Nettle is mercilessly exterminated as a weed in garden plots and near human homes, but in folk medicine it is a popular wound-healing and hemostatic agent.

Nettle - prickly herb

nettle photo

Nettle is a plant familiar to everyone since childhood, especially if someone has been stung by it. Typically, nettle grows on forest edges, in ravines, along the banks of small rivers and streams. Nettle is often found near roads and people’s homes, so it is considered a weed and is destroyed during weeding. Nettle grass is very common in Russia, Siberia, Central Asia, the Caucasus and the Far East. Different types of nettle can be found in China, Canada, Japan and Korea, North America, Australia, Europe and Asia, and Siberia.

Nettles can reach a height of 1.5 to 2 meters. The nettle stem is tetrahedral in shape, erect, and the rhizome is branched and long. Nettle blooms from spring to mid-summer. The flowers are unisexual, greenish, collected in bunches into small inflorescences. Nettle is pollinated by the wind. Nettle leaves are dark green in color with oblong stipules. The shape of nettle leaves is coarsely toothed, ovate or lanceolate. Nettle seeds are small, collected near the stem in the axils of the upper leaves.

In Russia, two types of this plant are most often found: stinging nettle and stinging nettle. Their medicinal properties are described in medical books. Stinging nettle is smaller than stinging nettle, but the latter has found wider use in folk medicine. But such types of nettle as ball-bearing and nettle are not used for medicinal purposes at all.

Nettle is called zhguchka, zhegala, zhaluga, and Estonians call it “the bachelor’s kiss,” and there is even a popular saying: “Nettle is young, but it already bites.” This is due to the fact that the stem of this perennial herbaceous plant is densely covered with stinging short hairs. When collecting nettle leaves, you need to wear gloves that protect the skin of your hands.

Why does nettle sting and how to treat a nettle burn? The tips of the stinging hairs contain formic acid and histamine, and a nettle burn can be treated with a concentrated salt solution.

Contraindications and benefits of nettle

In the first months of pregnancy, nettle should be consumed with caution

In folk medicine, the medicinal plant nettle is widely used in the treatment of heart disease, eczema, anemia, rheumatism, gout, blood diseases and other ailments. The benefits of nettle lie in the vitamins, acids, and active microelements contained in the roots, leaves, and stems. Nettle contains B vitamins, sodium, phosphorus, potassium, copper, iron, silicon, chlorophyll, proteins, sugars, organic acids, proteins, fats and carbohydrates, flavonoids and many other useful substances. Therefore, treatment with nettle and its use in combination with other medicinal herbs gives a positive result.

Nettle root and leaves are commonly used in medicine. But to prepare nettle juice, you need fresh leaves and young stems. Nettle leaves are carefully separated from the stem, then dried or used fresh to prepare various side dishes, soups, sauces, and salads.

Nettle root is cleaned and dried in well-ventilated areas, but not in the open sun, since exposure to sunlight destroys chlorophyll and some of the beneficial vitamins evaporate. Nettles should be stored in paper or fabric bags in a dark, dry place. Dried nettle does not lose its medicinal properties for 2 years.

It is impossible to get an overdose of nettle, but it increases blood clotting and thickens it. Therefore, preparations from nettle are contraindicated for people with varicose veins, thrombophlebitis, atherosclerosis, and hypertension. Particular caution should be exercised by women in the first months of pregnancy. Nettle has contraindications during pregnancy, as it can provoke contractions and premature birth. It is strictly forbidden to use drugs containing nettle for bleeding caused by diseases of the uterus and appendages. It is also dangerous to use nettle for people with kidney disease and the elderly.

Preparations based on nettle

Nettle oil has been used since ancient times to improve hair growth

The healing properties of nettle are well known in folk medicine. Infusion, juice, tincture, oil, and nettle decoction are used for various diseases of the internal organs of the body and skin.

• Nettle infusion is recommended for weak involution of the uterus, anemia, gout, diabetes mellitus, nettle fever, diseases of the stomach and biliary tract; It is used as a multivitamin, diuretic, antimalarial, anti-inflammatory agent, and has a hemostatic effect.
• Juice from the leaves and stems of nettle destroys kidney stones, improves metabolism, increases the level of hemoglobin and platelets in the blood, enhances digestion, and reduces the content of toxins in the body.
• Tincture of nettle leaves is perfect for treating skin diseases, purulent ulcers, and is used for neuralgic and joint pain.
• Nettle tea is recommended for people suffering from rheumatism, diseases of the joints and urolithiasis.
• Nettle oil, prepared from the roots, is used to relieve neuralgic pain.
• Burdock oil with nettle is an ideal remedy for healing the scalp and hair structure. Burdock oil increases capillary blood circulation in the scalp and stops hair loss. Nettle for hair acts as a building material, strengthens the roots and structure of the hair, and promotes increased growth. Nettle has long been used as a cosmetic for hair growth.

Nettle infusion for hair is prepared from succulent stems and leaves. After use, the hair becomes shiny and silky. Nettle juice can be rubbed into the scalp to get rid of dandruff.

There are probably few people who would not have known since childhood not only about the stinging properties of nettle, but also about its medicinal properties. Many We have heard that this herb can heal wounds, improve hair growth, and stop bleeding, which is why it is useful to add it to salads and soups. In this article We have selected interesting facts about nettle, as well as the widest list of its medicinal properties and contraindications for use.

Did you know? Nettle is and, numbering about 30 species. The most common in our latitudes are stinging nettle and stinging nettle, which are considered. In official medicine, only stinging nettle is used, but stinging nettle is also used in folk medicine.

