Nettle leaves medicinal properties and contraindications. Nettle leaves – beneficial properties and rules of use (Urtica dioica L.). Useful qualities of nettle for women

The serrated leaves of nettle are covered with stinging hairs. Their infusions and decoctions are used for diabetes, its vascular complications, to reduce glucose levels, improve blood composition, hair, for disorders (obesity), diseases of the liver and biliary tract, uterine bleeding, eczema, dermatitis, furunculosis, and as a diuretic. Nettle seeds are effective for stomach pain, kidney stones, and flower infusion is effective for skin diseases.

Composition and beneficial properties of nettle

Stinging nettle (U.dioica L.) and stinging nettle (U.urens L.) are used for medicinal purposes.

  • Grind the seeds and add to a small amount of warm boiled water.

Take 1 tbsp. emulsions three times a day.

Improving kidney function. Prepare nettle infusion:

  • Brew a glass of boiling water 1 tsp. leaves, simmer in a water bath for 15 minutes.

Take 1/3 cup half an hour before meals.

Treatment of heart diseases with nettles

Prevention. Heart function is improved by a decoction of nettles and honey. The tops of young plants that are cut before flowering begin are especially effective:

  • Brew 2 cups of boiling water 5 tsp. dried crushed leaves, simmer over low heat for 5 minutes, let cool, strain.

Take half a glass 4 times a day with honey to taste. Treat for 1-2 months, then take a break.

Stroke:

  • Brew a glass of boiling water 1 tbsp. dried leaves, leave for an hour, strain.

Take 2 tbsp. an hour before meals.

The benefits of nettle for gastrointestinal diseases

Spasms and pain in the stomach, which are accompanied by vomiting. Use a decoction of stinging nettle roots:

  • Brew a glass of milk with 1 tsp. dried root, simmer over low heat for 5 minutes, strain.

Take a quarter glass hot, then every 2 hours – 2 tbsp. until the discomfort stops.

Improving liver function:

  • Brew 4 tablespoons of boiling water. nettle, simmer over low heat for 5 minutes, strain, add 1 tbsp. honey

Take half a glass 3-4 times a day.

Gastrointestinal diseases, gastric bleeding:

  • Brew a glass of boiling water in a thermos 1 tsp. dry leaves, leave for 2-3 hours.

Take 1 tbsp. an hour before meals.

Nettle decoction for hair

Dandruff.

  • Brew 0.5 liters of boiling water and 500 g of fresh crushed leaves, simmer in a water bath for 20 minutes, let cool, strain.

When warm, rub into roots and rinse hair after shampooing. The decoction is especially effective for gray hair and increased oiliness of hair.

  • Brew a glass of boiling water 1 tbsp. dried leaves in a thermos, leave for an hour, strain.

Rub into skin once a week for 2-3 months.

Strengthening hair, prevention of baldness.

  1. Grind fresh leaves and place in a clean half-liter glass jar.
  2. Pour vodka, leave for three weeks in a cool, dark place, strain.

Rub nettle tincture into balding areas.

  • Brew 1 tsp. dried leaves with a glass of boiling water, leave, strain.

Rub in after washing, do not dry hair, treat for a long time with weekly breaks.

Contraindications

Nettle is contraindicated due to the threat of miscarriage - nettle infusion increases uterine contractions, and also with increased blood clotting, thrombophlebitis, and the threat of a heart attack.

Treatment with nettle may cause stomach upset, diarrhea, irritation, sweating and skin rashes.

The plant can affect the action of diuretics, antiplatelet, anti-inflammatory drugs, anticoagulants, as well as drugs prescribed for diabetes.

Nettle enhances the healing properties of drugs for high blood pressure.

Modified: 08/15/2019

In the vegetable garden, garden, meadows, forests - wherever stinging nettle grows. It would be difficult to imagine that such an inaccessible plant has a centuries-old history of treating human diseases.

It has long been consumed as food, juice was prepared from young stems and leaves, which has healing properties: after all, it contains all the beneficial components that the body needs in early spring.

Healing properties of nettle and contraindications for use

Useful properties are a characteristic feature of this plant. There are many legends about them. One of them tells that the Bavarian king introduced a mandatory procedure at court: every morning all members of his family were required to drink two glasses of juice.

One contained freshly squeezed nettle juice, the other contained dandelion juice. Such vitamin replenishment helped maintain immunity and reduced the risk of disease. This procedure is especially effective in early spring, when the exhausted body after winter suffered from a lack of vitamins.

Description of nettle

stinging nettle– a perennial plant, belongs to the nettle family. Grows to a height of 150 cm, has a long creeping root. The surface of the leaves with a serrated profile is covered with hairs.

They are the answer to the question of why nettles sting. Sticking into a person’s skin, fragile hairs break off and release burning juice into the resulting wound, which causes itching, pain or inflammation.

Stinging nettle differs from stinging nettle in size. The height of the plant rarely exceeds 60 cm. It is a monoecious, annual plant.

What is the chemical composition of nettle? It is rich in vitamins of groups B, C, K, and tannins. It contains chlorophyll, carotenoids, mineral salts, etc.

Useful properties of nettle

Rarely is any herbal preparation used in modern medicine as widely as medicines containing nettle. Her hemostatic properties have been known for a very long time. Applying crushed leaves to the wound effectively stops bleeding.

The healing properties of the plant are used in the treatment of pulmonary, uterine, and gastrointestinal bleeding. Atherosclerosis, peptic ulcer, anemia, cholecystitis are treated using infusions and decoctions of this plant.

The plant has qualities diuretic, antifever properties. Increases the number of red blood cells in the blood, increases the level of hemoglobin. Old wounds, fistulas, boils that have suppuration are treated by sprinkling with dry leaves or applying fresh ones.

The range of its applications includes: medicinal plants, includes the cure of urolithiasis, dropsy, uremia, rheumatism, tuberculosis.

