The Surprising Benefits of Nettle

Most people view this superfood as a nuisance weed that is hard to remove without painful repercussions. Many of us have this plant popping up everywhere in our gardens. I spoke to the chef at The Plot and he told me its literally everywhere, even popping through in alley ways and sidewalks near his home in Oceanside. So before you pull this weed or worse, spray it for removal, check out these surprising benefits. 1. Nettle is great for anti-inflammatory properties and works amazing for arthritis pain. My husband was picking some of this pesky plant for me to make tea and soup, (recipes to follow) and noticed later that the hand he used to pick it was not as painful as the other one. He had arthritis pain in both hands and the key is, not to scratch the area affected. Soon the itching/pain will go away and you will be left with the benefits. 2. Ancient Egyptians used stinging nettle to treat arthritis and lower back pain, while Roman troops rubbed it on themselves to help stay warm. 3. Nettle can help lower blood pressure and is a great substitute for greens, like spinach, in many recipes. As a matter of fact, high end restaurants in Italy and France are using this in their recipes because of its nutritional properties. 4. Nettle is one of the best sources of Vitamin K that you can ingest. It is very difficult to get vitamin K in our diets and most of us are deficient in this very important nutrient.

5. Nettles are great to combat allergies, it is a powerful antiviral and is wonderful anti-oxidants for the body. They are rich in vitamins and minerals. 6. Here is a great video of my friend Dara Dubinet, who is a classically trained chef and a semi famous vegan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcMZ4pmPzuM 7. Nettle makes an incredible brilliant emerald color healing tea. Simply boil the washed nettles for 3 minutes then let simmer another 2-3 minutes then turn off the heat to steep even longer until you see the beautiful emerald, green color. For a special treat add it to lemonade or add a little honey. 8. Nettle is great for hair growth and also men’s prostates. Remember to wear gloves, long sleeves and pants and close toed shoes. You can experiment with lightly touching it for arthritis pain. Here is a great article on how to harvest and prepare. https://thehouseandhomestead.com/harvest-and-use-stinging-nettles/#:~:text=You%20can%20also%20dry%20stinging,is%20still%20moisture%20in%20them Don’t have any available? Not to worry. Come to class at the retreat center in Vista and pick to your heart’s desire!