Chemical composition of nettle

To determine Why nettle is useful, let’s consider the chemical composition of its organs. The plant is very rich in vitamins. It is especially famous for the presence vitamin C- there is two to three times more of it in nettle leaves than in and.
The carotene content is also high. There is more of this substance in the grass than in sea buckthorn and. In addition, the leaves contain vitamins K, B, E. It also contains microelements useful for the human body such as Ca (calcium), Fe (iron), Cu (copper), Mg (magnesium), Si (silicon) .

The leaves of the grass contain tannins, flavonoids, glycosides, phytoncides, organic acids and other micro and macroelements.

Exactly like this a diverse and wide list of useful elements allows nettle to have a general strengthening and therapeutic and prophylactic effect on the human body.
And man, in turn, invented many methods and means of using nettle for medicinal purposes, which have been used in folk medicine and cosmetology for several centuries.

Medicinal properties of nettle

Since nettle contains silicon, vitamin C, organic acids and a number of other vitamins, it can generally have a strengthening effect on human immunity - resist viruses and bacteria, external adverse factors, oxygen deficiency.

Vitamin K gives the herb the ability to stop bleeding, improve blood clotting, heal wounds more intensively, and relieve inflammation.
The chlorophyll contained in the leaves allows the plant to be a tonic, improve metabolic processes in the body, and improve intestinal motility.

The herb also has diuretic and choleretic properties. Accordingly, nettle is recommended to combat diseases of the kidneys, liver and bile ducts.

There is an opinion that the use of products based on this herb can lower blood sugar levels, which is due to the presence of a substance such as secretin in its composition.

Did you know? There is a type of nettle that, when touched, causes severe inflammation that takes several years to heal on the human body.

Collection and preparation of medicinal raw materials

In folk healing For preparations from nettle, leaves, seeds, roots and stems of the plant are used. It is necessary to collect raw materials (except for seeds and roots) during the flowering period, that is, in the summer months. It is better to collect it in dry, sunny weather so that the leaves are dry.

If you mow the grass at the beginning of summer, it may bloom again, which will occur in August or early autumn.
Roots should be collected in spring or autumn. The seeds are collected two weeks after flowering, when they are well established at the tops.

If you plan to use nettle leaves in cooking or cosmetology, then you can pick them in early spring.

When collecting grass, you must protect your hands with gloves. When harvesting large volumes of grass, you can use a scythe, scissors, or sickle. After mowing, the nettles are not immediately removed, but left on the ground. This way it will wilt a little and its pungency will go away. Then you can start tearing off the leaves. To prepare roots, the grass is pulled out, shaken off lumps, washed with water and the stems are cut off.

To harvest nettle seed with all its medicinal properties, the top part of the grass is torn off, and a little later it is threshed.

Important! It is prohibited to collect grass that grows along highways, railway tracks, near industrial areas and garbage dumps.

For drying leaves and roots It is necessary to choose a room that is well ventilated and where the sun's rays do not penetrate, since when exposed to the sun, the grass will lose some of its vitamins.

This could be an attic, a shed, a terrace. The raw materials should be laid out on plywood, paper or fabric in a 3-4 cm layer. The grass is considered dried to the desired consistency only when it breaks with a crunch.
Dried leaves should be stored in paper bags or boxes. Nettle can be crushed into powder, which is then perfectly stored in wooden or paper containers. Dry raw materials retain their properties for two years.

Nettles can also be preserved by freezing and canning.

The use of nettle in folk medicine

Infusions and decoctions are used in folk medicine, both internally and externally, to treat a wide variety of diseases.

ARVI, influenza, disorders of the kidneys and liver, disorders of the genitourinary, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular systems - this is an incomplete list of what nettle treats.

For a cold

For respiratory diseases, prepare a tincture based on nettle roots and. A mixture of 2 tbsp. spoons of fresh roots and 2 tbsp. spoons of chopped garlic are poured with five parts of vodka. The tincture is stored in a room without light for 14 days, after which you drink 1 teaspoon three times a day.
For the purpose of prevention acute viral diseases and strengthening the immune system, in general, drink one-third of a glass of infusion prepared from 2 tbsp three to five times a day. spoons of nettle leaves (dry) and half a liter of hot boiled water, infused for two hours. It is recommended to drink the product 30 minutes before you are going to eat.

For diseases of the gastrointestinal tract

For cramps, stomach pain, and nausea, a decoction of stinging nettle rhizomes can help. It is necessary to pour hot milk (200 ml) into 1 teaspoon of dry grass roots and place on low heat for five minutes. Drink the decoction hot in the amount of ¼ cup.

Drink the remaining medicinal drink 2 tbsp. spoons throughout the day every two hours.

Solve the problem of An infusion of leaves can also be used with the gastrointestinal tract. They are taken in the amount of 1 tbsp. spoon, add 200 ml of boiling water and leave in a thermos for a couple of hours. One hour before meals, drink 1 tbsp. spoon.
During attacks gastritis is helped by a mixture of medicinal herbs: nettle, plantain, St. John's wort, . They must be mixed in equal parts. Then in 4 tbsp. spoons, add a liter of boiling water and let stand for two hours. Take a glass orally. Drink up to 1.5 liters per day. The course of treatment is 1 week.

For heart diseases

Nettle treatment also used for various cardiovascular diseases. To improve the functioning of the heart muscle, it is recommended to use the following remedy: 5 tbsp. add 400 ml of boiling water to a tablespoon of dry chopped leaves and place on low heat for five minutes.

Then Cool to room temperature and strain. Add honey before use. Recommended oral doses: half a glass four times a day, in courses of 1-2 months.

