle sauces are suitable for potato, meat and fish dishes or pasta. Take:

• nettle leaves 400 grams
• 20 grams of flour
• butter 40-50 grams
• glass of sour cream

Grind fresh leaves scalded with boiling water in a meat grinder. Simmer in butter. Add flour diluted with a small amount of water, simmer until thickened. Pour in sour cream and simmer for 5 minutes. Add mustard, it will be even tastier.

And how many nettle salads can you come up with? It all depends on how filling you want it to be and what you have in the fridge. It is important to remember that only young leaves and shoots are suitable for salad. Young tops have more vitamins and nutrients.

Nettle and bean salad

This salad is suitable for those who lead an active lifestyle and play sports. Beans and nettles complement each other. Thanks to the enzymes contained in nettle leaves, bean vegetable protein is easier to digest. For the salad you will need:

1. nettle 100 gr.
2. bunch of green onions
3. vegetable oil, olive
4. boiled or canned beans
5. lemon juice, a little salt

Prepare the sting as usual by tearing it with your hands. Chop the onion. Add beans, sprinkle with lemon juice. Pour in the oil.
The salad turns out to be satisfying and easily digestible. The feeling of hunger does not come for a long time. Suitable for those who want to lose weight.

Salad "Ordinary"

For the salad you will need:

• fresh nettle leaves
• onion, parsley, dill
• vegetable or olive oil
• salt pepper

Pour boiling water over nettle leaves. Chop everything and mix in a bowl. Season with oil, salt and pepper to taste. You can add radishes, nuts, garlic, cheese, egg. In a word, improvise!

Filling for pies, dumplings and butter for sandwiches

Few housewives make pies filled with nettles, but in vain. It is easy to prepare.

Green filling

Chop fresh shoots and leaves, scalded with boiling water. Add boiled rice and chopped eggs, salt and butter.

Green sandwich butter

Sandwiches with nettle oil will be useful for breakfast. Take butter, mix with finely chopped nettle leaves. To enhance the taste, add grated horseradish or garlic.

And what drinks are made from this weedy grass! A real storehouse of vitamins and microelements.

Green kefir

To help your intestines after a busy winter, prepare this drink. Take finely chopped nettle leaves and shoots, parsley, dill, dandelion and spinach in equal proportions. Add 500 ml cold kefir and blend in a blender. Add some salt.
First, pour boiling water over the nettles and dandelions, adding a small amount of salt, to get rid of the bitterness.

Nettle juice

To prepare multivitamin juice, take young nettle shoots and leaves. Rinse, pass through a juicer, add salt to taste. Sterilize the juice for 15 minutes at 70º, it will become suitable for winter storage. To prepare you will need:

1. 1 kg. finished plant raw materials
2. 1000 ml. cold water, salt

Add water, salt to the juice squeezed out through a juicer, and set to sterilize.

Tea tonic

Nettle tea can be drunk all year round. In spring and summer from fresh, in winter from dry grass. To do this, brew 25 grams of boiling water. fresh or dry leaves. Leave for 5 minutes. Drink warm. Don't forget about contraindications.

Preparation for the winter

In spring and summer, you need to have time to prepare nettles for the winter. Everyone knows how to dry raw materials. And we will freeze and marinate.

1. Frozen nettle retains all the benefits of the plant. Young spring leaves are suitable for this. They are thoroughly washed, dried, and cut. Spread in a thin layer on cling film and wrap. And they are sent to the freezer.

2. Pickled nettle is another method of preparation. In winter, it is added to any dishes. The tops of young shoots are collected for pickling. Wash in hot water. Pack tightly into sterile ½ liter. banks. Pour boiling water over and sit for 10-12 minutes.
Next, drain the water into a saucepan, add 9% vinegar, salt and sugar, and boil. Pour brine over nettle leaves and shoots. Roll up the lids. Send “under a fur coat” for 1 hour. That's it, the supply of vitamins for the winter is ready.

Well, some tips for preparing nettles. To make the cooking process enjoyable and the result pleasing:

1. Nettle cannot be cooked for a long time, as this will destroy the most valuable substances, so add it 3 minutes before it is ready
2. If you finely tear the nettle leaves and stems with your hands, you will be able to preserve vit A as much as possible
3. in May, fresh young nettle leaves are used, and in summer, leaves and young shoots are used, cutting off their tops by 10 - 15 centimeters
4. Nettle should be cooked in enamel or heat-resistant glass containers; it is not advisable to use metal containers (copper or aluminum) for this purpose.
5. To prepare first courses, you should not pour boiling water over the plant; it is better to use gloves to cut it
6. It is advisable to salt the dish at the end of cooking, or better before serving

By following these simple tips, you will prepare a lot of delicious, vitamin-rich food.
I suggest watching a video about the benefits of nettles:

So we remembered forgotten recipes for nettle dishes. We discussed their benefits, learned who should not eat nettles, and how to select and prepare raw materials for use.

