Nettles
Stinging Nettles- Urtica dioica
Wood Nettles- Laportea canadensis
Stinging Nettles- Urtica dioica
Wood Nettles is a native plant that can be found growing near forest streams in Tennessee. Stinging Nettles has both a native & introduced variety & likes to grow in manure rich soil near barns or compost piles. Stinging Nettles have opposite leaves with deeply toothed edges and have greenish pink flowers. Wood Nettles have alternate leaves with pointy oval leaves rounded at the base and greenish white flowers. Both plants are perennial & are covered in stinging hairs on the leaves, stem, & roots.
Warning: Stinging hairs can cause skin irritation or blisters.
Wildcrafted TN Wood Nettles cut up and placed on a drying rack
Nettles is Rich in Nutrients
Harvest the aerial parts for medicinal & culinary use. The young leaves & shoots are blanched & used in pesto or pan fried. Nettles contains calcium, magnesium, iron, B complex vitamins, vitamins A, C, D & K. Nettles has protein, cobalt, trace minerals, potassium, zinc, copper & sulphur. Nettles are rich in chlorophyl and have a bounty of iron. The nutritional benefits of Nettles are delivered in a very balanced way and are easily assimilated and absorbed into our body.
Nettles can also be used to make a beneficial compost tea for your garden plants. It is known to help boost plant health and stimulate growth.
Flowering Stinging Nettles
Nettles Folklore
There is a Native American story about the Stinging Nettle as the Earth’s first healing plant. The Creator of all Good Things created her to heal the people who were sick in their body, blood, and spirit. The beautiful plant grew with the help of the sun, moon, rain, storms & stars, & she was so happy to help the sick people. However, the people started to overharvest & take her for granted, so this made her sad & she started to get scarce. The sun, moon & The Creator became sad too, & she was given stinging hairs to protect herself & to remind people to say thank you before using her for healing medicine.
In Celtic folklore, thick stands of Nettles indicate that there are fairy dwellings nearby, and the sting of the Nettle plant protects against fairy mischief, black magic, and other forms of sorcery.
Fresh Stinging Nettles made into a tincture
Nettles- Herbal Uses
Native American Tribes used Nettles in various ways:
Nettles were used in the sweat lodge for those who suffered from pain and arthritis.
Poultices of the roots, stalks and leaves were applied to stiff, sore joints.
The Cherokee used nettles as a digestive aid and many other tribes drank nettle tea as an overall health tonic.
The Sioux made a tea to treat urinary & prostate issues.
Nettle fibers were used for cordage, bow strings, fishing line, nets, & sewing materials & textiles. Dyes were made with the leaves.
Sources: Spring Foraging - Stinging Nettles and Native American Ethnobotany
The Glory of Nettles http://www.susunweed.com/herbal_ezine/June09/empower.htm
WOOD NETTLES https://foragerchef.com/wood-nettles-laportea-canadensis/
Wood Nettle (Stinging Nettle) https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/wood-nettle-stinging-nettle