Important! Before using any nettle-based drug for medicinal purposes, you must consult your doctor.

To recover after a stroke, take 2 tbsp one hour before meals. spoons of infusion prepared as follows: 1 tbsp. Mix spoons of leaves (dry) with boiling water and leave to steep for one hour.

For kidney and bladder stones

Stone disease is treated with fresh juice, seeds and roots of nettle. Drink juice 1-2 tbsp. spoons at intervals of two hours throughout the day.

Products based on dry nettle roots have such beneficial properties as dissolving kidney and bladder stones. To do this, the raw materials are ground into powder and eaten 1 teaspoon three times a day. Wash down the powder with rosehip decoction.

Also, for stone disease, three times a day, 1 tbsp. spoon, it is recommended to take crushed seeds dissolved in warm boiled water.

To improve kidney function, use an infusion of leaves. It is prepared by mixing 1 teaspoon of chopped nettle leaves with 200 ml of boiling water and heating in a water bath for 15 minutes. Drink one third of a regular glass 30 minutes before you plan to eat.

To normalize sexual function

Normalize sexual function Nettle seeds are capable of They are mixed with ground black pepper. It is taken as follows: a raw chicken egg is broken into a glass or glass, and a mixture of nettle and pepper is added to it at the tip of a knife. All ingredients are mixed. This remedy must be taken for three to five days in the morning half an hour before meals.
To stimulate sexual desire, the seeds can be added to red wine or port. Use the following proportions: 5 tbsp. spoons of seeds per half liter of wine (port). Boil the mixture for five minutes. Take 50 ml before bed.

There is also a leaf-based remedy. A salad is prepared from them with the addition of boiled eggs and.

To normalize menstruation

Nettle is widely used in gynecology, in particular for heavy discharge during menstruation, as well as for cervical erosion.

To normalize menstruation, drink one-fourth glass of freshly squeezed juice from grass leaves three times a day. It is recommended to consume it 20-30 minutes before your planned meal.

The recipe is quite simple: 3-6 tbsp. Mix a tablespoon of leaves with a liter of boiling water and let stand for 20 minutes. Strain before ingestion.
Recommended doses for women with heavy and irregular periods are 1 glass three times a day. After consumption, you can start eating no earlier than 40 minutes later. You can also use pharmaceutical liquid nettle extract. It is taken orally 30-40 drops half an hour before meals. The drops are diluted in a quarter glass of water.

Juice from nettle leaves with medicinal properties is used in gynecology and for cervical erosion. Tampons are dipped into it and inserted into the vagina.

The use of nettle in cosmetology

In cosmetology, nettle has been used to make hair and facial skin beautiful and healthy.

For dandruff and hair strengthening

Nettle remedies are effective in the fight against dandruff, baldness, increased oiliness and strengthening hair growth.

If you have dandruff, use the following recipes:

• Add half a liter of boiling water to 500 g of chopped fresh leaves. Simmer the mixture in a water bath for 20 minutes. Then cool to room temperature and pass through cheesecloth. Warm slightly before use. Use while washing your hair, rubbing into the scalp and using as a rinse.
• You can also massage freshly squeezed nettle juice diluted with water into the scalp.
• 1 tbsp. Brew a spoonful of leaves (dry) in a thermos, adding 200 ml of boiling water. Leave to infuse for one hour, then pass through a layer of gauze. Rub the infusion into your head once every seven days. Course of procedures: two to three months.

The latter remedy is used both for rinsing and rubbing into the scalp to achieve strong and healthy hair.
Also, to strengthen the hair, rinse it with a decoction of 100 g of crushed leaves, mixed with half a liter of vinegar and half a liter of water, boiled for 30 minutes.

To cope with baldness, use a vodka-based tincture. Fresh leaves are placed in a half-liter jar and vodka is added. Store indoors without access to light for 21 days. After this time, they begin to rub it into areas of the head where active hair loss is observed.

Nettle face mask

Nettle is often added to creams, lotions, and masks. For dry and aging skin, it is recommended to chop fresh leaves (1 tablespoon) to a paste and mix them with (1 teaspoon). You can add warm milk (3 tablespoons). Apply the mixture to the face.

Contraindications and possible harm

Treatment with nettle has a number of contraindications. Thus, the herb for medicinal purposes should not be taken by pregnant women, as well as by people who:

• suffer from thrombophlebitis;
• are at risk of a heart attack;
• prone to increased blood clotting;
• experience high blood pressure.

Nettle should not be used to stop bleeding caused by polyps and various types of uterine tumors. Elderly people and those with a history of kidney disease should use nettle preparations with caution.

A herb whose medicinal properties have been proven a long time ago. However, if you are planning to use products based on it, do not forget to inform your doctor about this in order to avoid unwanted consequences.

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Stinging nettle is a perennial herb known for its healing properties. Externally, it is a tall stem with heart-shaped leaves. Nettle flowers are small, green in color, and they are collected in hanging inflorescences. The rhizome is creeping and branched.

A distinctive feature of nettle is the “stinging” hairs covering its leaves and stem. This is a kind of natural protection of the plant from herbivores.

Interesting! Why does nettle sting so much? The hairs on the plant contain a mixture of formic acid, choline and histamine. It is this liquid that causes skin reactions in the form of burning, itching, redness and local swelling at the points of contact.

Nettle grows in forest thickets, as well as clearings, where the penetration of sunlight remains accessible throughout spring and autumn. The plant is often found near private residential buildings in areas of soil with high humidity.

In Ancient Rus', nettles were never considered a weed and were not cut down from the yard. It was believed that it was able to protect the house from evil spirits; amulets and brooms were woven from dry nettle branches.

