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Loading...Nettles: Health Tonic and Organic Fertilizer
- Alisa Rutherford-Fortunati
- August 21, 2011
- 2:00 pm
- 63 comments
As a child I remember fearing the prickles of these wild and rampant weeds. Little did I know that the sting of this plant was protecting a delicious green vegetable, a healing herb and a wonderful vegan organic fertilizer.
Nettles (Urtica dioica), are high in many minerals, flavonoids, essential amino acids, proteins and vitamins, including chlorophyll, nitrogen, iron, vitamins A, B1, B5, C, D, E and K, iron, potassium, copper, zinc, magnesium, calcium and more. All of these beneficial plant-based compounds combine to create a natural tonic and immune builder for both your body and the garden.
Nettles have traditionally been used to treat allergies and respiratory related illness, reduce inflammation, cleanse the blood, relieve pain, stop hair loss, lower blood pressure, heal wounds, stimulate digestion, relieve anemia, balance blood sugar/hormone levels and the list goes on and on. They are a powerful plant that is great to have around the house, but don’t worry – I’m not suggesting planting this weed in your garden.
Weeds are simply plants that have adapted to self-seed and propagate rampantly, basically any plant that is difficult to control. So stinging nettles are best harvested wild, or planted in a large pot far, far, far away from your garden.
Thankfully, they are abundant in many parts of the world. So most likely, all you’ll have to do is go for a spring walk with your nettle-picking gear in hand, or pop down to the natural health food store and buy the dried leaves in tea bag or bulk form.
Wondering how you brew a cup of tea or a veganic fertilizer from this pesky powerhouse?
Read more: Environment, Green, Lawns & Gardens, Natural Remedies, Nature, organic home gardening, vegan organic fertilizer, veganic fertilizer
Alisa Rutherford-Fortunati
Gentle World is a vegan intentional community and non-profit organization, whose core purpose is to help build a more peaceful society, by educating the public about the reasons for being vegan, the benefits of vegan living, and how to go about making such a transition. For more information about vegan food and other aspects of a vegan lifestyle, visit the Gentle World website and subscribe to our monthly newsletter.
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may
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people are talking
Thanks for sharing.
Congrats! I knew you could do it.
thanks.
good info -- thanks ....
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63 comments
+ add your ownWyciąg z pokrzywy jest dobry na mszyce. wystarczy kilka dni moczenia pokrzyw i już można pryskać.
thanks
As for remedies for being "stung" by nettles, try crushing some plantain if you see some growing nearby and rub the crushed plantain on the itchy skin. Also it should be noted that one should never consume nettle when it has gone to seed as it is very bad for your liver. The main picture of nettle in the article is a plant that has gone to seed.
The painful childhood memories came back quickly.
Nettles are tremendously valuable!
thanks
Thank you so much for the information on nettles. There's an abundance of this weed in our farm and never realized its benefits.It'll be a great help in my efforts to remain purely "organic" in growing vegetables. Love, peace and joy!
I had a friend tell me about the benefits of nettle years ago. Just wish it wasn't so itchy. lol
Nettle is very helpful, because it can make a fresh salad, sweating in the bath, wash my hair. Next to me a lot of nettles growing.
Nettles very useful,possible do the fresh salads,steam in bath,helps at радикулитах,useful wash the head,beside мкня much nettles grows.
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