Spring is a wonderful time. In some countries people anxiously wait for the snow to melt so they can go out looking for fresh leaves in the woods. Wild garlic, dandelion, stinging nettle and other precious leaves will be picked up and made into delicious salads, omelets and soups or turned into fresh delicious smoothies. One of this much appreciated plants is the stinging nettle. As soon as the sun is up and the mud is almost dry, friends and families will go out together to pick up the new, young, juicy leaves of the stinging nettle.
People believe that the stinging nettle will purify their blood after the long winter and prepare their bodies for the summer to come. The fresh leaves are rich in minerals such as iron and this is especially important for teenagers or for those suffering from some form of anemia.
Stinging nettle speeds up the metabolism, stimulates the internal secretions of the stomach, gallbladder and the pancreas and helps with digestion. It can also cure diarrhea, dysentery and other inflammatory diseases of the digestive tract.
In early summer the plant becomes too bitter and stingy so it can no longer be consumed fresh. People will cut the tall, dark green leaves and stalks and place them in an attic to dry and then it will be made into infusions, teas or decocts also very useful as medicinal remedies.
The dried stinging nettle leaves can be bought from specialized stores and used for different purposes at home. The tea can be used to eliminate dandruff and can make the hair look shiny and nice.
- Log in to post comments