Nettle is widely used not only in medicine and cooking, it is also a raw material for the production of natural fabrics. In ancient times, when cotton was not yet so well known, threads were spun and linens were woven from dry nettle stems.

Chemical composition of nettle

Stinging nettle is a valuable source of vitamins and minerals so necessary for the human body. The table of useful substances of this plant can be presented as follows:

• Vitamins – A, B, C, K, group B;
• Macro- and microelements – calcium, potassium, iodine, phosphorus, sodium, iron, chromium, manganese, copper, molybdenum, sulfur, barium, boron, titanium, nickel;
• Glycoside, chlorophyll, flavonoids, tannins;
• Formic and gallic acids.

Nettle tea helps to avoid stress, invigorates, and improves vitality. It is recommended to use it every morning before a busy day of work to replenish energy reserves.

Harm from nettles

People with increased blood clotting should refrain from consuming and using nettle in any form. It can provoke the formation of blood clots, which will lead to dire consequences.

Pregnant women should also be extremely careful with stinging nettle. This plant can cause premature birth, as it increases the tone of the uterus.

Recipes for home medicine and cosmetology from nettles

Nettle infusion to strengthen hair

Finely chop fresh young shoots of nettle, pour 100 ml of boiling water and leave for 6 hours. After this, the infusion should be filtered and stored in an opaque glass container. After each shampooing, rub this product into the scalp while massaging. Does not require rinsing.

Nettle decoction from

Pour 5 tablespoons of finely chopped nettle leaves into 1 liter of cold water and bring to a boil over low heat. Strain the resulting broth and then wash your face with it every morning.

Nettle at

1 kg of nettle roots should be washed, peeled and ground in a blender. Then the resulting mass is poured with 50 ml of 40 degree alcohol and left in a dark place for 2 weeks, shaking the container periodically. The infusion should be taken every evening before bed, 1 tablespoon.

There are many varieties of nettles. This plant has long been known to herbalists and is used in herbal medicine. It is also used to make cosmetics and eaten. In reference books on medicinal plants, stinging nettle is most often found. Let's look at the benefits of this medicinal plant and how it can be used.

Description and photo

Stinging nettle is a perennial herb with a long stem (up to 2 meters under optimal conditions) and a powerful root system. Its leaves are dark green in color and arranged crosswise on long petioles opposite each other. It blooms with small greenish flowers from May until the onset of cold weather.

Chemical composition of nettle

The leaves of this weed plant contain a large number of useful microelements, which makes it an excellent multivitamin.

Among the vitamins it contains:

• vitamin A;
• vitamin C;
• B vitamins;
• vitamins of the PP group;
• niacin.

Nettle also contains organic compounds:

• potassium;
• calcium;
• magnesium;
• sodium;
• phosphorus;
• gland;
• iodine;
• copper;
• manganese;
• boron;
• titanium;
• nickel

Dark green leaves are leaders in chlorophyll content (up to 8%).
This plant contains:

• protein;
• carbohydrates;
• alimentary fiber;
• organic and phenolic acids;
• tannins;
• phytoncides;
• glycoside utricin;
• phytosterols;
• acetylcholine is an appetite suppressant.

Did you know? The peculiarity of this plant is that it is all covered with thin, burning hairs, which is why it received many other names - “burning grass”, “zhigalka”, “fire-grass” and others. This is due to the fact that upon contact with the human body, these hairs break, and they instantly release formic acid, choline and histamine onto the skin, causing a burn.

Useful properties (seeds, roots, leaves, juice)

Almost all parts of this plant are used by humans:

Along with stinging nettle, you can prepare raw materials from stinging nettle, which has the same properties. It is distinguished by its smaller height (up to 60 cm) and smaller leaves.

Did you know? Blood circulation increases at the site of the nettle burn. This feature was used by the warriors of Ancient Rome to keep warm during hypothermia. Using a burning broom during bath procedures helps with radiculitis, swelling, and pinched nerves. Such a broom quickly becomes limp, so it is brought into the steam room only when it is time to use it.

For men

The substances contained in nettle are beneficial for the male body:

• improve blood circulation in the groin and normalize the functioning of the male genital organs;
• increase potency and libido;
• improve sperm quality;
• increase the duration of sexual intercourse;
• charge the body with energy;
• help against baldness (men are more likely to face this problem);
• have a positive effect on the functioning of the nervous system;
• help cleanse the liver and the entire body of toxins, reduce the craving for smoking.

For women

The properties of this medicinal plant bring the following benefits to the weak half of humanity:

• due to their hemostatic properties, they help with heavy menstruation, and also help increase hemoglobin after blood loss;
• help recovery after childbirth;
• improve lactation, which is useful for nursing mothers;
• remove negative manifestations during menopause;
• used in cosmetology to treat hair loss and dandruff, and promote hair growth. Has a good effect on the skin.

For children

Nettle brings benefits that are quite valuable for the child’s body:

• supplies the child with the necessary vitamins and minerals;
• helps improve the functioning of the immune system, strengthens the children's body;
• helps with anemia;
• improves the condition of diathesis and allergies (due to its blood purifying properties).

Important! Whenever medicinal herbs are used for children, you should carefully monitor the reactions of the child's body. If there are signs of allergy, they should be discontinued. Only a doctor can prescribe the use of herbal remedies, since the use of preparations from this herb has contraindications.

Uses of nettle: medicinal properties

Herbalists have long known the medicinal properties of this plant. They use its hemostatic, diuretic and anti-inflammatory qualities, as well as the ability to increase hemoglobin and supply the body with vitamins.
Preparations based on nettle also have a strengthening, blood-purifying effect; the use of this herb, rich in chlorophyll and antioxidants, prevents cancer, improves metabolism, and is useful for congestion. Let's consider cases of its healing use.

