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Nettle tea is by far one of my favorite herbal medicines out there and the variety of benefits it can provide is truly remarkable. Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) has been utilized for thousands of years, not only for its medicinal benefits, but also for it’s strong fibers that make up the stems and can be used for various types of textiles. This wonderful plant can be found growing all over the world and here in the Pacific Northwest, you’ll commonly find stinging nettles growing amongst other ground cover plants and shrubs along forest floors. Once you know what it looks like, it’s easy to spot and as a member of the mint family, it can spread into some pretty dense thickets under the right conditions. Luckily, stinging nettle isn’t too difficult to cultivate and can easily be added to your home medicine garden for your own personal patch to harvest from year after year. Although this plant can inflict some very uncomfortable stinging upon contact with the skin (hence the name), it’s nothing to be afraid of and with a little protective gear you can easily defend yourself against those stinging hairs. Besides, there’s tons of people out there that deliberately sting themselves because they swear by the anti-inflammatory benefits that result from the stinging rash this plant induces. However, I am definitely not that brave, so I can neither confirm nor deny this claim!
How to grow stinging nettle:
- Plant seeds in fertile, rich soil. Stinging nettles favor semi-shaded, moist environments.
- Make sure to plant them in an area that you or your pets won’t accidentally come into contact with them.
- Be aware that stinging nettles belong to the mint family, so they spread by runners and can easily take over. You may want to keep them contained in their own pot or garden bed, or just do your best to manage their growth.
What does a nettle sting feel like?
The nettle sting comes from tiny, hollow, needle-like hairs on the stems and undersides of leaves that contain formic acid (the same chemical that causes pain from bee stings), histamine and other irritants. When they come into contact with your skin, these tiny hairs break off and inject the stinging compounds into your skin, causing a nasty, stinging rash. I won’t sugar coat it. It’s VERY unpleasant. It’s a similar feeling to having a bunch of tiny shards of glass stuck in your skin, which creates a burning sensation that hurts more when touched and can last anywhere from several hours, up to a few days. (I’ve only experienced a nettle sting on one occasion, and it lasted only a few hours.) What’s wild is that many people, now and throughout history, purposely subject themselves to nettle stings either all over their body, or wherever they may be experiencing arthritic pain. This process, known as urtication, has been practiced since ancient Roman times (and likely even before) and is thought to improve circulation and relieve pain, amongst other potential benefits. Now I don’t know about you, but I’d have to be in some serious pain to voluntarily inject tiny, stinging needles all over my body and endure the consequences for hours to come. Much respect for those that are brave enough to put themselves through that level of discomfort!
Natural remedies for nettle sting:
- Baking Soda: Since it’s alkaline, it neutralizes the acidic chemicals from the stinging hairs and can help soothe and relieve pain. Mix a little baking soda with a small amount of water to make a paste and rub it on the affected area.
- Dock leaves: I can personally vouch for this one, as this was the remedy I used when I got stung and it definitely reduced the pain almost immediately. Mash the dock leaves into a poultice and apply to the affected area. Dock leaves are thought to have a natural antihistamine effect and also the sap produced from the leaves is known to have a cooling effect, which soothes the stinging sensation.
- Plantain leaves: Just like dock, plantain leaves can be crushed or chewed to release the juices and then rubbed on a nettle rash to soothe the sting. The antimicrobial, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties of plantains counteract the effects of the stinging hairs.
- Aloe vera: The cooling properties of aloe vera can help soothe the burning sensation of the sting.
- Oatmeal poultice or bath: The anti-inflammatory and soothing effects of oatmeal can help alleviate the pain from a nettle sting. Grind oats into a powder and add water to make a paste and apply to the affected area. If the rash is widespread, add ground oats (about a cup) to a lukewarm bath and soak for 15-20 minutes.
Medicinal benefits of stinging nettle:
- Rich source of vitamins and minerals, particularly iron and calcium.
- Strong anti-histamine properties, making it an excellent remedy for allergies and hay fever.
- Supports liver health.
- Supports reproductive health, fertility, and menopausal issues.
- Helps prevent and treat prostate issues in men.
- Boosts stamina and energy.
- Helps soothe growing pains and achy joints due to high calcium content.
When to harvest leaves:
Early spring into early summer is the best time to harvest stinging nettle leaves. This is when the leaves are most tender and flavorful. After the plant flowers, they start to become more bitter. Remember to only harvest up to 2/3 of the plant to allow it to continue growing!
Below is a step-by-step guide to harvesting and making nettle tea, with a full recipe summary and measurements at the bottom of the page.
Step 1: Harvest
Put on a good, thick pair of gardening gloves and harvest stinging nettle plants by cutting the stalks just above the lowest set of leaves, just as you would with mint or basil. Be careful to not let your skin come into contact with any of those stinging hairs!
Side note: All parts of stinging nettle plants are safe to use, including seeds and roots. However, we will only be using the leaves to make this tea.
Step 2: Clean the leaves
Keeping your gloves on, separate the leaves from the stem and rinse them under cool water to clean them up and remove any dirt or debris.
Step 3: Dry the leaves
Arrange the leaves in a single layer on your dehydrator trays. Dehydrate at 95°F for 8-12 hours, or until they are completely dry and crispy. You can also lay them out to air dry for a few days.
Step 4: Brew tea
Once they’re completely dry and crispy, they can no longer sting you. The hairs (trichomes) are too brittle to penetrate your skin, so it’s safe to consume and handle without gloves. Add 2-3 tsp crushed, dry leaves per 8 oz. of hot water and steep for about 10 minutes. Optionally, add your choice of sweetener and enjoy!
Don’t own a dehydrator?
A food dehydrator is an incredibly useful tool to have in the kitchen and significantly speeds up the drying process for foods. I highly recommend investing in one if you’re able to do so! I use mine weekly, if not daily, and have been able to dry and preserve so many foods and herbs to keep my shelves stocked. Here’s a link to the one I have been using for years: Cosori Dehydrator
I hope this leaves you feeling confident and prepared to harvest your own stinging nettle and turn it into a delicious, healing tea. Working with defensive plants can be pretty intimidating at first, but after you do it once, the hesitation is gone and you’ll never look back. Nettle is such a fantastic medicinal herb that definitely deserves a spot in your home apothecary or tea collection. If you follow these instructions to make your own nettle leaf tea, please let me know in the comments down below how it turns out! I always love to hear your feedback.
Sources:
Gladstar, R. (2012). Rosemary Gladstar’s Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide: 33 Healing Herbs to Know, Grow, and Use. Storey Publishing, LLC.
How to Make Nettle Leaf Tea
Ingredients
- stinging nettle leaves
Instructions
- Use thick gloves to harvest stinging nettle in spring or early summer, before they completely go to flower. Harvest by cutting the stalks just above the lowest set of leaves.
- Separate the leaves from the stem and thoroughly rinse them under cool water to remove any dirt or debris.
- Arrange leaves in a single layer on dehydrator trays. Dehydrate at 95°F for 8-12 hours, or until they are dry and crispy. (If you don't have a dehydrator, just leave them out to airdry for a few days until they're crispy).
- To make tea, add 2-3 tsp crushed leaves per 8 oz. hot water. Steep for 10 minutes and enjoy. Store remaining dry leaves in an airtight container.
