Hi Sue! It's me again. I found you through Dr. M's site, and joyfully so. I'm a newbie to Substack and I appreciate your articles, and particularly this one on nettle. I lived in the Amazon for years, and still do at times, with my Waorani husband—an Amazon native. I've had some incredible experiences with nettle. Briefly, I'll share one. The Waorani nettle themselves when in pain, including childbirth pain, AND everyone gets nettled along with the birthing mother. I break out into huge red welts from being nettled, which was always entertaining for my husband's family, who just chalked it up to my being a weak, white woman (lovingly so). They cared for me, and didn't nettle me too much. Thanks for your interesting article on nettle! 🖖🏽
Oh my! Thanks for sharing your experience. How interesting to share the nettle ritual with everyone. I am especially interested in indigenous use of plants.
Wonderful, in-depth exploration of a plant rich with gifts and benefits. We're deep into Nettles season here. Having eaten the last of the Nettles Asparagus soup for dinner last night, I'm harvesting more for quiche today and hortapita tomorrow. I'll also make a quart of strong tea. I've found Nettles tincture made from fresh leaves to be the most effective for seasonal allergies, especially in combination with quercetin. This year I am finally taking small amounts of the seed tincture I made two years ago. It really does seem to have an energizing effect.
I absolutely love your folklore and literary references!🌿💚
I tend to like strong, earthy foods and quirky flavors. I will sometimes chew on bitter leaves or roots while walking through the garden or woods, something like Yellowdock or Dandelion or American Ginseng. It's not so much about the taste on my tongue as the way they make me feel. Bitters tend to wake me up and energize me, while giving a bit of a pleasant shiver down my spine. I'm not a picky eater but I don't care for bland, highly processed foods.
Thanks for this in depth exploration, Sue! When I was reviewing medical data for adverse reactions at the injection site all those years ago working in clinical research, I never wondered where 'urticaria' came from. Makes so much sense!
Nettles are amazing! I knew a bit about them, but now a whole lot welcome more. Nettle tea is one of my favorites, too. I drink it cold or hot depending on the time of year. Arbor Teas has an excellent organic nettle tea. Thank you for this in-depth look at nettles!
I still have not made any Nettles fiber. Why not???! I think I forget as the season progresses and there are so many other demands on my time and attention. Maybe this year.
I made nettle tincture for my seasonal pollen allergies and drank it. Then I found out that I was able to pick nettle leaves after that without being bothered by their sting. It made sense, but I didn’t expect it.
When I was learning to gather Nettles with my herbal mentor several decades ago, we were not allowed to use gloves or snips. We used it as a time to be meditative, aware, and intentional in our gathering. I really did learn to gather without being stung, or only rarely when my attention wandered or I began to rush. As a woman and mother, I thought a lot about this plant that is so profoundly nourishing that she had to evolve some pretty intense self-protection strategies to prevent herself from being abused and depleted. I began to apprentice myself to her ways and appreciate all the lessons about giving and nourishing but also setting non-negotiable, healthy boundaries. 🌿💚
Louise! I didn't know you were here. I was thinking about you the other day, but I left FB. Wanted to share that I sowed some older carrot seeds last fall after I read your post about doing the same. They are coming up! So nice of you to comment!
What a wonderful and detailed exploration of nettles and recipes and uses!
I do have a romantic nettle story... once upon a time I had "abnormal cells" that led to a hysterectomy.
Before I went for surgery I spent 3 months preparing to be in the best condition I can for it. In addition to naturopathic recommendations I used nettles in pesto and tea as an anti-inflammatory.
My sig other (now no longer, but still appreciated) brought me a 2 gallon glass jar of hand processed dried nettles, picked before the flowers set on. Even so, his hands were pretty red!
I have always considered it the most romantic gift he ever gave me.
Two tricks he taught me in order to avoid the stinginess - pick before flowers set on (you can also snip the budding flower stems) in order for the silicone based spicules that scratch the oils in, and reduce the effect of the oils by letting the leaves dry a bit before handling.
Lovely story and gift! I agree about gathering before flowers set. That's wise advice anyway since Nettles becomes harsh on our kidneys after flowering.
Thank you, Kathy. I love your romantic nettle story! What a gift to receive for your wellness. Thanks for the tips - I hadn't heard those tips but easy enough to try.
"The Wild" Swans" — knit a shirt of stinging nettles to break the curse.
I read that many decades ago and still have the fairy tale in one of my German books.
As a postwar child, nettle soup was common at our house. Nettles love to grow in bombed-out lots amongst the rubble.