For joints

• for osteochondrosis. Grind 1 kg of roots and leave for 12 days in 500 ml of vodka in a dark place, shaking well occasionally. Use 1 tbsp every day. spoon;
• for joint diseases. For collection, they take nettles, strawberry leaves, corn silks, birch leaves and agrimony grass in a ratio of 3:3:2:2:2. A teaspoon of crushed herbs is steamed with boiling water and allowed to brew for 30 minutes. Drink 1/3 glass three times a day.

Compresses made from freshly picked leaves effectively relieve joint pain and improve well-being. They should be crushed with a rolling pin, laid out on a burdock or cabbage leaf and placed on the sore spot. The top of such a compress should be secured with a bandage or piece of cloth.
It is also good to take baths: 100 g of roots and 250 g of leaves are poured with boiling water and boiled for half an hour, infused and poured into a bath of water. Such bathing lasts 30 minutes, once every two days, in a course of 10 doses. It is useful to alternate with sea water baths.

For joint diseases, lovers of bath procedures should use nettle brooms in the bath.

For bleeding

The hemostatic properties of nettle are also often used. To stop bleeding (uterine, pulmonary, renal, intestinal and hemorrhoidal), the following means are used:

• infusion. Take 15–20 g of dried leaves and steam with 200 ml of boiling water. Infuse and drink 1 tbsp. spoon 3-4 times a day;
• tincture. You can purchase a ready-made pharmacy tincture of nettle, or you can make it yourself. To do this, washed fresh leaves must be placed tightly in a jar and filled with alcohol, left for a week. Use 25–30 drops 30 minutes before meals.

Nettle promotes healing and stops bleeding from wounds. Its fresh leaf is washed, slightly crumpled and applied to the damaged area to stop the bleeding. Dry leaves are crushed to powder and sprinkled with this powder on the wound.

For weight loss

The leaves and tops of May nettle are useful for various diets, as this product contains few calories (24.8 kcal/100 g) and many useful microelements. They can be dried or frozen.

The following drinks will help improve metabolism, dull the feeling of hunger and lose excess weight:

• pour 1 heaped teaspoon of dried crushed leaves (you can take a handful of fresh ones) with one glass of boiling water and cook over low heat for 3 minutes. Add a teaspoon of lemon juice and take 30 minutes before meals;
• Steam 2 teaspoons of dried leaves and 1 teaspoon of fennel seeds with half a liter of boiling water and let it brew under the lid for 20 minutes. Drink 80 ml 3-4 times daily;
• 1 tbsp. Infuse a spoonful of mint and green tea, 2 teaspoons of nettle leaves in a thermos for 3-4 hours, after pouring boiling water over it. This infusion is drunk 2-3 times a day as tea, hot.

Such teas are an auxiliary remedy and are good to use together with a diet and feasible active exercise.

In gynecology

Gynecologists are well aware of the benefits of this medicinal plant and recommend it for women at different periods.

During pregnancy

Nettle supplies a pregnant woman and her child with many essential microelements. Doctors do not recommend taking it in the first trimester and in the last months of pregnancy, as this can lead to fetal loss due to uterine contractions. During the rest of pregnancy, it should be dosed and it is recommended to take it in mixtures with other acceptable herbs. It can help the expectant mother avoid anemia, varicose veins, remove toxins and improve metabolism.
However, if there are problems with bearing a fetus and contraindications, it should be abandoned. It is also necessary to monitor the body's reactions, since during pregnancy an allergy to foods that have not previously been observed may occur.

Important! If there is bleeding of the uterus or appendages, it is prohibited to drink drugs containing nettle, as its tonic properties can enhance it. You should not eat fresh leaves, which cause muscle spasms. Before taking any herbal remedies, you should consult a gynecologist.

Pregnant women have absolutely no prohibitions on the external use of this herb, for example, as a cosmetic for hair or skin.

After childbirth

In the postpartum period, taking nettle is no longer dangerous to the fetus, and, on the contrary, is very welcome. It helps restore the female body after the birth of a baby, as it stimulates uterine contractions, improves lactation, and restores blood loss.
Almost in the first days after birth, you can use the following infusion of nettles: 4 tbsp. spoons of leaves are poured into ½ liter of boiling water and left until completely cooled. Drink 100–150 ml three times a day.

During lactation

As we have already noted, nettle helps produce milk, and the above infusion will contribute to its flow. In case of poor lactation, this herb is good to use together with dill, fennel, and caraway seeds. Moreover, these components help with colic in infants. It is useful for a nursing mother to make soups from the leaves of a young plant.

Cosmetic properties

The multivitamin composition of nettle and the content of the green substance chlorophyll in its composition are widely used in cosmetology in the manufacture of shampoos, lotions, tonics, creams, gels and other care products.

For skin

Nettle is good in skin care products. This plant has a beneficial effect on the skin due to the presence of many beneficial substances and has the following properties:

• deodorizes and disinfects due to the presence of phytoncides in the composition;
• heals skin cells;
• improves tone;
• nourishes the skin and improves its metabolism.

