Nettle Leaf | Urtica Dioica | Certified Organic

Description

USDA certified organic, clean, Nettle Leaf.

Recorded use of Nettle dates back for thousands of years. Over that long period of time is has “supposedly” been used as an, emmenagogic, emollient, diuretic and aphrodisiac. People also claimed it could help treat, burns, furuncles, cysts, glandular swellings, dislocations, nosebleeds, splenetic diseases, pleurisy, lung infections, asthma, impetigo and mouth infections. During the 18th century, nettle “may” have been effectively applied in cases of dropsy and to stem hemorrhaging.

More scientific study and research is needs to fully verify many of the medicinal claims regarding nettle.

Botanical Name: Urtica Dioica
Plant Family: Urticaceae
Also Called: Common nettle, Bigsting Nettle, Tall Nettle, Slender Nettle and Stinging Nettle.

Identification

Stinging Nettle is often misidentified so we have provided detailed information.

Urtica Dioica is a perennial that generally grows from seed as a single plant, or a cluster from a rhizomatous colonies. Nettle’s sharply angled, singular, stems often have bristly stinging hairs and can grow as tall as 9 ft.

The pink budded rhizomatous roots often create large colonies that can expand 8 feet in diameter per year and live as long as 50 years.

Nettle’s oval to lance-shaped leaves grow as mirrored opposites on both side of the stem and can be as large as 5″ long by 2.5″ wide. The leaf is covered in stinging hairs and has distinctive serrated edges. The stipules and their stalks can grown up to a 1/2 inch long.

Green Flowers, with only sepals ( no petals ), grow in clusters at the axils of the leaves. The sepals are very small, only growing a couple of mm. Nettle is a, wind-pollinated, hermaphrodite plant. Male Flowers are greenish yellow and have 4 sepals and stamens. Female Flowers are green and have 4 hairy sepals and 1 pistil.

Habitat

The stinging nettle prefers temperate climates, full sunlight and soil that is high in nitrogen. As well as being commonly found along rivers, lakes and streams, Urtica Dioica is a ruderal plant that often grows in soils so high in nitrogen they are considered contaminated.

Stinging Nettle inhabits many areas of the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, Africa and South America.

Uses

Tea

Considered a health drink, Nettle tea is mild flavored and relaxing. It is recommended tea bags be used when making tea with Nettle because the plant has small hairs on its leaves that can be irritating when they come in contact with the skin. We generally make Nettle tea without straining it at all and have had no such issues.

Try starting out with 2gm of Nettle Leaf per 16 oz of water. Boil the leaf in the water for at least 6 minutes, allow it to cool, and strain out the remaining material. If you would like a stronger or weaker tea you can increase/decrease the amount of leaf used and the amount of time it is boiled in small increments.

Smoking

Nettle is a highly underrated smoking herb. It is smooth mild flavored and relaxing. Great for blending as well.

Smudge

Nettle can be used in smudging but has a bland non distinctive aroma when burred.

Herbal Supplement

Nettle extracts are used as an Herbal Supplement and as an ingredient in supplements.

This material is meticulously processed and cleaned by hand. Please have a look on our Hand Processing Herbs Page for more information.