Stinging Nettle Tea - If You Dare!
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The Stinging Nettle grows in ditches, vacant lots, and junkyards. What the heck good is it?
Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) is a nasty plant to run into. The finely toothed leaves growing on its two foot stems are covered with downy hair and sharp spines. Each spine is a hollow needle filled with venom. If you touch the plant, the venom feels like a bee sting and produces a red rash.
Fun, huh! |
The venomous qualities of the stinging nettle are destroyed by cooking and drying, so no need to worry if you include this excellent plant in your herbal medicine cabinet. Gathering it yourself would be quite uncomfortable, but that's why we have the Internet.
Old herbals contend that nettle is useful in weight-reducing diets, probably because of its diuretic properties. The beauty-conscious have used nettle water as an acne treatment, or boiled the entire plant in vinegar and water, added eau de cologne, and used it as a hair growth stimulator (like Propecia, without the birth defect danger).
Medicinally, stinging nettle is important for bronchial and asthmatic ailments, as well as being used to relieve allergies. It's also used nowadays by European doctors to relieve symptoms of enlarged prostrate, so ask your doctor about it.
Stinging nettle has been used for centuries to treat arthritis and rheumatism. In the old days, the arthritis sufferer was whipped on the painful joints with a nice, green nettle plant. I guess the idea was that the pain of the nettle stings would cause you to forget the pain of the rheumatism. Doctors have studied the pain reducing properties of nettle, and now recommend teas and tinctures instead of whippings.
Interesting uses of Stinging Nettle: The seeds are said to be antidotes to snake and scorpion bites, or skin rashes caused by hemlock and nightshade. As the old herbalists say, like attracts like-the poison in stinging nettles relieves the poison of snakebites or nightshade.
Cautions: If you are taking blood thinners, high blood pressure medications, or NSAIDs, ask your doctor if nettle is safe for you. When used in low doses and mixed with other herbs, nettle shouldn't interfere with other medicines. Don't take it straight until you've talked to your doctor.
If you are interested in finding out more about the medicinal properties of stinging nettle, please consult with a certified herbalist. If you dare to gather it yourself, please wear full body armor and make sure it is 100 percent organic and has never been sprayed with any kind of chemical.
A much more comfortable alternative to gathering your own nettle is to find it already gathered, dried, and combined with other tea herbs such as alfalfa, peppermint, oatstraw, lemongrass, red clover, hibiscus flowers, and horsetail. This blend is called Vita Blend herbal tea, and is available through the Wellbeing Herbal Tea Adventure from the website below. You'll feel better after drinking this tea-especially if you don't get stung yourself.
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By Evelyn Fielding
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Evelyn_Fielding
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Nettle Tea Benefits Trivia:
Did you know that:
Nettle tea is a rich source of potassium. This mineral plays an important role in conducting electricity in the body. Since the major organs of the body like the brain and heart cannot function without electricity, the role of electrolytes like potassium cannot be ignored. Read here to know more about Potassium.
Nettle tea is also a rich source of calcium. This mineral is vital to the maintenance and development of bones in the body. Inadequate intake of calcium may contribute to accelerated bone loss and the development of osteoporosis. Get more information on Calcium here.
Nettle tea has high levels of beta-carotene. A precursor of Vitamin A, beta-carotene contributes to the maintenance of good vision and protection from such eye diseases such as night blindness and cataract. Read more on Beta-carotene here.
Nettle tea is said to be helpful in the treatment of asthma. The plant's seeming ability to fight allergic infections is what makes it a good ally against asthma. Go here for more info on other teas for asthma.
Nettle leaves are said to contain about 16 types of amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein and the abundance of these amino acids in the plant contribute to nettle's high protein content. Studies have shown that nettle's protein content may be as high as 25% (dry weight) which is quite high for a leafy green vegetable.
The quality of the water used to make nettle tea is very important. It is believed that the water used must be free of contaminants and contain enough oxygen to enhance the natural flavor of the drink. Nettle tea made with pure water yield a nice vegetal flavor and a drink that is aesthetically pleasant. Learn more about the health benefits of water here.
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