To improve the condition of your facial skin, you can use the following folk recipes:

• infusion for oily face and acne - 6 tbsp. plants are poured with 0.5 liters of boiling water. Leave for 30 minutes. Wipe your face with the infusion in the evening before going to bed and make lotions from gauze;
• powdered nettle is used as an additive in masks for excess oily skin;
• for acne, pimples, skin inflammation - crush 50 leaves, take 1 yolk (if the white is very fatty) and 1 tbsp. l. milk. Grind everything, spread it over the face and leave for 20-30 minutes. Afterwards, wash off the mask with water;
• prepare a lotion for excess skin greasiness based on nettle juice. To do this, in 1 tbsp. l. juice is added to 100 g of vodka. Use this lotion to cleanse your face every day before bed and in the morning;
• tincture of nettle for acne, tightening pores. 15 g of nettle is poured into a dark glass container and filled with alcohol (vodka or cognac). It is necessary to insist for 3 days, shaking occasionally. Strain the finished tincture and use it, after diluting it in half with chamomile decoction or just water. Use morning and evening, and if you have acne - up to 4 times a day.

For hair

Nettle in cosmetics is most popular in hair care.
Our great-grandmothers knew why it was useful and how to make a decoction of nettles. The use of decoction and juice of the plant promotes:

• strengthening hair follicles;
• fights hair loss;
• stimulates hair growth;
• eliminates dandruff;
• removes excess fat;
• has excellent preventive properties against the appearance of gray hair;
• gives shine and a healthy look.

Important! There are some contraindications for blondes. They should remember that blond hair, when using juice or a decoction of good concentration, may acquire a slightly greenish tint.

Consider the following hair recipes:

• infusion that strengthens hair and adds shine - 1 tbsp. A spoonful of the plant is poured with 0.5 liters of boiling water. After infusion, it should be strained, for which you can use gauze or a strainer. Then rinse your hair with this infusion after regular washing with shampoo;
• against hair loss - take 3 tbsp. spoons of nettle and coltsfoot and infused in a liter of boiling water. Then the broth is strained through a sieve and the hair is rinsed after washing with shampoo. This infusion can be used by rubbing into the scalp;
• to strengthen and prevent the appearance of gray hair, squeeze the juice from a fresh young plant. To do this, you can use juicers, meat grinders, or simply mash with your hands. Then it is rubbed into the hair roots with massaging movements. This product perfectly helps against baldness, gray hair, gives them a healthy look and shine;
• for fat and dandruff - place 100 g of the plant in a saucepan and add 0.5 liters of boiling water, cook for 10 minutes over low heat. When the broth has cooled, filter through a sieve or cheesecloth. Then add 0.5 liters of vinegar (apple vinegar is best). Wash your hair with this liquid without using shampoo, every day for 10 days.

An excellent means of strengthening hair is nettle oil. Nettle tincture is good to rub into your hair before washing your hair or add to masks. The use of alcohol tincture is not recommended for dry hair. Nettle is primarily indicated for oily hair and hair loss.

How to prepare and what are the benefits of nettle

Dishes prepared from young leaves supply the human body with many vitamins and microelements. The antioxidants contained in it promote longevity and prevent many ailments.

Soup

In spring, nettle soup can be a real storehouse of vitamins. However, dishes from it should be excluded if there are problems associated with blood clotting.

To prepare a delicious soup, choose young plants with succulent foliage. Dried leaves are also good, but soup made from fresh leaves is much healthier and tastier.

To make this herb lose its pungency, it is enough to pour boiling water over it.

When treated with high temperatures, the plant loses a significant amount of vitamins and beneficial properties. Therefore, it should be boiled for no more than five minutes. The leaves of this plant are used as an additive in soup.
In order to prepare soup with water or broth with a volume of 2–2.5 liters, use the following products:

• medium potatoes - 3–5 pcs.;
• carrot - 1 pc.;
• boiled chicken eggs - 3–4 pcs;
• young nettle - 200 gr.;
• other greens to taste - green onions, dill, cilantro, parsley;
• spices and seasonings to taste;
• a little sour cream.

If the soup is prepared with broth, then boil the meat first. Soup with water will be more beneficial as it will help you lose excess weight. It should be borne in mind that frequent consumption of such soup can be harmful during pregnancy and certain diseases.

Cooking process:

1. Place a pan of water or broth on the fire.
2. At the same time, peel and cut vegetables into pieces.
3. Chopped potatoes and carrots are thrown into boiling water and kept on low heat for about 10–15 minutes.
4. The nettles are placed in a colander and washed under running tap water.
5. Then it is transferred to a bowl and doused with boiling water.
6. Nettle is chopped with a knife along with other well-washed herbs;
7. Add all the chopped herbs, salt, seasonings to boiling water with vegetables and boil for another 5 minutes.

Video: how to make nettle soup The soup is ready. It is served immediately after cooking, adding a chopped boiled egg to the plate, as well as a spoonful of sour cream.

Tea

Due to the beneficial properties of nettle, nettle tea has many medicinal properties. To find out why such a drink is useful, let’s look at its healing effects on the body.
This tea is prescribed for various diseases due to the following qualities:

• is a diuretic;
• normalizes metabolic processes;
• has indications for diseases of the liver and gall bladder;
• indicated for rheumatism and gout;
• strengthens blood vessels, cleanses the blood;
• with heavy periods;
• helps normalize the cycle;
• enhances milk production in breastfeeding women;
• with vitamin deficiency.

Teas can be brewed using either fresh or dried raw materials. It should be borne in mind that despite the undoubted medicinal properties, such a drink has contraindications and can be harmful.

The cooking process is simple:

1. Washed fresh nettle leaves or dried leaves are placed in a pan with water and covered with a lid.
2. After boiling, remove the pan from the heat and let it sit for half an hour.

It is recommended to take it on an empty stomach 15 minutes before meals 3 times during the day.