Containing a huge amount of vitamins, its leaves and stems are included in various vitamin preparations. By brewing it with boiling water, the infusion is taken instead of regular tea.

Used in cosmetics as an effective means of strengthening hair and getting rid of dandruff. A decoction of infused nettle leaves is rubbed into the hair roots after washing your hair.

In cooking, nettle has been used since ancient times to prepare various salads and pies fillings, after first treating it with boiling water. You can cook green cabbage soup and soups.

The plant serves basis for the production of green dyes for the food and perfume industries. Coarse fabric, burlap, and paper are made from nettle fibers.

In homestead farming, nettle is used to feed birds and livestock. Possessing high nutritional value, the plant helps to increase egg production and increases milk yield.

In times when there were no refrigerators, it was used to preserve perishable foods. The phytoncides contained in its composition slow down the activity of bacteria, increasing the shelf life of products. Gutted fish or chicken, surrounded with nettles, are stored much longer.

Practical use of nettle for treatment

Toning and stimulating effects of nettle enhances metabolic processes in the body, improves the functioning of the stomach and cardiovascular system. Useful drugs based on it successfully treat hypertension, asthenia, neuroses, and epilepsy.

Using a tincture of a pungent plant, a person feels invigorated: his blood circulation improves, and the manifestations of atherosclerosis decrease. Preparing the tincture is very simple:

  • 20 gr. nettles are poured into a clean container;
  • add 500 ml of vodka;
  • the neck is tied with gauze;
  • after the first day the tincture is exposed to sunlight;
  • then moves to a cool place;
  • after 9 days, the liquid is filtered and sealed.

The infusion is taken half an hour before meals and one teaspoon at night.

Aqueous tinctures of nettle are popular for hemorrhoidal, pulmonary, and intestinal bleeding wounds.

To relieve pain and treat bleeding, the following recipe is suggested:

  • nettle leaves - 40 g, shepherd's purse - 15 g, knotweed - 10 g, yarrow inflorescences - 25 g;
  • Place a tablespoon of the mixture in 0.2 liters. boiling water;
  • stand for 30 minutes;
  • filter.

For uterine or other internal bleeding, stomach ulcers, you need to take 50 grams 3-4 times a day.

Freshly squeezed stinging nettle juice has a similar medicinal effect. After collecting the leaves and tops of the plants, they are squeezed in a juicer. If you use a meat grinder, then the resulting pulp must be squeezed out using gauze. The juice can be stored in the refrigerator for no more than 3 days.

You should consume no more than a teaspoon 3 times a day. Juice effective for urolithiasis and kidney diseases. For radiculitis, it is used as a rub. For external bleeding, gout, eczema, skin diseases, dermatitis, and wounds that do not heal for a long time, the juice is used topically, but it can be combined with oral administration.

The most common decoction recipe is:

  • 2 tbsp. spoons of nettle;
  • 400 ml water;
  • boil in a water bath for 15-20 minutes;
  • filter;
  • cool.

Take one tablespoon 3 times a day. If you have dry nettle leaves in the house, they can be brewed like regular tea.

Traditional herbalists recommend using mixture wild rosemary and nettle for severe bronchitis, as an expectorant. Asthma attacks become less frequent and go away easier. There are frequent cases of complete recovery of patients. The combination with meadowsweet, birch leaf, wild rosemary gives positive results in the treatment of colds and flu.

Healers for treatment thrombophlebitis It is recommended to take nettle baths. To do this, 5 kg of nettle leaves are poured with 5 liters of boiling water and infused for 5 hours.

If you have dried leaves, infuse 3 kg of leaves in ten liters of boiling water for an hour. After filtering and cooling to 36 degrees, you can take a bath for 30 minutes.

For all kinds of rashes, furunculosis, constipation and in cases associated with “blood pollution,” prepare a collection of dandelion leaves, blackthorn flowers and nettle leaves in equal proportions. For infusion two tablespoons of the mixture are mixed with 400 ml of boiling water and kept in the oven, avoiding boiling, for 2-3 hours. To cleanse the blood, this medicine is taken for fourteen days while on a strict diet. Food products must be completely free of meat and fish ingredients.

Taking nettle juice internally has a beneficial effect on healing all kinds of ulcers of internal organs. Burns are sprinkled with crushed leaf powder or gauze swabs soaked in juice are applied.

To treat eczema, any suitable pan is filled to the top with plants and poured boiling water. After reaching a tolerable temperature, dip your hands into the broth and take a medicinal bath until the contents are completely cooled.

In addition to stems and leaves, they are also used for treatment. root. Cooked with added sugar, it is a good remedy for old kidney stones. People predisposed to stone formation are advised to systematically drink tea infused with the roots. For diabetic patients, the use of tinctures from the roots, due to the presence of secretin in them, allows them to stimulate the production of their own insulin.

Contraindications to the use of nettle

Oddly enough, but with a lot of positive qualities, there are also contraindications in the use of burning medicine.

Before starting treatment, you need to consult your doctor, or even better, a herbalist. Patients with increased blood clotting can use nettle preparations only with an individually selected dose.

When treating cancer patients, preparations from nettle have a beneficial effect on the condition of the liver, which is under unfavorable conditions under the influence of chemotherapy. But this is up to a certain dose, beyond which you can activate the growth of cancer cells.

To ensure the safety of drug use, the dosage should be install attending doctor The generally accepted norm for taking the drug for cancer patients is no more than 1.5 tablespoons per 300 ml of water.

For pregnant women, the use of herbal preparations containing nettle is contraindicated.

Like any medicine, nettle should be used reasonably, as prescribed and under the supervision of doctors. Self-treatment is unacceptable and can give the exact opposite effect.


Nettle stings painfully, but it is a true natural healer. The unique content of medicinal substances gives it the opportunity to have a positive effect on human health when consumed, and its medicinal properties have been effectively used in folk therapy and cosmetology for a long time. Let's figure out what exactly the benefits of nettle are for the body, how to prepare it and properly use it for medicinal purposes.