Hi Sue! It's me again. I found you through Dr. M's site, and joyfully so. I'm a newbie to Substack and I appreciate your articles, and particularly this one on nettle. I lived in the Amazon for years, and still do at times, with my Waorani husband—an Amazon native. I've had some incredible experiences with nettle. Briefly, I'll share one. The Waorani nettle themselves when in pain, including childbirth pain, AND everyone gets nettled along with the birthing mother. I break out into huge red welts from being nettled, which was always entertaining for my husband's family, who just chalked it up to my being a weak, white woman (lovingly so). They cared for me, and didn't nettle me too much. Thanks for your interesting article on nettle! 🖖🏽
Oh my! Thanks for sharing your experience. How interesting to share the nettle ritual with everyone. I am especially interested in indigenous use of plants.
Me too, as long as the natives don't wallop me with it. LOL! Nettle is a blessing otherwise, like many herbs♥️!
Wonderful, in-depth exploration of a plant rich with gifts and benefits. We're deep into Nettles season here. Having eaten the last of the Nettles Asparagus soup for dinner last night, I'm harvesting more for quiche today and hortapita tomorrow. I'll also make a quart of strong tea. I've found Nettles tincture made from fresh leaves to be the most effective for seasonal allergies, especially in combination with quercetin. This year I am finally taking small amounts of the seed tincture I made two years ago. It really does seem to have an energizing effect.
I absolutely love your folklore and literary references!🌿💚
I enjoyed your article on nettles, but I am not a fan of the soup! But I am harvesting a bit today for tonight's quiche.
Thanks for reading and commenting, Leenie.
I tend to like strong, earthy foods and quirky flavors. I will sometimes chew on bitter leaves or roots while walking through the garden or woods, something like Yellowdock or Dandelion or American Ginseng. It's not so much about the taste on my tongue as the way they make me feel. Bitters tend to wake me up and energize me, while giving a bit of a pleasant shiver down my spine. I'm not a picky eater but I don't care for bland, highly processed foods.
Thanks for this in depth exploration, Sue! When I was reviewing medical data for adverse reactions at the injection site all those years ago working in clinical research, I never wondered where 'urticaria' came from. Makes so much sense!
Nettles are amazing! I knew a bit about them, but now a whole lot welcome more. Nettle tea is one of my favorites, too. I drink it cold or hot depending on the time of year. Arbor Teas has an excellent organic nettle tea. Thank you for this in-depth look at nettles!
I find nettle fascinating! I was going to eliminate my nettle bed but decided to clean it and keep it. Maybe try my hand at making fiber again.
I still have not made any Nettles fiber. Why not???! I think I forget as the season progresses and there are so many other demands on my time and attention. Maybe this year.
That is my reason! It's a bit time-consuming and my nettle stalks are ready to harvest at the same time that everything else is.
Wow, I've always known that nettles are versatile and useful but you've shared a lot of info here that i wasn't already aware of. Thanks
I made nettle tincture for my seasonal pollen allergies and drank it. Then I found out that I was able to pick nettle leaves after that without being bothered by their sting. It made sense, but I didn’t expect it.
When I was learning to gather Nettles with my herbal mentor several decades ago, we were not allowed to use gloves or snips. We used it as a time to be meditative, aware, and intentional in our gathering. I really did learn to gather without being stung, or only rarely when my attention wandered or I began to rush. As a woman and mother, I thought a lot about this plant that is so profoundly nourishing that she had to evolve some pretty intense self-protection strategies to prevent herself from being abused and depleted. I began to apprentice myself to her ways and appreciate all the lessons about giving and nourishing but also setting non-negotiable, healthy boundaries. 🌿💚
That’s interesting! Unfortunately, despite all my intake of nettle, I still feel the sting.
I just want to thank you
Louise! I didn't know you were here. I was thinking about you the other day, but I left FB. Wanted to share that I sowed some older carrot seeds last fall after I read your post about doing the same. They are coming up! So nice of you to comment!
What a wonderful and detailed exploration of nettles and recipes and uses!
I do have a romantic nettle story... once upon a time I had "abnormal cells" that led to a hysterectomy.
Before I went for surgery I spent 3 months preparing to be in the best condition I can for it. In addition to naturopathic recommendations I used nettles in pesto and tea as an anti-inflammatory.
My sig other (now no longer, but still appreciated) brought me a 2 gallon glass jar of hand processed dried nettles, picked before the flowers set on. Even so, his hands were pretty red!
I have always considered it the most romantic gift he ever gave me.
Two tricks he taught me in order to avoid the stinginess - pick before flowers set on (you can also snip the budding flower stems) in order for the silicone based spicules that scratch the oils in, and reduce the effect of the oils by letting the leaves dry a bit before handling.
Loved the article.
Lovely story and gift! I agree about gathering before flowers set. That's wise advice anyway since Nettles becomes harsh on our kidneys after flowering.
Thank you, Kathy. I love your romantic nettle story! What a gift to receive for your wellness. Thanks for the tips - I hadn't heard those tips but easy enough to try.