Don't miss the moment, treat yourself to nettle dishes now, prepare it for future use and be healthy!

Translated from Latin, the word nettle means “stinging.” The plant is unpretentious, perennial and popularly known as a weed. However, despite this, it has enormous healing potential, thanks to which it has been successfully used for centuries, both in professional medicine and at home to treat an extensive list of diseases. Avicenna also described the medicinal properties of this plant. Currently, in some European countries, the plant is grown specifically for further use for medical, cosmetic and culinary purposes.

The leaves of a fresh and dry plant, hung in the house, rid the house of annoying insects and eliminate unpleasant odors.

Composition of nettle

One hundred grams of blanched nettle contains:

Nettle - 22 beneficial properties

1. Arthritis Cure

   Nettle leaves can help patients with fibromyalgia, a disease that provokes diffusely symmetrical musculoskeletal pain. Commonly called gout. Drinking a cup of brewed nettle infusion will have a positive effect on symptoms of tendonitis, joint stiffness, and will relieve swelling in the area of ​​burned tendons and joints. Daily consumption of brewed leaves of the plant, in the form of a decoction, will have a mild diuretic effect, emptying the bladder and alkalizing muscle tissue.

2. Benefits for women

   The presence of a huge amount of iron elements in the chemical composition of nettle gave the plant the first right to resist such a disease as anemia, characterized by a decrease in the presence of red blood cells in the blood. The unique properties of the plant replenish lost strength in the body and relieve chronic fatigue syndrome. Women have long known the properties of this plant and have successfully used them. The substance lactogen galactagogue, present in nettle, allows you to increase the secretion of milk. Nettle also has a beneficial effect on the hormonal background of women during menopause. Many women use an infusion of the plant to reduce heavy bleeding during the menstrual cycle. In the form of tonics, it is used to treat uterine fibroids.

3. Benefits for hair loss and skin diseases

   Tea made from nettle reduces the presence of acne on the face, having a rejuvenating effect on the condition of the skin of the body. Frozen infusion cubes are recommended for use as morning hygiene procedures, washing your face with them. Rinsing hair after washing with nettle infusion improves hair growth, restoring the hair structure and having a preventive effect on the manifestations of seborrhea.

4. Benefits for the digestive tract

   The leaves of the plant are used as an additional remedy for symptoms of indigestion of celiac disease associated with damage to the intestinal villi, helping to get rid of such unfavorable symptoms as nausea and bloating. Nettle is distinguished as a highly effective remedy in the treatment of sore throat, inflammation of the oral cavity, and nosebleeds. Napkins soaked in nettle infusion can relieve external hemorrhoids.

5. Use for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)

   In European countries, stinging nettle is successfully used to solve the problems of prostate adenoma. Studies have shown that stinging nettle in combination with saw palmetto is particularly effective in relieving symptoms of BPH such as incomplete bowel movements and drip urination. These negative symptoms occur against the background of an increase in the size of the prostate gland, which in turn puts pressure on the bladder. Studies conducted in this area note that stinging nettle is chemically similar to the composition of the drug finasteride, used in the treatment of BPH. The properties of the plant do not reduce the size of the gland itself, but have a beneficial effect on relieving the symptoms of the disease itself. This is possible due to the ability of nettle to influence the hormones testosterone and estrogen, which are responsible for the functioning of the gland.

6. Prevention of arthrosis

   Applications of fresh nettle leaves relieve symptoms of arthritic joint pain. Nettle extract in combination with taking non-steroidal drugs enhances their effect, and tea brewed in the proportion of 1 spoon of plant leaves per glass of boiling water will reduce the dosage of anti-arthritis medications.

7. Prevention of hay fever

   The ability of nettle to reduce the amount of histamine in the body is used to relieve the manifestations of allergic rhinitis. A dried, lyophilized, and sublimated preparation based on nettle is taken as a prophylactic during the flowering season of plants and helps relieve swelling of the mucous membrane of the nasal sinuses.

8. Nettle as an anti-inflammatory agent

   Scientific studies aimed at studying the properties of stinging nettle have noted the presence in its composition of substances that prevent the development of inflammatory processes and the formation of cytokines. The plant is successfully used to solve problems causing swelling.

9. Prevention of intestinal diseases

   Drinking tea with the addition of nettle infusion will help activate intestinal motility, having a laxative effect. However, this procedure should not be abused, since excessive consumption of the drink can cause discomfort in the stomach.

10. A storehouse of nutrients

    Stinging nettle is rightfully considered a multivitamin gift from nature. It perfectly combines both organic acids and biologically active substances. The presence of vitamins and minerals in the plant makes it possible to use its leaves for culinary purposes. At the beginning of spring, the young leaves, which are the most tender, are added to salads and hot dishes. During this period, the body, which is especially in need of replenishment of minerals and vitamins, can receive them in full from nettle. Housewives have long used the leaves of the plant in cooking, adding it to first courses and salads. Vitamin C, E, iron, zinc, potassium - this is not a dusty list of useful plant components that have a beneficial effect on human performance and rapid restoration of strength after illness.

