Nettle

Latin Name: Urtica diotica
Herb Class/Action: Leaf – Nutritive, Alterative | Seed: Kidney Tonic | Root: Healthy Inflammatory Response Support
Parts Used: The whole plant: leaves, seeds, roots, stalks
Flavors: Salty, earthen, slightly bitter
Energetics: Drying and mildly warming
Traditional Benefits: Blood building, nutritive support, allergy support, respiratory support, adrenal and kidney support, nerve support, foundational support

Nettle, often known for its sting, is nature’s reminder of the importance of setting healthy boundaries. With its prickly exterior, it teaches us to approach with care, yet beneath its sharp defense lies a herb that supports our foundation on the most fundamental level, giving us the strength to care for ourselves first.

This hardy perennial, native to Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America, offers a wide array of benefits through its entire plant—leaves, roots, seeds, and stalks. Despite its prickly defenses, nettle has long been used in traditional medicine, with every part of the plant serving a distinct purpose.

Nettle thrives in wet, fertile environments and can be found growing wild throughout much of the world, from fields to meadows. Known for its exceptional nutritional value, nettle is often regarded as one of the most nutritious plants, packed with essential vitamins and minerals such as chlorophyll, beta-carotenes, iron, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and even protein.

Consuming nettle can provide a wide range of health benefits, from seasonal wellness support to respiratory, adrenal, and kidney health. It is also recognized as a blood-building herb, nourishing the body’s systems and supporting overall vitality.

In addition to its nutritional power, nettle’s roots are known for their ability to support a healthy inflammatory response, while its seeds promote kidney health, making it a comprehensive herb for foundational support.

As the famous herbalist Nicholas Culpeper once said, “Nettles may be found by feeling for them in the darkest night,” symbolizing its enduring presence and power even in the most challenging times.