Oh, nettles! Despised by the heedless, bare-ankled hiker, prized by the enthusiastic forager, and beloved by the herbalist, this plant is so much more than meets the eye, or the sting!
The Ultimate Spring tonic
The appearance of nettles on the forest floor is a sure sign that spring has sprung. As nature would have it, they make a wonderful spring tonic when eaten or drunk as a tea. Incorporating nettles can support our bodies through the winter-spring transition in a few important ways:
- Nutrients. While winter food scarcity is rarely an issue for the modern human, historically, winter was a time when food was hard to find and animals (including early humans) had a hard time getting the nutrition they needed. Though sources of food are abundant these days, many of our diets are still lacking sufficient quantities of vitamins and minerals. Nettles contain appreciable amounts of minerals that few of us get enough of including iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and zinc.
- Blood cleanser (depurative): In the spring, our bodies begin mobilizing in response to increasing temperatures and longer daylight hours. This increasing metabolic activity liberates toxins and debris that were stored up in our bodies over the winter so that they can be detoxed and removed. Nettles support this process and in doing so, can help avoid flare-ups of inflammatory conditions often seen in the spring.
- Anti-allergic: While it seems counter-intuitive, given the irritating red rash they leave when you try to cuddle them, nettles can be a fantastic ally for those who struggle with symptoms of allergic rhinitis (hayfever) and seasonal allergies by helping to stabilize a type of immune cell involved in the allergic response process.
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How to Harvest
- Nettles can be harvested for food and medicine any time from now until the beginning of summer (before they flower!). The best time to gather nettles is March and April while they are below knee height
- Be sure to choose a healthy looking stand, away from any toxic exposure such as railroad tracks or exhaust fumes.
- Wear gloves!
- Harvest using a sharp, clean pair of shears, take only the top 2-3 sets of leaves.
- Follow the rules of the honourable harvest: take only what you need (and can use); never take more than one third of the population; and offer something in return (even if it is just your gratitude and your loving care).
How to use:
- Cooked: use nettles as a substitute anywhere you would use spinach, kale, or other cooked greens. Just a few minutes of cooking or steaming is enough to remove the sting
- Juiced: nettles make a super nutritious addition to your favourite juice. Try it with beets, carrots, and celery.
- Fresh infusion: add fresh leaves to a teapot, add boiling water, steep for 15 minutes and enjoy!
- Frozen nettle ice cubes: throw your nettles in a food processor with a bit of water and blend thoroughly. Freeze the mixture in ice cube trays and pop one or two into your meal just before you’ve finished cooking it for a little boost of nettle nourishment!
- Dried: use a dehydrator, drying rack, or large paper bag or cardboard box in a dry spot, away from sunlight. Ensure they are completely dried before handling and storing. Use 1-2 tsp/ cup and steep for 15 minutes for a lovely, nutrient-dense, detoxifying tea or throw a handful in a soup or casserle or gravy.