The benefits of nettle for the human body

Among the many species, only two are suitable for food and medicinal purposes - dioecious and stinging. To better understand the benefits of nettle for human health, let’s get acquainted with the chemical composition of the plant. Nettle contains:

  • Vitamins. There is almost three times more ascorbic acid than in lemons and currants. Lots of vitamin K, necessary for blood clotting. There is more carotene than in sea buckthorn fruits and carrot roots. Also contains vitamins B and E.
  • Minerals – iron, magnesium, potassium, silicon, calcium, manganese, others.
  • Chlorophyll, phytoncides, flavonoids, glycosides, tannins.
  • Organic acids (malic, formic, oxalic, succinic).
  • Fatty oil (in seeds).

Such a rich composition determines a wide range of therapeutic and preventive properties:

  • General strengthening, tonic.
  • Hemostatic, wound healing, anti-inflammatory.
  • Antifever, antiseptic, expectorant, diuretic, choleretic, laxative.
  • Anticonvulsant, anti-stress.

The drugs are effective for anemia, stomach and duodenal ulcers, constipation, and treatment of genitourinary diseases. They help a person with sore throat, muscle pain, rheumatism, accelerate the healing of purulent wounds, ulcers, eliminate ringworms and acne, and calm the nerves.

Contraindications

The benefits of nettle for the body are undeniable. But, if you can use it without restrictions when caring for your facial skin and hair, then when you start taking it orally, you should consult your doctor. Do not forget also that preparations made from nettle are contraindicated:

  • People with increased blood clotting, risk of heart attack, high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, varicose veins, thrombophlebitis (high vitamin K content helps increase blood clotting).
  • Pregnant women in the first trimester (infusions and decoctions tone the smooth muscles of the uterus, which can lead to miscarriage).
  • For severe kidney diseases, bleeding due to tumors.
  • For diabetes mellitus, individual intolerance.

How to eat nettles

Today, few people eat nettle, but in vain - it is a valuable source of vitamins, proteins, and minerals. 100 g (calorie content 42 kcal) contains 2.7 g of protein, 7.5 g of carbohydrates, 0.1 g of fat, 6.9 g of dietary fiber.

Young stinging nettle

What kind of nettle can a person eat? It is useful to use leaves of young stinging nettle and stinging nettle for food. In spring you can collect whole young branches, in summer and autumn - the top young leaves.

What helps with nettle burns

When collecting nettles, be careful. The stems have many hairs containing a burning liquid for protection against enemies. When you touch the plant with open areas of the body, the stinging cells of the hair damage the skin, the burning substance penetrates the puncture, forming a nettle burn. It is relatively harmless, and for rheumatism, arthritis, atherosclerosis, and varicose veins it even brings benefits, improving blood flow. Knowing what helps with nettle burns, unpleasant sensations can be quickly eliminated:

  1. Even if itching is severe, do not scratch the burned area.
  2. Lightly clean the affected skin with a cloth dampened with cold water.
  3. Apply a mixture of baking soda and water, table vinegar, soap, juice or pulp to the burn site for a while. If you don’t have anything at hand, plants growing nearby will help. Rinse with water, remember until the juice appears, a few leaves of horse sorrel, plantain or horsetail, apply for a few minutes to the itchy area. A clay compress also helps.

Harvesting nettles for the winter for treatment

Leaves, stems, seeds, and roots are used for medicinal purposes. Harvesting of roots is carried out in early spring or autumn: the grass is dug up, the roots are cut off, washed well, and dried. Leaves and stems are collected in the summer during flowering in dry, sunny weather. Seeds are usually harvested in August, 2–3 weeks after flowering, the tops of the stems are torn off, and after drying they are threshed. For drying, the raw materials are laid out in a thin layer (3–4 cm) in a well-ventilated place without access to sunlight (attics, terraces). The grass is considered dried when the stems and central veins of the leaves break with a crunch. The shelf life of grass is 2 years, roots – up to 4 years.

How to use nettle for medicinal purposes

To get rid of ailments, the plant is consumed in the form of: juice; tea; infusion, decoction, powder and alcohol tinctures from leaves, roots and seeds; grass broom. All medications (unless otherwise indicated) are taken orally half an hour before meals three times a day.

Nettle juice - benefits

In summer, it is advisable to use fresh juice for medicinal purposes. The benefits of nettle for the body when consumed in juice will be maximum; it contains all the healing substances in concentrated form. Prepared from young healthy leaves and stems of the plant, passing through a meat grinder or mixer, then squeezing. Store no more than a day in the refrigerator.

For general strengthening of the body, improvement of blood composition, metabolism, for anemia and vitamin deficiency, to normalize severe painful menstruation, it is recommended to take 1 teaspoon of freshly squeezed juice. Also used as a hemostatic, diuretic, anti-inflammatory, expectorant in the treatment of:

  • Cervical erosions - tampons soaked in juice are inserted into the vagina before bed. Course 1 month.
  • Diseases of the mouth and throat - use for rinsing, diluted with boiled water.
  • Wounds, burns, bedsores, trophic ulcers - apply tampons to problem areas.

What does nettle decoction help with?

Traditional therapy uses a decoction most often. It is recommended to drink a multivitamin to restore immunity, give strength to the body, normalize heart function, eliminate stomach pain, and improve the condition of hair and skin. Used internally and externally. It is prepared from dry leaves and roots.

