Marie-France is passionate about natural health products to maintain optimum health and vitality. A professionally trained Naturopath, she is also a sales representative at Land Art since 2015.
There are those plants that amaze us with everything that they have to offer. This is nothing compared to all that nettle provides. Despised by gardeners, they consider this little-known plant as a bad weed. It is true that nettle can adapt to even the worst of conditions and grow in places that only gravel could thrive! Urtica dioica, as the Latin name indicates, is a plant that must be picked with care. Its nasty reputation is due to the extremely pointy little hairs that cover the stems and the underneath of the leaves. Cooking and drying will remove these points from the plant, rendering it safe to use in soups, as a tea or to make a tincture (plant extract).
In Phytotherapy, the roots, stems, and leaves of nettle are used for different applications. In other words, the entire plant is used for distinct purposes depending on specific needs. Nettle leaves are particularly rich in nutrients and proteins: iron, potassium, magnesium, silica, calcium, folic acid, vitamin A, C, and K, among others. This nutritional aspect means that the nettle plant is used to alkalinize and remineralize, and is ideal as a general tonic to increase vitality.
Nettle leaves are used to reduce inflammation of the kidneys, the bladder, and the urinary tract, as well as for the prevention of kidney stones. Not only is it a safe diuretic, nettle increases the excretion of uric acid and nitrogenous waste through the urinary system. The excretion of this metabolic waste is beneficial to avoid certain health issues such as arthritis, rheumatic pain, inflammation in the joints and articulations, gout, acne, and eczema. Rich in iron, nettle improves its absorption and participates in the formation of hemoglobin in red blood cells, making it the perfect ally in case of anemia.
A precious friend for women, nettle helps to fight the unpleasantness of menopause and premenstrual symptoms: hot flashes, headaches, decreased libido, breast sensitivity, and irritability. Providing an extra amount of magnesium, it also helps to reduce cravings (i.e.: chocolate), before menstruation.
If taken regularly and in advance (about 3 months), nettle, which is actually antihistaminic, may definitely eliminate all symptoms of hay fever or allergic rhinitis. Goodbye constant sneezing and itchy eyes! Nettle is often taken as a tea; however, to provide a significant impact on allergies, one would need to drink about an infused liter per day. Luckily, Land Art has developed a concentrated nettle extract. One daily 10 ml dose is sufficient to enjoy summer without the undesirable effects of seasonal allergies!
References
Flora medicina – Nettle
Note of herbalist class – Linda Brosseau
