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It is rare that I teach a class without mentioning Nettle. It has such an abundance of vital nutrients and effective actions that it comes up in almost every context. I consider Nettle a foundational herb that every body can benefit from.

Stinging Nettle is deeply nutritive, modulates inflammation, and is an effective diuretic. The leaves, seeds, and roots are all used in herbal medicine. The stalk has long been made into fibers for cordage and clothing throughout the world. This is a hardy plant that gives to us generously.

Hardly a week goes by where I don’t interact with this plant to some degree. Nettle springs forth in early Spring, and offers us just the exact medicine we need after a long, cold, damp northern winter. Hooray for Nettle!

The Energetics & Actions of Nettle

Nettle is known to be salty, cooling, and stimulating all at once. It is an astringent tonic, moving the waters of the body. Its deeply nutritive properties revitalize the body, and it is particularly energizing to the nervous system without depleting any vital resources. It builds the blood while nourishing the liver, kidneys, and urinary tract.

Nettle in its essence feeds & moves.

Building Vital Power

When I think of Nettle, vitality is the primary energy that comes to mind. Emerging in the early Spring, her toothed leaves burst forth seemingly from one day to the next, embodying all the year’s powerful potential.

Nettle is for those who wish to empower their existence through abundant nourishment and get in touch with the primal sources of life. The thriving, humming, buzzing energy of nettle gives us a foundation from which to build, nourishing us at the cellular level. If you feel you’ve lost that “spark” in life, or wish to have more energy, build your body with Nettle power.

Thriving, Not Just Surviving

Stinging Nettle tells the story of the survivor who thrives. Nettle has a history of growing in abandoned human habitats, and can re-establish itself after the devastation of wildfires.

She is always found near to us, showing her affinity or working with our bodies. Nettle is one of the primary herbs that I look to for rehabilitation and building up strength after trauma, hardship, or intense experiences that deplete our resources.

Call in Powerful Protection

Nettle is highly protective of herself. One of the most curious things about her sting is that it is conditional. Whether or not you get stung depends entirely on how you touch her. If you are careless, oblivious, or handle her with disregard, look out! Ouch! She will let you know she is there.

If you are aware, careful, and confident, you can harvest an entire nettle patch with no injury. The only side-effect you may have is a delicious tingly buzz that lasts for hours and builds your life-force from the inside out. If you do happen to stung, never fear. Nature always provides – look for Dock, Jewelweed, Mint, or Sage growing nearby. These plants are antidotes to the pain of nettle’s sting

Nettle can teach us not to be afraid of demanding how we want to be handled. She is a great ally for those out of touch with their anger, and therefore lacking in clear boundaries. Rediscover the power of “no” by allying with Nettle.

The Medicinal Properties of Nettle

As mentioned before, Nettle has such a broad spectrum of actions and qualities that literally entire books can (and have!) been written about this plant. (Check out Nettle Cookbook by Vivian Tuffey available on Amazon). Let’s discuss a few of the most well-known properties of Nettle in Western Herbalism.

Rebuild Depleted Systems

Nettle is excellent for conditions in which something needs to be re-built. She is the number one herb for anemia, building the blood with necessary minerals & vitamins, including Iron. Nettle is also looked to for rebuilding the kidneys & liver after damage.

Nettle is a primary herb for folks recovering from restrictive eating patterns such as anorexia, bulimia, and orthorexia. Look to Nettle for help healing your relationship to nourishment.

I have heard anecdotally of nourishing infusions made from Nettle being the only thing that worked in a woman who was severely anemic to build up her iron content, stop feeling so ill, and test normal again on a blood workup. Look to Nettle as the warrior queen who can lead the cells of your body to victory and abundance.

Fertility Tonic

Nettle is also extremely useful as a fertility tonic for both females and males due to its highly nutritive content. If you find yourself unable to become pregnant or help someone else become pregnant, spend some time with Nettle.

It also serves as an excellent pregnancy and postpartum tonic to keep mother and baby nourished and growing. It can help prepare the mother for producing abundant milk and fortify the body in preparation for the huge energy expenditure that is childbirth and caring for an infant.

Moving the Waters of The Body

Nettle is known as an astringent, and helps tighten and tone weak or flabby tissues. This astringency also effectively moves the waters of the body, draining any accumulated water in the tissues and increasing the output of urine without depleting potassium salts.

Nettle has a gentle stimulating effect for boggy, stagnant, or damp conditions such as cysts, swelling, edema, and some heart conditions. It is a great ally for those living in wet, humid environments. For those with a dry constitution or living in dry environments, Nettle is best when paired with lubricating herbs like Licorice Root, Marshmallow Root, or Slippery Elm.

