Nettles Leaf herbal infusion 101. Using Herbs Simply and Safely

[Pat Robinson]

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Two cups of nettle infusion has all the vitamins and minerals you need for a day. And, it's in their natural, effective, complex forms; not synthetic and broken up like in pills.

To make an infusion of nettle:

• place one ounce of dried herb in a quart jar
• fill to the top with hot (not boiling) water
• cap tightly and let steep for 4-8 hours
• strain and drink

 

"Stinging Nettles herbal infusions have calcium, magnesium. potassium, iron, chromium, selenium, trace minerals, Chlorophyll, and B vitamins. manganese, silica, iodine and sodium. They are also a great source of vitamins A, C and E, B complex vitamins and beta-carotene. I use Nettles regularly in my diet as a major source of easy to absorb vitamins and minerals."
http://www.toddcaldecott.com/index.php/herbs/learning-herbs/313-nettle

Plus many other health benefits: http://www.rain-tree.com/nettles.htm  Costs about $8 per month. :-)

Nettles Leaf herbal infusion 101.

Using Herbs Simply and Safely Learn how to understand how safe--or dangerous--any herb might be.

Also known as Urtica dioica, Stinging Nettle, Common Nettle, Gerrais, Isirgan, Kazink, Ortiga, Grande Ortie, Ortie, Urtiga, Chichicaste, and Brennessel

Herbal Anecdote: Nettle is an excellent source of many minerals and vitamins, giving it a reputation as one of the most nutrient-rich herbs available.

Traditional Uses: Allergies, cystitis, kidney and bladder stones, diuretic, astringent, psoriasis, acne.

Nettles has astringent, expectorant, galactagogue milk producing, tonic, anti-inflammatory, homeostatic, and diuretic properties.


"Bioflavonoids in Nettle leaves and roots are generally anti-inflammatory and anti-histamine. The magnesium in Nettle may help upper respiratory symptoms, if asthmatics are magnesium-deficient. Magnesium relieves bronchial muscle spasms and reduces the histamine response. The boron in Nettle may be helpful in treating osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), because it helps the bones retain calcium and influences the body's endocrine system since hormones play a crucial role in helping the body maintain healthy bones and joints." http://www.nutrovita.com/info/nettle-herb.html

"Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) builds energy, strengthens the adrenals, and is said to restore youthful flexibility to blood vessels. A cup of nettle infusion contains 500 milligrams of calcium plus generous amounts of  bone-building magnesium, potassium, silicon, boron, and zinc. It is also an excellent source of vitamins A, D, E, and K. For flexible bones, a healthy heart, thick hair, beautiful skin, and lots of energy, make friends with sister stinging nettle. It may make you feel so good you'll jump up and exercise." http://www.menopause-metamorphosis.com/An_Article-healthy.htm

"Green is the color of plant energy. The plants with the deepest green give you the most energy. A daily cup of nettle infusion increases energy without wiring your nerves. Nettle strengthens the adrenals, allowing you to tolerate more stress with less harm. And it nourishes your immune system, too.

To make it: Put one ounce of dried nettle leaf in a quart jar. Fill to the top with boiling water. Cap tightly and steep at least four hours (overnight is fine). Strain and drink. I add about 1 cup of dry nettles to 4
cups liquid.

Refrigerate the remainder and consume within 36 hours. (Leftovers may be used as a hair rinse or fertilizer for your house plants.)" http://www.susunweed.com/An_Article_Fatigue_AW3.htm


Constituents

"formic acid, histamine, serotonin, choline, minerals, chlorophyll, amino acids, lecithin, carotenoids, flavonoids, sterols, tannins and vitamins. Nettle's main plant chemicals include: acetophenone, acetylcholine, agglutinins, alkaloids, astragalin, butyric acid, caffeic acids, carbonic acid, chlorogenic acid, chlorophyll, choline, coumaric acid, folacin, formic acid, friedelins, histamine, kaempherols, koproporphyrin, lectins, lecithin, lignans, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, neoolivil, palmitic acid, pantothenic acid, quercetin, quinic acid, scopoletin, secoisolariciresinol, serotonin, sitosterols, stigmasterol, succinic acid, terpenes, violaxanthin, and xanthophylls" http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/learn/nettle_leaf.php



