Nettle Leaves have a long history of medicinal use. Today modern herbalists use nettle tea or tincture as a gentle tonic and cleansing herb to strengthen the whole body, for arthritis, and for allergic conditions such as asthma, hay fever and eczema. It is also very helpful for women suffering with heavy menstrual periods and anaemia.
Nettle is a mild diuretic herb which thought to gently cleanse the body via the kidneys and because of this is helpful in conditions such as arthritis and rheumatism. Nettle tea is very thirst quenching and refreshing and it has a valuable role in any detox diet. It is rich in potassium, iron and other minerals. Young nettles were traditionally picked in the spring after the dark winter months when people had few sources of vitamin rich foods. Making nettle soup was an excellent way to restore their levels of vital vitamins and minerals.
It’s high iron content and it’s astringent properties make it helpful for the treatment of heavy periods and anaemia. It is also used for stopping bleeding from nose bleeds and wounds.
Nettle is considered to be a key anti-allergy herb and is used by Western herbalists in the treatment of eczema, asthma and hay fever. Mrs Grieves in her book the ‘Modern Herbal’ first published in 1931 talks about nettle’s history of use as an anti-asthmatic herb.
Home Use:
Nettle tea is a very safe herbal tea and can be drunk freely as part of a detox regime, for any of the conditions discussed above, or just enjoyed as part of a healthy diet.
To benefit from it’s medicinal benefits drink three cups daily and for long standing health problems it is best drunk regularly for several weeks or months.
For heavy periods: Drink lots (up to five cups daily) of nettle tea during your period.
For anaemia: Drink three cups a day and combine with an iron rich diet or other supplements.
If you have a debilitating health problem or feel your symptoms are not improving it is important to see a qualified medical practitioner.