11. Using specks to stop bleeding

    Combinations of the herbs knotweed, common thyme, licorice and stinging nettle have effective hemostatic properties. These combinations are reflected in the creation of a hemostatic agent used in dentistry, as well as in the healing of deep superficial wounds and abrasions. Ankaferd Blood Stopper hemostatic wipes stop heavy external bleeding when in contact with a bleeding wound.

12. The use of nettle for joint inflammation

    Nettle can bring relief to people suffering from high levels of uric acid in the body. Uric acid, accumulating, forms crystalline formations in the area of ​​​​the compounds, which causes inflammation, swelling, and pain. Nettle infusion can remove excess uric acid from the body, reducing signs of the disease.

13. Nettle as a remedy for infectious diseases

    Tea made from stinging nettle and lingonberry helps fight bladder infections. Both plants contain not only a lot of useful substances, but also a huge amount of vitamin C, which helps reduce the presence of bactericidal infections leading to inflammation of the urethra.

14. Nettle for nail care

    To strengthen the nail plate and give it a healthy color, it is enough to use applications of nettle and vegetable oil. By steaming your nails in warm water and applying a pre-prepared mixture to them, you can strengthen the nail plate and protect them from hangnails.

15. Nettle for healthy hair and scalp

    A decoction of fresh or dry nettle is a natural, cheap and affordable remedy for hair loss. It will perfectly relieve the problem of oily scalp, prevent split ends and give a silky, healthy shine to the hair. Brewed leaves of the plant in the form of an infusion are used in cosmetology in the treatment of seborrhea. Rinsing with this infusion strengthens hair follicles, has a beneficial effect on the production of subcutaneous fat and prevents the appearance of dandruff.

16. Antifungal effect

    Another beneficial use of stinging nettle can be found in the Herbal Remedies Guide. It is successfully used as a powerful antifungal agent that can resist fungal diseases.

17. Painkiller

    Stinging nettle brewed in equal proportions with buckthorn bark acquires the properties of an anesthetic and can help with headaches and pain in the joints.

18. Prevention of respiratory diseases

    The chlorophyll contained in the leaves of the plant gives the brewed nettle infusion a stimulating effect on the respiratory tract, which allows it to be used in the treatment of bronchitis and tuberculosis.

19. Nettle's ability to increase testosterone levels

    Nettle contains a substance known as 3, 4-divanillyltetrahydrofuran. The substance can increase the level of testosterone, the main male hormone, and is widely used by bodybuilders.

20. Healthy teeth and gums

    The decoction used as a rinse can relieve inflammation of the gums and prevent the formation of plaque and tartar.

Nettle also helps with:

• prevention of Alzheimer's disease, stopping the formation of senile plaques in the cerebral cortex;
• correction of neurological conditions MS, als;
• childhood enuresis;
• preventive actions aimed at treating helminths;
• disorders of the endocrine system, improving the functioning of the thyroid gland.

Contraindications to the use of nettle

Properly formulated therapeutic dosages of nettle do not cause side effects or complications. However, there are also contraindications for its use.

• uterine bleeding;
• elevated blood pressure (hypertension);
• atherosclerosis;
• neoplasms in the form of cysts and tumors;
• pronounced indicators of thrombosis and thrombophlebitis, since it greatly thickens the blood and increases its coagulability;
• It is not recommended to use nettle infusions in the afternoon;
• Nettle is strictly contraindicated for pregnant women; its use can provoke premature birth.

Since ancient times, nettle has been valued as a means of extending the shelf life of products. Rich in phytoncides, the plant is able to prevent the process of decomposition of meat, preserving its properties for a long time. The leaves were used to cover the carcasses of butchered animals, this helped stop the development of bacteria in the meat and extended its shelf life.

Nettles were used to weave fishing gear and make rough ropes.

In England, wine is made from nettles; only 40 kilograms of raw materials are consumed to prepare 3000 liters of drink. And they hold an annual competition “Who can eat the most burning leaves?” This competition has been going on for over 20 years.

Nettle is also used for mystical purposes, making all kinds of spells on it. Remember the fairy tale about how Elsa wove shirts for her brothers from nettles? Superstitious people are wary of plant thickets on their property, trying to get rid of them as quickly as possible.

But in the Tula region, on the coat of arms of which the plant is depicted, annual festivals are held. There it is valued for its qualities used in industrial production, where nettle is used to make an environmentally friendly green dye.

If the nettle in our regions only stings painfully, then plants in tropical latitudes can cause significant burns and even cause death.

In folk medicine, there is a saying that one nettle replaces “seven doctors,” and this is indeed a true statement, considering all the beneficial properties that this plant gives us.