The benefits of nettles and nettle tea in spring
Nettles are among the first plants of spring that deserve a place on your plate, and the benefits of nettle tea are most apparent when winter fatigue is still lingering. You can use nettles to make tea, food and hair rinses, but this plant is not suitable for everyone.
Why are nettles so valued in spring?
For many people, the first thing that comes to mind when they think of nettles is the sting. Fair enough: reaching into young nettle shoots with bare hands is best avoided. Set that unpleasant side aside, though, and nettles are a very useful spring plant.
Nettles were once often called a harbinger of spring. The reason is simple: after a long winter, fresh greens were a rarity at the table. Nettle leaves contain almost all vitamins, especially vitamin C. They also contain organic acids, phytoncides, tannins and micronutrients such as copper, iron, vanadium, magnesium and others.
Young shoots gathered in early spring are considered the most beneficial. For fresh use, pick the leaves as they emerge. For drying, harvest during the flowering season, from May to July, in dry weather. Roots are gathered in early spring or autumn.
Dry the plants in a dark, well-ventilated place. This helps preserve their green color. You can later use the dried nettles for homemade herbal tea or to flavor food, including soups, baked goods, porridges and casseroles.
The benefits of nettle tea and how to make it
Nettle tea is best known for its benefits in relieving fatigue. If your body feels heavy and your head feels foggy in spring, a cup of nettle tea can be a simple pick-me-up. In traditional medicine, it has also been used for poor blood and diseases of the spleen.
The basic recipe is simple: take 2 tbsp of nettles, pour hot water over them, leave to steep for 10min and drink after a meal. Some traditional herbal tea advice recommends steeping nettle tea for longer, then letting it cool and drinking it several times throughout the day.
Nettle tea has a fairly mild flavor, which makes it well suited to blending with other medicinal herbs. For anemia, nettles have been used with dandelion root and yarrow. Birch and rosebay willowherb leaves are added to strengthen the body. Older recommendations for gastritis mention dandelion, chamomile and St. John’s wort leaves. People with diabetes have added dandelion roots and plantain leaves.
A mixture of fennel seeds and nettle leaves has been used to reduce body weight. Take 1 teaspoon of fennel seeds and 2 teaspoons of nettle leaves, pour 3 cups of hot water over the mixture and simmer for 15 minutes. Then strain and drink one cup at a time, 3-4 times a day.
It pays to keep a level head here. For all its benefits, nettle tea is no miracle remedy that can replace a doctor or a balanced diet. If you have high blood pressure, your blood clots too quickly or you are pregnant, you should avoid nettles or consult your doctor first.
How can you use nettles in food and hair care?
Nettles need not be confined to your teacup. You can also use the young leaves in the kitchen. Before eating them, pour hot water over them or blanch them briefly. This removes the sting and softens the leaves.
Potato salad with nettles is a simple example. This recipe serves two and is a good choice when you want to give your spring salad a little extra strength with some greens.
- 200g boiled potatoes
- 100g fresh cucumber
- 100g tomato
- 100g nettle leaves, or about 1 handful
- 1 egg
- A handful of spring onions and some mustard
- Dressing: 100g plain yogurt and chives
- Boil the potatoes and egg. Chop the cooled potatoes and egg white.
- Mix the egg yolk with 1 tsp of mustard.
- Blanch the nettles in hot water, drain and finely chop.
- Chop the tomato, cucumber and spring onions.
- Mix all the ingredients and refrigerate for about an hour.
- Pour over the yogurt and chive dressing and serve with the egg yolk.
- Garnish with pea shoots.
You can also add radishes to the salad. An oil-based dressing works well in place of a creamy one: mix olive oil and mustard, then add a splash of lemon juice.
In hair care, nettles have been used for hair loss and dandruff. With long-term use, hair becomes stronger and circulation in the scalp improves. The simplest method is to rinse your hair with nettle-infused water after washing. You will get especially good results if you add burdock roots. Be careful if you have blond hair, as nettle tea can leave a greenish tint.
Nettles: what should you watch out for, and when should you limit your intake?
Nettles have a wide range of beneficial properties, but these should not be overstated. In folk medicine, nettles have been used to combat fatigue, alleviate vitamin deficiencies, settle the stomach, support cardiovascular tone and remove excess water from the body.
They have also been used for diabetes symptoms, skin problems, kidney and urinary tract complaints, bronchitis, arthritis and hay fever. Because nettle tea increases blood clotting, it is not suitable for everyone. If you take medication or have a chronic condition, do not make nettles a daily habit without seeking advice first.
Mr.Mesi’s comment in the original article was colorful and very much of its time: he wrote that nettles provide energy and a sense of well-being, and that he had been trying them himself for almost 2 years. This kind of personal experience can be taken as a lively addition to the story, rather than health advice.
FAQ: the benefits and uses of nettle tea
When is the best time to harvest nettles?
Young leaves are suitable for fresh use when they first emerge. For drying, harvest leaves in dry weather from May to July, and roots in early spring or autumn.
Is nettle tea suitable for drinking every day?
It may be suitable for many people in the short term, but if you have high blood pressure, your blood clots quickly, you are pregnant or you take medication, seek advice first.
Can you add nettles to a regular salad?
Yes, but first pour hot water over the nettles or blanch them. This removes the sting and makes the leaves more suitable for salads.
Source: Naised magazine
Author: Joker, Mr.Mesi
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