Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) is one of my all-time favourite herbs due to its wonderful benefits
Besides the Nettle Soup, another recipe I love at this time of the year is the Sting Nettle Infusions, a highly nutritive tonic that nourishes your body with trace minerals and vitamin K as well as many antioxidants.
It also help support cardiovascular health, blood sugar regulation, and general wellness.
They’re also easy to make at home and have a pleasantly mild flavour.
A wonderful strong overnight method of herbal infusion is particularly suited to herbs rich in mineral content such as Nettle, Oatstraw, and Red Clover.
Not suitable for herbs high in essential oil content.
Method:
- In the evening before bed:
Place 15-30g dried Nettle herb into a 1l glass preserving jar that is heatproof.
Carefully pour on 1 litre of boiling water, stir and top up with water to the brim.
Close the lid (making sure to take out the elastic or it will be very difficult to open in the morning)
- In the morning:
Strain liquid through a fine sieve into a clean jug. Place nettles in compost, plants love this as a fertiliser!
Pour into a clean glass bottle or return to the rinsed preserving jar or other airtight containers.
Keeps in the fridge for 2-3 days.
Drink 1-2, 250ml cups daily either warming gently or cold or add to smoothies.
Wonderful spring cleanser and re-mineraliser if taken daily for 2-8 weeks.
Also makes a wonderful strengthening and shine inducing hair rinse last thing after washing for dark hair!
Important:
Make sure that you harvest tender young shoots of nettle as the more mature ones tend to be high in metals that irritate the kidneys.
Always gather in an area you know isn’t polluted or where animals roam freely.
If in doubt that you have identified the correct herb to use- please ALWAYS contact a qualified medical herbalist to clarify. This is crucial as many herbs have look a likes that are highly poisonous.