"Many of the benefits are due to the plant's very high levels of minerals, especially, calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, phosphorous, manganese, silica, iodine, silicon, sodium, and sulfur. They also provide chlorophyll and tannin, and they're a good source of vitamin C, beta-carotene, and B complex vitamins. Nettles also have high levels of easily absorbable amino acids. They're ten percent protein, more than any other vegetable."  http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/Plants.Folder/Nettle.html

Making a big jar of Nettles Infusion with Susan Weed (video): How to Use Stinging Nettle as a Natural Allergy Medicine
http://www.ehow.com/how_2070630_treat-allergies-stinging-nettle.html

Herbs for Pregnancy: http://www.herbshealing.com/Article_Pregnancy_Problems.htm


Everything I've read suggests drinking Nettles while nursing. "well-known herbs to help with milk flow include fennel, fenugreek, nettles and blessed thistle."
http://www.wisdomofhealing.com/2006/10/31/breastfeeding-made-easier/

Vitamins A, C, D and K, calcium, potassium, phosphorous, iron and sulphur are particularly abundant in nettles.


From Nutritional Herbology by Mark Pedersen
Per 100g dry weight:

Calcium - 2900mg
Magnesium - 860mg
Potassium - 1750mg
Selenium - .22mg
Zinc - .47mg

Thiamine - .54mg
Riboflavin (B2) - .43mg



They taste very GREEN!



I toss the strained leaves into my bone broth. It is delicious and nutritious!!

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[Pat Robinson]

I eat dark chocolate most days. :-)  And I drink my nettle infusions most days.

What type of issues have you experienced? 

Pat

[Sherry England]

Pat, I have no issue with dark chocolate but I have systemic reactions when I have the chocolate and the nettles infusion. I have leaky gut, candida, etc. My reactions to other things have gotten somewhat better but not this combo. (Just depends if I have a flare up too.Reaction symptoms include the norm of dry mouth, circulation (cold), headache, Similar to a flight or fight but not so much heart racing. Immune system goes haywire. I do have major adrenal issues not so much thyroid. I will give up the dark chocolate if I have to.
Sherry 

[Pat Robinson]

Interesting. I've been reading more and more about Phase I and Phase II detoxification and basically, the caffeine alongside the vitamins may speed up the detoxification in Phase I and if the Phase II detoxification is slow, we get more reactions.

"The toxins transformed into activated intermediates by phase I are substantially more reactive than the phase I toxins were. Unless quickly removed from the body by phase II detoxification mechanisms, they can cause widespread problems, especially carcinogenesis.

Therefore, the rate at which phase I produces activated intermediates must be balanced by the rate at which phase II finishes their processing. People with a very active phase I detoxification system coupled with slow or inactive phase II enzymes are termed pathological detoxifiers. These people suffer unusually severe toxic reactions to environmental poisons."

http://tuberose.com/Liver_Detoxification.html

I am sensitive to caffeine, but not in chocolate. But, I don't get any reaction from the combo of nettles and chocolate.

I'm curious if you have/had mercury (silver amalgam) fillings, if you eat foods which boost glutathione and if you supplement magnesium?

Pat

[robin]

what about nettle capsules? are they as good as the nettle tea?

[Jennifer Redwine]

Julie, I tend to get low blood pressure, and find that if I have licorice tea it helps balance out the blood pressure-lowering effect of nettles. I use throat coat tea, but you can google licorice root tea and find a single source, I'm sure. It can lead to high blood pressure if you don't have low blood pressure, though.

[Stevie Kilby]

I naturally have low blood pressure and I read it lowers blood pressure....should I stay away from it for that reason?

[Jennifer Redwine]

I seem to get a migraine headache every time I have nettles infusions. I have tried it 3 or 4 times, and every single time I end up with a migraine. I do get fairly frequent migraines, but it seemed more than a coincidence. Is this common?

[Pat Robinson]

How much are you drinking? Nettles have some diuretic effect too, so stay hydrated. Seems unusual to me! But, listen to your body.

Pat

[Sharlene Bjerke]

Pat,

I am investigating raising my son's magnesium levels to get his seizures cured and off his meds.

Of course, along with mag, comes B6, and although the goal is alot of magnesium to get it into the cells, the balance of viatmins and minerals and everything else, to me implies food grade supplements.  So how would nettles work do you think?  I see Calcium is mentioned prior to magnesium.  Am I thinking right that I need something of a natural supplement that has more mag than calcium?  Or being it is natural, in food, will the cells take what they need?

[Sharlene Bjerke]

headache - detoxing from the brain....or need of more magnesium?