Nettle is an annual herb that is distantly related to the rose. The herb has a long and varied history of use. For instance, it is one of the ingredients in the old English formula for Nine Herbs Charm, the 10th century answer to venomous snakebite.
It has also been a food crop for centuries, and is still consumed as a steamed or puréed vegetable. Powdered dried nettle leaf adds a spinach-like flavor to foods, such as stews, soups, and egg, cheese and rice dishes.
| cosmetic | Use in all kinds of cosmetics, from soaps to salves and lotions. |
| culinary | Sprinkle into soups, casseroles, smoothies and other foods. May also be encapsulated as a dietary supplement. |
| household | Make a strong infusion (no straining needed) to use as plant fertilizer. |
Nettle has a fresh, pleasant taste that goes well with sweet and mild herbs, like mint and chamomile.
The herb is also a nutritional ally for people. Nettle is abundant in fiber, protein, calcium, iron, magnesium and vitamins A and K. The herb also contains soy isoflavones that, like the prescription medication finasteride, inhibit 5 alpha-reductase type 2, an enzyme that contributes to male pattern balding.