  • For bleeding, weakened blood clotting, edema, gout, rheumatism, take 1 s. l. Decoction of leaves 4 – 5 times a day. A tablespoon of raw material is brewed with 1 tbsp. boiling water, simmer over low heat for 10 minutes, after cooling, filter.
  • To improve the functioning of the heart muscle, drink half a glass of the decoction with honey for 1–2 months. 5 s. l. dry raw materials are brewed with half a liter of boiling water, boiled for 5 minutes, filtered after cooling to room temperature.
  • For cramps, stomach pain, and nausea, take a decoction of the roots in milk. 1 tsp. dry raw materials pour 1 tbsp. hot milk, boil for 5 minutes. Drink a quarter of the decoction hot, and drink the remaining medicine 2 s at a time. l. every 2 hours.
  • To wash long-term non-healing wounds, prepare a decoction as follows: 2 s. l. dry herbs are poured into 300 ml of water, brought to a boil, and after cooling, carefully filtered through a thick cloth.
  • A decoction is prepared against inflammatory dental diseases as follows: 15 g of nettle is brewed with 150 ml of boiled water, boiled for 15 minutes. Rinse your mouth every 4 hours with freshly prepared broth.
  • To treat rheumatism and osteochondrosis, take baths with a decoction of fresh herbs. 300 g of raw materials are poured with 3 liters of water, boiled for 2 minutes. Take a bath for 15 minutes.
  • A decoction of nettle leaves (50 g of dry herb is poured with half a liter of water, boiled for 10 minutes) is used to prepare rejuvenating and refreshing facial masks. . It will also be beneficial if you wipe your face with the broth several times a day - it will cleanse and make your skin beautiful.
  • Nettle helps against hair loss. Rinsing with a decoction after each wash helps strengthen, improve structure, enhance growth, and get rid of dandruff.

Fresh nettle tea

A drink made from fresh chopped herbs is made as follows: 1 tsp. pour a glass of boiling water, leave for 15 minutes, wrapping it well. Use:

  • As a tonic and general strengthening agent, drink 1 tbsp. with natural.
  • To increase lactation in nursing mothers, drink up to 0.5 liters per day, regardless of meals.

What does nettle infusion help with?

An infusion, like a decoction, is one of the most common ways to use the medicinal properties of a plant. The recipe is as follows: pour 2 s. l. dry leaves with half a liter of boiled water, leave for 2 hours, well wrapped or in a thermos. The infusion is used:

  • To strengthen the immune system, prevent acute viral diseases, improve kidney function - 1/3 cup.
  • Against bleeding - half a glass 2 times a day.
  • For diseases of the gastrointestinal tract – 1 s. l. 1 hour before meals. For gastritis, treatment for a week with an infusion of equal amounts of nettle, chamomile, plantain, and St. John's wort helps well. 4 s. l. collection, pour 1 liter of boiling water, leave for 2 hours, take up to 1.5 liters per day.
  • When recovering from a stroke, take 2 tablespoons an hour before meals.
  • To cleanse the blood – 3 s. l. morning and evening 1 month.
  • Against muscle pain, articular rheumatism – 2 s. l.
  • To increase male potency, an infusion of seeds is made. 1 tsp. brew 1 tbsp. boiling water, leave for 1 hour. It is recommended to take it for 10 days in a row. If a positive effect is not achieved, repeat the course after 10 days. For male problems, taking 1 s daily also helps. l. a mixture of fresh seeds with natural bee honey (1:1).

In addition, the infusion is used for washing and compresses in the treatment of wounds, burns, and ulcers.

Nettle tincture

To treat specific diseases, tincture is made in different ways:

  • To lubricate bruises, wounds, and rub sore joints, prepare a tincture from crushed leaves and young shoots. They are kept for 10 days in a dark glass container, filled with vodka (ratio 1:10), then filtered. It is recommended to drink this tincture for colds, stomach infections, 30 ml, and for older people, 1 tsp. before breakfast and before bedtime to prevent sclerosis.
  • For respiratory diseases and colds, make the following tincture: infuse a mixture of fresh roots and crushed garlic (equal amounts) in vodka (ratio 1:5) for 2 weeks. Take 1 teaspoon.
  • When treating the prostate, stimulating sexual desire, consume 1 s. l. tincture of nettle seeds in red grape wine. 50 g of seeds are poured into 0.5 liters of wine, left for a month, shaking periodically.

Nettle powder

Nettle powder is also used in folk treatment:

  • Powder from the leaves sifted through a sieve is sprinkled 2-3 times a day on long-term non-healing wounds, ulcers, frostbite, and burns.
  • Powder from dry roots is taken 1 tsp. for stones in the bladder, kidneys. Wash it down with rosehip decoction.

Nettle stem broom

Soaked brooms from the dry stems of the plant are used in the bath to relieve muscle and joint pain and rheumatism.

As you can see, the benefits of nettle for the body when taken internally and externally are very great. Now you know how to use it correctly for medicinal purposes and can significantly improve your health with the help of folk remedies from this medicinal plant.

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While tidying up our summer cottage, each of us at least once got burned on a hidden nettle bush. This weed plant multiplies quickly, turning into impenetrable, burning thickets. Do not rush to destroy the entire population, because nettle, the medicinal properties and contraindications of which we will consider in the article, can give a person good health and longevity.

The genus Urtica got its name from the Latin word “to burn”, so in Rus' it was nicknamed the burning or goad. The genus includes over 50 species that are common in temperate climates; some representatives are found in the Southern Hemisphere.

The underground part of the bush is represented by a creeping rhizome. Nettle practically does not reproduce by seeds; the annual growth from the rhizome is 35-40 cm. The bush has hollow, tetrahedral, erect stems. The leaf cover is opposite, the blades are of a rich green hue. The leaves have large teeth along the edge, an elongated ovate shape with a pointed tip.

The surface of the entire above-ground part of the bush is dotted with stinging hairs. They are an ampoule-shaped cell containing a mixture of histamine and formic acid. At the point of contact with the plant, rashes, burning and redness immediately appear.

This is interesting! Some representatives of the genus Urtica contain neurotoxins in their hairs, so the burn is very painful and takes a long time to heal. There are known cases of death of animals and humans who were burned on a nettle tree.