Cool Inflammation with Nettle

Anytime there are chronic inflammatory issues, call in Nettle as your ally. Nettle is one of the most well-known modulators of inflammation in the plant world, intelligently working with the body to bring inflammation down if it is too high. Nettle is used by herbalists in cases of allergies and asthma, to help bring reactive nervous systems into homeostasis and reduce systemic inflammation.

Nettle is wonderful for folks experiencing stiff and painful joints, both internally and externally. The particularly desperate and brave can try a process called urtication, in which a handful of fresh stinging nettle is whipped against a stubborn joint injury or arthritic joints for 10-15 minutes, bringing about long-lasting relief in the soft tissues.

I have seen this done on a woman with a knee injury and watched the knee visibly become significantly less swollen and her mobility increase within a few hours. Urtication can also be done by a medicine person as a ceremony in which the whole body is whipped, producing an altered state and transformation of the person as a whole.

How to Use Nettle

Nourishing Herbal Infusions

If urtication doesn’t feel quite up your alley, might I suggest drinking a nourishing infusion made from Nettle? In my opinion this is the best way to access the nutritive and tonic effects of Stinging Nettle.

Steeping the herb in just boiled water for 4-8 hours will unlock the treasure chest of vitamins and minerals locked in her cells. The ratio for these infusions is 1 oz. of herb to 1 quart of water. For more information about Nourishing Herbal Infusions, check out this article where I detail everything you need to know about this foundational practice.

Herbal Vinegar

Another excellent way to access the abundant minerals locked up inside the plant cells is by making a nettle vinegar extract. Any vinegar can be used, though I prefer Apple Cider Vinegar for its innate tonifying properties.

You can make a vinegar extract, also known as an acetum, by filling up a jar 1/2 - 3/4 full with fresh or dried herb, and then pour the vinegar over the top until the jar is full. Stir, cap, and shake. Let sit for 2-6 weeks, shaking daily and admiring the deep green of your gorgeous herbal vinegar! Strain and enjoy!

This remedy can be used as food: daily on your rice, beans, salad, soups, or taken by the spoonful in some warm water before eating.

Nettle Tincture

All parts of the nettle can be made into a tincture, which is an extract made with alcohol. The folk method is the same as making herbal vinegar, but instead 100 proof vodka is poured over the herb.

Tinctures are the most common way to work with the seeds or root of nettle. The seeds are particularly energizing, and even small doses can stimulate the body for hours. The root is often used to reduce inflammation in the prostate.

Nettle tincture can be taken daily diluted in a little water to nourish the kidneys, cool hot, irritated conditions, and address chronic inflammatory patterns.

Just Eat It!

I never let a Spring go by without making some Nettle Pesto. (To make your own, check out the recipe card below!) The leaves of Nettle *before they flower* are a delectable edible. Because of the sting, please dry, cook, or mash up your nettle leaves before consuming.

Nettle leaf can replace spinach or kale in virtually any recipe. Nettle soup with shiitakes is absolutely divine, and is another staple in my spring repertoire. Finding a local wild patch to harvest from is always a fun adventure.

A Yurok herbalist here in Humboldt recently shared with me that she was taught to harvest nettle leaves by snipping the leaves from only one half of the plant. The rest of the plant is left alone for the insects and other creatures of the forest.

You can incorporate dried nettle into your baking, brewing, and broth-making. Also, a simple cup of nettle tea is always a welcome drink. I love to mix Nettle with Lemonbalm and Linden Flower for a soothing, revitalizing drink.

In Conclusion

“When in doubt, use Nettle!” is an adage we have in herbalism that sums up the beauty of this plant. Nettle is always there for you, offering deep nourishment and strength.

Wild nettle loves to get her feet wet, so get out there and explore your local creeks, rivers, and lakes and see if you can find this amazing plant. You can download my Wild Greens Pesto recipe down below and create your own kitchen magic with Nettle & friends!

If you are interested in learning more about this fantastic herbal ally, check out my upcoming Spring Classes happening locally in Humboldt County. In these events we’ll celebrate this time of year and experience meeting our local Spring edibles & medicinals, learning what they do for our body, and how to make things with them!

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This information is of an educational and general nature and should not be construed as legal or medical advice. You should consult appropriate written and professional sources to answer questions related to your individual situation. Exercising one's rights often entails some element of risk, and you should verify all information relevant to your situation before acting; the author and publisher disclaim any responsibility or liability for any loss incurred as a consequence of the use of any information herein.

Stinging Nettle: A Powerful Herbal Ally