Video: the process of making nettle tea This plant is often used in various tea preparations. Such mixtures of different herbs can be bought in stores or prepared yourself. Nettle harmonizes very well with rose hips. You can prepare this healing tea: 2 tbsp. Infuse a tablespoon of nettle and a handful of rose hips in boiling water in a 2-liter thermos for 2 hours.

This tea will provide the greatest benefits during cold periods, but you should consult your doctor to prevent harm to your body.

Salad

In the spring, with vitamin deficiency, a salad made from the leaves of young nettle, which appears in May, will help replenish the lack of vitamins.
Ingredients:

• nettle leaves - 200 g;
• eggs - 2 pcs.;
• green onions - 100 g;
• sorrel - 50 g;
• salt to taste;
• mayonnaise for dressing - 100 g.

Cooking process:

1. Boil the eggs and cool them in cool water.
2. Finely chop the whites and yolks.
3. Pour boiling water over the leaves and then finely chop them.
4. We also chop the sorrel and onion finely.
5. Combine all ingredients, salt and season with mayonnaise.

Video: the process of preparing nettle salad To make the salad more juicy, it is recommended to mash the nettle leaves after treatment with boiling water so that they release more juice.

The following ingredients can be added to this salad to suit your taste: boiled meat, walnuts, garlic, radishes, cucumbers, cabbage, cheese, lettuce, cilantro, dill, etc.

You can season it not only with mayonnaise, but also with sour cream, low-fat yogurt without additives, yogurt, vegetable oil (olive, sunflower, corn, etc.), vinegar (preferably apple) or lemon juice.

Is it possible to smoke nettle?

This herb can be used as a smoking mixture. Many people try to use this plant to quit smoking tobacco, which is harmful to the human body.

Usually, for this purpose, this herb is chosen not in its pure form, but in mixtures with it. For this purpose, you can use the following recipe: two parts of ordinary tea and one part each of nettle, rue, mint leaves, valerian, chicory.
Smoking this plant is not addictive. Smokers note that after smoking this plant, breathing becomes easier. Therefore, such smoking is used to ease breathing in asthma.

Harm and contraindications

Nettle is a useful natural remedy with healing properties, but you must be careful when taking it. There are certain contraindications for the use and use of this medicinal plant:

• for hypertension (high blood pressure), vascular atherosclerosis. The plant promotes blood clotting and thickens it;
• varicose veins and thrombophlebitis;
• for some kidney diseases;
• pregnancy, as it promotes contraction of the muscles of the uterus;
• in the presence of any type of tumor formation.

Important! When using nettle for medicinal purposes, you should definitely consult a doctor about the method, quantity and appropriateness of its use.

Nettle is a weed that grows everywhere in our area and has many beneficial properties. It is an excellent multivitamin, diuretic and hemostatic agent, helps with various ailments, and is very useful after childbirth. It can be used for cosmetic and household purposes.
The plant also has contraindications, so it should be used with caution by pregnant women, and in some cases it is prohibited for them. However, there are no restrictions for external use.

Stinging nettle can be found on river banks, wastelands, and roadsides. Thickets of this stinging plant, sometimes reaching two meters in height, are a common sight in areas with a temperate climate.

Nettle is a perennial plant; its stems are tall, tetrahedral, and its leaves are ovate-lanceolate.

It blooms from June to September with greenish flowers, united in inflorescences.

Although the plant is considered a weed, due to its unique chemical composition it has been used in folk medicine for a long time.

All the wealth is in the leaves; they contain not only vitamins K, C, E, B, carotene, but also tannins, organic acids, salts, and chlorophyll. The list could take a long time.

A clear indication of the benefits is that nettle contains almost twice as much vitamin C as lemon and black currant, and is ahead of carrots in terms of carotene.

By eating a salad seasoned with nettle leaves, you can provide yourself with vitamins for a day.

In the old days in Rus', nettle leaves were added to bread, soup, porridge and thereby saved themselves from vitamin deficiency and scurvy.

Hippocrates and Dioscorides - scientists of Ancient Greece discovered the healing properties of the juice of fresh nettle leaves, described them in their treatises, and advised using the juice to treat wounds. Vitamin K provides hemostatic properties; it improves blood clotting and prevents inflammation.

Chlorophyll, which is part of the leaves, also accelerates wound healing. But its beneficial properties do not end there. It is beneficial for the respiratory system, improves the functioning of the heart and blood vessels, improves metabolism, and tones the intestines. Chlorophyll is used in the production of drugs for the treatment of radiation therapy.

Hair, skin and nails need vitamins that are found in nettles, namely E and B. They also accelerate the healing of burn wounds, slow down aging, relieve chronic fatigue, and help reduce the harmful effects of medications.

Nettle preparations can be used to treat diseases that are based on allergies. These include urticaria, hay fever, allergic conjunctivitis, and pruritic dermatitis. The effect in the treatment and prevention of these diseases is achieved due to its antihistamine effect, the ability to relieve inflammation, and relieve pain.

Nettle can be used to treat anemia. Iron, protein, vitamins help improve blood quality. More red blood cells are produced, and hemoglobin levels increase. Infusions and decoctions of nettle leaves help to get back on your feet faster after operations and restore skin after burns.

Nettle contains secretin, a hormone essential for the pancreas, which can stimulate the production of insulin. Taking drugs with nettle extract reduces sugar levels in diabetic patients. Nettle helps in treating the pancreas.

Nettle has good diuretic and choleretic properties; drugs are made on its basis, the purpose of which is to treat diseases of the main human organs, such as:

1. Liver.
2. Kidneys.
3. Gallbladder.
4. Bladder.

Men appreciated nettle, it is good for men's health. It is very useful for men to drink nettle tea to prevent prostatitis. The phytosterols included in the composition help normalize the functioning of the prostate gland, and together with vitamins improve potency.