Flowering period from early summer to mid-autumn. Small flowers are divided into male and female; they are collected in small spikelets or panicles. Pollen is carried by the wind. The fruit is a small nut.

Since ancient times, ropes and fabric have been made from grass. The green mass is mowed to feed livestock and poultry, which increases milk yield and egg production, since the bush is rich in protein. Gardeners use the infusion as a powerful nitrogen-mineral fertilizer. Young vitamin-rich greens are used in cooking for preparing salads, seasoning green soups, pickling, and filling pies. But the burning weed has found its greatest use in folk medicine.

Types of nettles

Although the genus Urtica has about 50 species, only one is recognized as a pharmacopoeial species - stinging nettle. It differs from its burning relative in growth and size of foliage. This perennial can reach two meters in height. Typically, the leaves have a heart-shaped base, elongated up to 8-17 cm in length. The tip of the leaf is greatly elongated, with large teeth running along the edge. The stem and foliage are covered with stinging hairs. The flowers are dioecious, located in the axils of the leaves, collected in paniculate inflorescences. The nuts reach a length of 1-1.5 mm. Quickly forms impenetrable thickets.

Stinging nettle reaches a height of 20-35 cm, its leaves are dark green, oval in shape with an elongated tip. The length of the plate is 3-6 cm, the edges are serrated. The inflorescences are represented by short spikelets with small greenish flowers. It does not form powerful wrens; it grows in clearings.

On a note! The hot variety is the leader in terms of fat, protein and carbohydrate content.

Procurement of plant raw materials

From a pharmacological point of view, fresh plant raw materials have the greatest value, but you can stock them for future use. For these purposes, only healthy specimens growing in environmentally favorable areas are selected.

Leaf mass is prepared as a medicinal raw material. To do this, you need to cut or mow the bush and wait a few hours for the nutrients to flow into the leaf blades. Be sure to use gloves to protect your skin! The burning sensation will disappear during drying. The leaves are cut off and laid out in a layer of 3-5 cm on the fabric. Drying is carried out in a well-ventilated area without access to sunlight. You can dry raw materials in electric dryers at 40-50⁰C. Dried leaves are placed in linen bags and stored at room temperature for up to two years.

In folk medicine, plant juice and dried rhizomes are also used. The juice is squeezed out using gauze after grinding and briefly (10 minutes) heating the mass. The second method is to use a meat grinder or juicer. Shelf life: no more than three days in the refrigerator. Rhizomes should be dug up in the spring, when the shoots have just appeared. After thorough washing, they are crushed and dried in the manner described above, shelf life is 2 years.

Advice! You can please your body with vitamin soup even in winter. To do this, the leaves of the cauliflower, after thorough washing, are crushed and frozen.

Chemical composition and medicinal properties of the plant

The medicinal properties of the herb are closely related to its rich chemical composition. The leaf mass is considered a natural concentrate of vitamins. It is believed that just 20 fresh leaves will fill the daily need for vitamins and minerals. The difference in chemical composition between the dioecious and stinging varieties is not too great.

Plant protein, fats and amino acids are essential materials for cell construction. They are easier to digest, do not contain cholesterol, supply the body with the necessary energy, and participate in all metabolic processes. Plant carbohydrates saturate the body for a long time and help reduce blood glucose levels.

Let's consider what substances are included in the chemical composition of the goad, and what effect they have on the human body:

  1. Cellulose. Plant fibers are not broken down by enzymes in the stomach; their digestion is handled by the intestines. Along the entire length of the gastrointestinal tract, they act like a whisk, cleansing the body of harmful substances. Fiber stimulates the functioning of all parts of the intestines, normalizes microflora and digestion.
  2. Ascorbic acid. Stimulates your own immunity, has a positive effect on bone growth, and strengthens the walls of blood vessels. Vitamin C protects against oxidative processes and is a powerful antioxidant.
  3. Chlorophyll. A natural pigment used in the food industry as a dye. It acts on the body as a powerful stimulant, promotes cell division and the production of red blood cells, and wound healing. Increases muscle tone, activates receptors of the respiratory center.
  4. Phytoncides. They destroy pathogenic microflora, promote rapid healing of the wound surface, and prevent infection of wounds and burns.
  5. Vitamin K. Increases blood coagulation, participates in protein metabolism, and promotes calcium absorption. Ensures normal functioning of the heart and lungs, stops bleeding of various origins.
  6. Tannins. They have an astringent effect and normalize intestinal function. They perfectly disinfect, relieve inflammation, and help stop bleeding.
  7. Organic acids. They have a positive effect on digestion, activate enzymes, eliminate fermentation and flatulence, have choleretic properties, and maintain the acid-base balance of the body.
  8. Formic acid. In large concentrations, this substance causes severe burns, but in small doses it is beneficial. Relieves pain and inflammation, helps regenerate cartilage tissue, improves skin condition, stimulates digestion.
  9. Group B vitamins. Indispensable for the normal functioning of the nervous system, promote normal hematopoiesis, improve the functioning of the brain, heart, liver and kidneys, and endocrine glands. They participate in metabolism, promote the removal of toxins from cells, normalize hormonal levels, and improve sperm motility.
  10. Quercetin. Protects against free radicals, prevents cancer, relieves inflammation.
  11. Carotene. Natural dye, immunostimulant, stimulates cell growth, is an antioxidant. Positively affects the condition of hair and skin.

Important! Plant raw materials contain secretin, a hormone that regulates the production of insulin by the pancreas. The herb has long been used in the treatment of diabetes and normalization of blood sugar levels.

Nettle is rich in macro and microelements - Fe, K, Cu, Mn, B, P, J, Ca. Without them, the normal functioning of all body systems is impossible. In terms of the amount of iron, greens compete with popular medicines like Ferrum Lek. It contains 4 times more vitamin C than black currants and rosehips, and much more carotene than carrots and sea buckthorn berries.

