The Nettle files

*A work in progress*

INTRODUCTION

Nettles are an abundant natural resource, they grow all around us without the need of intervention from man. It is something we can harvest and make use of in one form or another most times of the year. It is a plant we can forage as opposed to having to prepare the ground, sow the Seed and wait. It is extremely disease resistant and largely unaffected by changeable weather. It is high in nutrients and a plant steeped in history, one that our ancestors made much use of and many of these uses are still relevant today

We have been communing and working with the Nettle plant for around 6 years, there are a massive amount of studies that have been done and there are many papers been written on this subject. It is an ongoing process to transfer here some of the most important info from our storage cloud where we hold what we have gathered on the subject. You can also access the cloud – if you wish to do so please contact us.

HARVESTING

Be sure to collect Nettle from unpolluted areas such as places where there is a lot of traffic. Be also mindful to collect away from areas where Dogs and Cats are regularly doing their business.Wear thick long-sleeved and legged clothes, wear gloves and cut cleanly from the stem, Leave the plant material outside for a while so all the insects can run off. When dried the Nettle generally loses most but not its entire sting. Pick from the first shoots around February until just before flowering (around June)

PROCESSING AND STORING

NUTRITIONAL INFO

Vitamin A, C, E, F, K, P. Zinc, formic acid, magnesium, carbonic acid, iron, copper, selenium, boron, bromine, chlorine, chlorophyll, potassium, phosphorus, sodium, silica, iodine, chromium, silicon and sulfur. Vitamin B-complexes as well as thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, B-6 all of which are found in high levels and act as antioxidants.

A 1-cup serving of blanched stinging nettles contains 37 calories and 0.1 grams of fat. With no fat, sodium, cholesterol, protein or sugar per serving, and virtually no fiber, nettle leaves are nonetheless rich in nutrients. Stinging nettle provides few carbohydrates and a small amount of protein, as well. One cup contains 6.6 grams of carbohydrates and 2.4 grams of protein.

Nettle is a nutritious food that has vitamins and minerals, including iron, potassium and silica. Stinging nettle is naturally high in iron, with 1.46 milligrams per 1-cup serving of cooked leaves — the equivalent of 2 cups of fresh leaves or 2 tablespoons of crushed, dried leaves — which makes 1 cup of nettle tea. Stinging nettles supply iron — each 1-cup portion contains 7.7 percent to 17.5 percent of the daily recommended intake, depending on your nutritional requirements. The calcium content of stinging nettles is also significant: 1 cup provides 32.9 to 42.8 percent of the amount you require daily.

A 1-cup serving contains 1,790 IU of vitamin A, nearly three times the amount you need in a single day. Vitamin D works with calcium to strengthen your teeth and bones, although its main role in the body is to normalize the amount of calcium and phosphorus in your bloodstream. Your body is able to store extra vitamin A, so the additional vitamins you consume are not wasted. Stinging nettles also serve as an excellent source of vitamin K, a vitamin your body requires for blood clotting. Each 1-cup portion contains 369 to 493 percent of the daily recommended intake. Like vitamin D, your body can store vitamin K for later use.

Nettle is a rich source of iron, nettle also contains pro-vitamin A, the vitamin B complex, vitamin K1 and vitamin C, which can help the body absorb the iron and other minerals found in the plant.

Nettle root contains steroidal compounds, caffeic and malic acids, polysaccharides and a group of phytoestrogens called lignans. A combination of histamine, serotonin and choline on the hairs of the leaves and stems is responsible for the plant’s skin-irritating properties. Nettles have possible antispasmodic, diuretic and expectorant effects; they also have anti-inflammatory qualities,

SOURCE: https://www.livestrong.com/article/517716-nettle-kidney-function/

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