May nettle: video

Like any medicinal plant, nettle has contraindications. Harm may occur if infusions and decoctions of nettle are used simultaneously with pharmaceutical medications.

The effect may be negative. First of all, this concerns hypertension. You should not take medicine to lower blood pressure or drink nettle infusion.

It is not advisable to take antidepressants and nettle medications at the same time, as it suppresses the central nervous system and enhances the effect of medications on it.

Consulting a doctor will help you understand whether nettle preparations can be taken together with other medications.

The hemostatic properties of the plant can harm patients diagnosed with:

• thrombophlebitis;
• varicose veins;
• atherosclerosis.

Taking nettle preparations increases blood clotting and increases the risk of blood clots.

Bleeding: cysts, polyps, tumors should not be treated with nettle preparations, they should not be used by women at any stage of pregnancy, it is fraught with uterine contractions and miscarriages.

At home for treatment you can use:

• decoction
• infusion

How is the juice used?

The juice helps with various diseases. If you suffer from stones in the gall bladder, bile ducts or bladder, drink a dessert spoon of freshly squeezed juice before each meal, but no more than 4 times a day.

If there is internal bleeding, drink 1 teaspoon of juice, no more than 5 times a day. To prevent hypovitaminosis, it is enough to take a teaspoon 3 times a day.

The juice can be consumed freshly squeezed or prepared for future use. Vodka taken in the same proportion as the juice is suitable as a preservative. Store this infusion in a tightly closed bottle, placing it in the refrigerator. If you drink fresh juice with a teaspoon or a dessert spoon, then you should drink the vodka tincture in double size.

Juicing is easy.

• Grind,
• roll the gauze several times
• put the pulp in it and squeeze out the juice.

You can prepare a decoction of the roots, seeds and leaves of nettle. A decoction prepared from the roots treats cholelithiasis, urolithiasis, prostate adenoma, gastritis, colitis, and cough.

For preparation:

chop dry roots, take 2 tbsp. l, pour a glass of water, boil the mixture for 10 minutes, placing it on low heat. Cool. Strain. Add boiled water, you should get at least a glass. Drink six tablespoons throughout the day.

A decoction of the seeds treats cough and insomnia. To prepare you will need:

• seeds 2 tbsp. l;
• water 1 tbsp.

Bring the mixture to a boil, cook for 8 minutes, leave for an hour. The finished broth is filtered and topped up with chilled boiled water. The broth should be no less than a glass. If you have a cough, drink a tablespoon 4 times a day; if you have insomnia, then before going to bed drink a quarter glass of the decoction.

Decoctions prepared from the leaves can be used externally for hair problems. You can wash your hair with it without using detergents at least three times a week for a month. Grind the dry leaves, take 100 grams, add water and 9% vinegar. Proportion 1:1. Boil for half an hour. Cool. Strain.

Infusions

A tincture prepared from the roots helps: with bleeding, diarrhea, irregular periods, prepare it for 10 days. You will need:

• vodka 0.5 liters;
• dried roots, chopped 2 tbsp. L.

Take 30 drops*3 times a day.

An infusion of dry leaves can treat gingivitis, stomatitis, and periodontal disease. Used for rinsing.

Easy to prepare:

3 tbsp. Pour l dried and crushed leaves into a glass of boiling water, close, and let it brew. You can rinse your mouth with warm infusion after 30 minutes, strain first.

Helps lose weight, cleanses the body of toxins, strengthens the walls of the blood vessels.

Both dried and fresh leaves of the plant are suitable for brewing tea.

First, they should be placed in a bowl and filled with plain water at room temperature. Cover with a lid and bring to a boil over low heat. Immediately after boiling, remove the broth from the heat.

The tea should steep for 25-35 minutes. Drink nettle tea no more than 3 times a day, 20 minutes before meals.

Nettle is very useful for men. Helps increase the production of the male hormone testosterone, treats the prostate, helps with frequent emissions, urological inflammation and male infertility.

Seeds 1 tsp infused in 1 tbsp will increase potency. boiled water. Leave for half an hour. Drink a glass twice.

A very effective tincture prepared from 0.5 liters of dry red wine and 5 teaspoons of dry stinging nettle seeds. Boil the mixture for at least five minutes, then leave and strain. Drink a tablespoon before each meal. Daily norm 3 tbsp. l.

Nettle juice will help with heavy periods. It can be prepared only from fresh leaves that are picked when the nettle blooms profusely. When your period arrives, dilute 1 teaspoon of juice in a quarter of a glass of water and drink before each meal.

A decoction of dried nettle also helps normalize menstruation; you can dry it yourself, or it’s easier to buy it at the pharmacy.

For a glass of boiling water 1 tbsp. l, boil for several minutes. Leave for two hours, strain. The norm is 3 times * 0.5 tbsp before meals.

Taking the decoction significantly reduces the amount of discharge. There is also a pharmaceutical preparation containing nettle, it is produced in the form of tablets - Secrets of Longevity.

You can force menstruation if it does not occur on the desired day. Pour 1 tbsp. l leaves 1 tbsp boiling water, leave for an hour, drink in one go. Your period should come the next day.

Nettle has a stimulating effect on hair roots, promotes their growth, and increases thickness. A rinse made from nettle makes hair stronger and more beautiful.

You will need:

fresh leaves 10 tbsp. l, 2 l of boiling water, can be used after an hour. First wash your hair with shampoo and then rinse with infusion.

This product will not only add beauty to your hair, but also reduce hair loss.