Based on the chemical composition of the herb, it can be used to treat many diseases. Diabetes and bleeding, pathologies of the heart and blood vessels, liver, kidneys, and intestines cannot resist the healing power. Greens will help say goodbye to anemia and vitamin deficiency.

The plant will strengthen the immune system, help lose weight and gain muscle mass, normalize hormone levels, stabilize the menstrual cycle, and eliminate inflammation in various locations. Skin diseases, wounds, ulcers, burns, hair loss will be a thing of the past if you learn to use the valuable gift of nature.

Useful qualities of nettle for women

Throughout life, the female body undergoes serious changes associated with hormonal levels. Thanks to natural phytohormones and phytoncides, nettle leaves will help normalize the condition of the skin and hair, relieve inflammation from acne, and put the menstrual cycle in order.

Application in cosmetology

Shampoos and hair care products, lotions, tonics, and creams for problem skin have long been produced based on the herb. To get the maximum benefits from the plant, prepare homemade cosmetics. Enrich your favorite face mask by adding a little dry leaf powder. This will help get rid of oily shine and minor imperfections. The juice or fresh leaves will eliminate warts if applied to the surface several times a day. Daily rubbing of the face with a decoction of the herb will give the skin a velvety feel and restore a healthy glow.

Advice! Combine external use with decoctions, fresh juice or infusions. This will significantly increase the effectiveness of therapy.

Many women have forgotten about skin irritation, acne, and furunculosis. Turn the leaf mass into pulp, add fresh yolk. This mask is applied to the face for 20-30 minutes, after which it is washed with cool water. Without adding yolk, nettle pulp is applied under a bandage to difficult-to-heal wounds and burns.

Benefits for hair

Improvement of the scalp when using products from nettle leaves was noted in ancient times. They were used to treat skin diseases, dandruff, seborrhea, and eczema. Even now, the herb has not lost its popularity, because every woman dreams of healthy, shiny and strong hair. Phytohormones stimulate growth, and phytoncides, tannins and formic acid regulate acidity and fight fungus.

To achieve the desired effect, you should rinse your hair with herbal infusion after each wash. To stimulate hair growth, periodically rub fresh nettle juice into your scalp. Nettle oil, which can be purchased at pharmacies, will also help in the fight for healthy hair. It is applied to the roots, left for 30 minutes, then washed with shampoo.

By the way! For men, the plant will also help get rid of scalp problems and slow down the process of baldness.

Medicinal properties in gynecology

Thanks to vitamin K, natural hormones and chlorophyll, nettle infusions and decoctions help normalize the menstrual cycle. They will help reduce the intensity of bleeding, improve the level of sex hormones, increase hemoglobin levels, and relieve pain.

In gynecological practice, infusions and decoctions of burning tea are used, which must be taken in a course according to the regimen prescribed by the doctor. Often plant materials are mixed with other components - lungwort, horsetail, anise, yarrow.

Fresh juice is used to coagulate the surface of the cervix during erosion. It is applied to a tampon and inserted into the vagina overnight. The course of treatment is 1 month. Nettle tea is useful in the postpartum period, it enhances uterine contractions and stimulates milk production. Juice, which is diluted with water 2-3 times and drunk before meals, a tablespoon three times a day, is also suitable for these purposes.

Healing properties for men

The burning weed will bring many benefits to the male body:

  • will return male strength;
  • normalizes hormonal balance;
  • improves the condition of the scalp, stops baldness;
  • will restore the function of the prostate gland in case of prostatitis;
  • relieves inflammation in the pelvis;
  • will help in the fight against hemorrhoids;
  • helps build muscle mass, relieves pain after physical activity;
  • improves blood circulation, cleanses the blood of cholesterol plaques.

The anti-inflammatory properties of the spice, combined with the ability to improve blood composition, have a positive effect on men's health, potency, and the functioning of the cardiovascular and immune systems.

Contraindications

Regardless of the method of application, the use of plant raw materials is unacceptable in the presence of allergic reactions and individual intolerance. External use of the herb in the form of lotions, ointments, face and hair care products has no restrictions.

Ingestion of extracts and fresh plant materials should be limited to persons who have problems with blood clotting. Thrombophlebitis, atherosclerosis, hypertension, varicose veins are strict contraindications to taking herbal medicines. Remember that the course of treatment should not exceed 7-10 days; further tactics are agreed with the attending physician.

It is unacceptable to consume plant materials during pregnancy. Increased smooth muscle tone can cause miscarriage or premature labor. Kidney and heart failure are also contraindications.

Attention! Since burning can accelerate tissue regeneration and cell growth, it cannot be used in the presence of tumors of any location and nature (malignant, benign).

Traditional medicinal recipes with nettles

Traditional healers have found use for all parts of the burning plant, but most often the deciduous mass is used to make medicinal products. Let's look at several popular recipes for medicinal products that can overcome any disease.

Basic recipe for infusion, areas of application

To prepare the herbal infusion, fresh or dried plant materials are used. Standard ratios are 1-2 tablespoons of leaves per 200 ml of boiling water. Brew the leaves and leave until completely cool. Dosage 50 ml four times a day before meals.

This infusion is suitable for restoring the uterus after childbirth, treating anemia, diabetes, gout, and gastrointestinal diseases. It will saturate the body with vitamins, relieve inflammation, and stop bleeding. It is administered by enema 2 times a day, 40 ml.

For diseases of the musculoskeletal system

For diseases of the musculoskeletal system, nettle should be used in the form of an infusion, combining treatment with the application of rubs or applications:

  1. Take an infusion of a tablespoon of dried leaves with a glass of boiling water inside. After brewing, wrap the container with a towel and leave for 4 hours. After cooling completely, strain, drink a tablespoon four times a day before meals.
  2. To prepare an alcohol rub, use fresh leaves. Fill a liter jar with it and pour high-quality vodka up to the shoulders. Keep in a dark place for 14 days. Use for painful joints, don’t forget to wrap them up.
  3. Grind the leaf mass using a meat grinder, add 20 g of chopped horseradish root and 100 g of high-quality butter to the pulp. Store in the refrigerator with the container tightly closed. This ointment is applied at night.

On a note! Alcohol rubbing is effective for treating purulent wounds and fistula tracts.

For vitamin deficiency

An excellent remedy for vitamin deficiency is fresh nettle juice. You already know how to squeeze it out. Dosage for adults is a dessert spoon, for children – a teaspoon. The juice should be drunk on an empty stomach, after diluting it with clean water 1:3. This natural remedy will improve metabolism, cleanse the blood, eliminate fatigue, help destroy kidney stones, and cure anemia. Store for no more than three days in the refrigerator.

To strengthen the immune system

To strengthen the immune system I use two means:

  1. Add half as much honey to fresh herb juice (2:1). The drug is taken three times a day, 20 g.
  2. An alcoholic tincture of 200 g of fresh herbs and 0.7 liters of vodka is aged for 7-10 days. After straining, place it in the refrigerator and drink half a teaspoon before meals in the morning and evening.

This recipe is also effective for diabetes, anemia, intestinal and liver problems. Contraindications include allergies to bee products.

Tea for cleaning blood vessels

Herbal tea effectively eliminates cholesterol plaques, normalizes the functioning of the pancreas, and helps with gout and rheumatism. Tea has a pronounced choleretic, diuretic and lactogonic effect.

3-4 fresh leaves are enough for a cup of tea. They are poured with a glass of cold water and brought to a boil with low heat. After turning off the heat, steam the leaves for 30 minutes. There is no need to strain the tea; the effectiveness of the product will increase if you eat the leaves. Drink the drink in 2-3 doses.

Know!

You can enrich the bouquet of tea and add beneficial properties by mixing the raw materials with rose hips or sea buckthorn, black currant leaves, and raspberries. Brew two tablespoons of herbal mixture with two liters of water in a thermos and leave for 2 hours.

To normalize the menstrual cycle, eliminate bleeding

Heavy and painful menstruation is treated with an infusion of the plant, which can be flavored with buckthorn bark to relieve pain. The raw materials are taken in equal proportions, and a tablespoon of the mixture is brewed per glass. You need to take the infusion once a day, 200 ml. Nettle infusion without other components is drunk 3-5 times a day, a tablespoon.

To improve metabolism

  • The following remedy will help normalize metabolism in diabetes, anemia, and obesity:
  • burning flowers or foliage - 6 tablespoons;

boiling water - 3 cups.

Brew the raw materials, let stand for 15 minutes. After straining, drink 200 ml three times a day before meals. The amount indicated in the recipe is enough for 1 day.

For chronic lung diseases

Thanks to chlorophyll, phytoncides and tannins, the beetle copes well with strong. The rhizomes of the bush are used to make a decoction. They are washed, cut and boiled in sugar syrup for 20 minutes. Drink a tablespoon of sweet decoction 3-4 times a day.

On a note! The flowers from which the infusion is prepared will also help with dry cough. For flowers you need to take a teaspoon per 400 ml of boiling water, infusion time is 15 minutes, the dosage is the same.

For the treatment of prostatitis and enhancing potency

  1. The ancient Greeks and Romans considered nettle seeds to be a real aphrodisiac, and the mountaineers shared the same opinion. To restore male strength, use one of the following folk recipes:
  2. Prepare an infusion of rhizomes. For a liter of vodka, take 2 tablespoons of roots, leave in a dark place for 20 days. Once a day before meals, drink 20 drops of the product.
  3. Every day, eat a tablespoon of the product made from the pulp of one banana mixed with a tablespoon of grains.
  4. Grind the seeds in a coffee grinder. Add once daily to a raw country egg. The course of treatment is 5 days, the drug is consumed 30 minutes before breakfast.

The recipes listed will help get rid of other “male” problems - smoker’s cough, loss of strength, muscle pain, prostate adenoma, weakened libido. They will serve as the prevention of heart and vascular diseases, and the deposition of kidney stones.

People have been familiar with nettles since childhood; they are especially remembered by those who have been stung by them. Most often, the plant can be found on forest edges, in unturfed hollows formed by temporary watercourses, as well as on the banks of rivulets and streams. Nettle often grows on roadsides and in areas adjacent to the house, so people get rid of it, like other weeds. The burning plant is very common in Russia, Central Asia, Siberia, the Far East and the Caucasus. But nettle is also found in China, Canada, Japan, North America, Korea, Australia, Europe and Asia. The properties, contraindications for use and advantages of the plant will be discussed in detail in this article.

Description

The height of nettles ranges from 50 centimeters to 1.5 meters, the appearance differs slightly depending on the variety. If you notice a plant with dark green, jagged leaves and straight, tetrahedral-shaped stems, don't rush to pick it with your bare hands, or you may be seriously stung. On the territory of Russia, two species mainly grow - stinging nettle and stinging nettle. They also have contraindications for use, but before starting to talk about them, it is worth noting that the second has the most pronounced medicinal properties.

Benefits and harms

Like any drug or medicinal substance, it also has contraindications (they will be discussed a little later). The plant contains a large number of chemical microelements. For example, vitamin K contained in nettle improves blood clotting and has an anti-inflammatory effect. In addition, this substance is involved in the process of hematopoiesis and promotes the formation of bone tissue.

The burning plant contains flavonoids and tannins. Previously, it was even possible to save a person from death in case of severe frostbite. To do this, the affected areas of the body were simply wrapped in a blanket of nettles.

The plant also contains protein, and it is twice as much as in legumes. Thanks to cellulose polysaccharides, lignins and vitamins B, C, E, K, also included in nettle, there is a rapid removal of various toxins from the body.

Many of us know that the body needs beta-carotene to improve visual acuity. It turns out that it is found not only in carrots, but also in nettles.

To understand all the beneficial properties of the burning plant, you need to carefully familiarize yourself with its chemical composition. 100 g of nettle contains 0.5 g of fat, 5.4 g of carbohydrates, all of the above vitamins, 3.1 g of fiber and 3.7 g of protein. It also contains calcium, zinc, phosphorus, selenium, iron, chlorine and copper.

Nettle has an anti-inflammatory and healing effect, improves blood clotting and eliminates dark circles under the eyes. The plant is used for chronic diseases, atherosclerosis and tuberculosis. With weak immunity, nettle stimulates carbohydrate-protein metabolism in the body. Thanks to the medicinal properties of the burning plant, bleeding quickly stops. Nettle has not only a hemostatic effect, but also an antibacterial effect. The plant helps well in the fight against ulcers, wounds and ulcers.

Miracle remedy for women

What do you need to know about a plant like nettle? Contraindications and beneficial properties are the first thing you should pay attention to before starting treatment. For women, nettle helps cope with cramps and bloating during the premenstrual period. As mentioned earlier, the plant has a hemostatic effect, and this can be useful for heavy and prolonged menstruation.

Nettle helps women survive such a difficult period in life as menopause, because this herb contains active components that have a beneficial effect on the female body. Taking a burning plant during menopause smooths out unpleasant symptoms and improves health.

Nettle is also useful for nursing mothers, especially in cases where the baby is only breastfed. The plant stimulates milk production.

Problems of a sexual nature

Men who have problems in the intimate sphere are recommended to include in their diet salads that contain nettle leaves scalded with boiling water (the medicinal properties and contraindications of the plant are discussed in detail in this article) or crushed seeds. Grape wine would be a good addition to such dishes. No less useful is tea made from dried nettle leaves collected during the flowering period. It increases libido, prevents the onset of impotence and helps in the treatment of prostatitis.

How to harvest nettles?

The leaves of the plant are collected when they contain the maximum concentration of beneficial microelements, usually this period occurs in the beginning and middle of summer. Although many healers believe that May nettle brings the most benefits. The medicinal properties and contraindications for use of the plant collected at different times are identical. You need to dry nettles in a shaded place, spreading the leaves on clean paper or a cloth towel. Together with the stem, the grass is dried in such a way that the top is at the bottom and also in the shade. If nettle leaves are overdried, some of the beneficial properties will be lost. Drying can be considered complete when the petiole becomes brittle, but the leaves do not crumble into dust. To prevent raw materials from deteriorating, all damaged and darkened areas must be removed before storage. According to traditional healers, dried nettle leaves can be used for two years. Contraindications and medicinal properties of the plant are included in two unequal lists. True, the benefits of grass are still greater than the harm. Fresh nettle foliage can be chopped and frozen. You can also prepare the root, but this must be done before flowering.

Nettle infusion

During heat treatment, some components of the plant tend to be destroyed, so this use option is more beneficial. Preparing nettle tincture is the most effective way to extract beneficial properties. It can be used for external use, as well as to warm the extremities and relieve pain. Due to the alcohol content, this product has a long shelf life. To prepare the tincture using the classical method, you will need 200 g of young nettle (dry ones will need a little more) and 0.5 liters of vodka. The leaves of the plant must be thoroughly washed and cut. The prepared raw materials are poured with vodka and infused for 8 days. It is better to keep the mixture in the sun for the first day, and for the next day in a dark place at room temperature. It is better to infuse the drug in a bottle or transparent glass vessel with the neck tied with gauze, but store it in a dark container. Before using herbs, you need to make sure whether they are allowed for you. Nettle is no exception. Contraindications to its use primarily concern people with a high risk of thrombosis.

Nettle juice

For preparation, young shoots and fresh leaves are used, everything is passed through a juicer. Drinking freshly prepared nettle juice three times a day (one teaspoon per dose) strengthens the body, improves blood composition and metabolism, and also has a hemostatic, diuretic, antifever, anti-inflammatory and expectorant effect. You can use it to rinse the mouth and as a lotion on wounds, burns, bedsores and trophic ulcers, and also bury your nose. The shelf life of juice in the refrigerator is no more than a day. Nettle extract produced by pharmaceutical companies has a similar effect. Since it is a concentrated juice, it can be used only after dilution with water and no more than 30-40 drops at a time.

Nettle hair treatment

The substances contained in the plant bring great benefits to the scalp and hair follicles. Nettle decoctions and infusions will help normalize the condition of dry and oily hair. The main advantage of this treatment is that while cleansing and nourishing the hair, natural oils are not removed from the skin. Medicines prepared from nettle can be used both on individual areas of the head and along the entire length of the hair.

A decoction of a burning plant gives the hair silkiness, shine and strength. To prepare it you will need: 150 g of nettle leaves, a liter of boiling water and 1 tablespoon of honey. All components are mixed and infused for an hour, then filtered and divided into parts. Add 2 cups of the prepared broth to a bowl of warm water and wash your hair.

Nettle: contraindications for use

Enough has been said about the benefits of the plant, now it’s time to talk about when it is better to stop using it. As mentioned above, nettle helps improve blood clotting, so it should be used with extreme caution in cases of thrombophlebitis and varicose veins. In such situations, the risk of blood clots increases, which can lead to blockage of blood vessels and undesirable consequences. May nettle, contraindications for the use of which are known in folk medicine, is not recommended for people with kidney disease and hypertension. The use of the herb during pregnancy is strictly prohibited, since such treatment can lead to involuntary contractions of the uterus and premature birth. If you have uterine bleeding, you will also have to stop using this plant.

In order to bring maximum benefit to the body, and not harm, everyone should know what beneficial properties this or that plant has, in our case, nettle. Contraindications to its use should not be ignored, because your life will depend on the correctness of the chosen treatment.