Using Nettle Infusion & Nettle Tea
to Relieve Stress

Making a nettle infusion or tea adds absorbable stress reducing nutrients into your diet. It easily provides natural, health promoting nourishment.

Stinging nettle is a mild tasting common herb. It is often found growing in moist areas of fields and roadsides in the North America and Europe. If you don't specifically look for it you are likely to over look it.

The sting is not in the taste.
The "sting" comes from the formic acid in the almost invisible tiny projections on the stems and leaves. Yes… the fresh herb stings on contact. So...

If you are going to harvest or cook fresh nettle leaves, please wear gloves.

Once nettles are either dried or cooked the sting goes away.
This makes it much easier to enjoy their rich nutritional bounty.

Nettles Offer Us Outstanding Nutrition

Stinging nettles are a power house of gentle natural nutrition. That can make a big difference in our bodies. A well made stinging nettle infusion is very high in calcium, and magnesium which can help calm frazzled nerves. Although it is not a sedative, nettle infusion can also help with relaxation and deep sleep.

Nettles are a gentle source of iron. Nettles are wonderful for anyone with a tendency to anemia and anyone needing more absorbable iron in their diet.

A nourishing nettle infusion also contains beta carotene, chlorophyll, potassium, phosphorous, zinc, chromium, B vitamins and other trace minerals including selenium, silicon and manganese.

Benefits of Nettles are Many

Stinging nettle herb naturally promotes radiant health. Regular use of a strong brew of nettle tea can:

• help to nourish the kidneys and adrenals,
• reduce fatigue and exhaustion,
• promote natural energy,
• stabilize blood sugar,
• reduce allergies,
• promote the health of bones and joints,
• promote healthy hair, skin and nails,
• encourage normal immune function,
• clear sinus congestion,
• reduce chronic headaches and
• assist the body in responding to environmental stressors such as pollution and poor nutrition.
  
  

Nettles provide natural, vibrant, absorbable nutrition that really promotes health.

In the European herbal traditions stinging nettle was often used as a whole body tonic since it so effectively nourishes and supports many of our body's systems.

How to Make a Nettle Infusion or
Strong Nettle Tea

Equipment

1. 1 wide mouth quart Mason jar
2. One cup dried organic nettle leaves
3. 1 quart boiling water
4. One or 2 kitchen towels
5. One fine mesh kitchen strainer or cheese cloth

Procedure

1. Boil one quart of water
2. Place one cup dried nettle leaves in a clean one quart jar
3. Pour the recently boiling water over the leaves. When the jar is 2/3s full, stir the leaves thoroughly with a clean spoon. Then continue to fill the jar to the top.
4. Cover the jar.
5. Wrap one or two kitchen towels around and over the jar for insulation.
6. Allow the infusion to steep for 10 to 12 hours or overnight. (Be patient.)
7. Remove the towels from around the jar.
8. Pour the nettle infusion through a fine mesh kitchen strainer or cheese cloth to separate the liquid (now a rich green color) from the leaves.
(I take a spoon and press the leaves into the strainer to extract as much of the good nourishing liquid as possible.)

Then enjoy the mild tasting nettle infusion for a great nutritional boost.

This nettle infusion recipe makes about 3 cups. You can safely store 1/2 of it covered in the refrigerator for the next day if you prefer. You can generally drink one to two cups per day.

Nettles are not a drug or a quick fix. However with regular use over time the nutritional benefits really build.

More Ways to Use Nettles

An Alternate Nettle Tea Recipe

• Place 2-3 teaspoons of dried organic nettle leaf in a large cup or mug.
• Pour boiling water over the tea leaves.
• Cover the cup and allow the tea to steep for at least 10 to 15 minutes.
• Uncover, strain out the tea leaves and enjoy the nourishing warm tea.

This can be done one to three times a day if desired.

I prefer the recipe for the stinging nettle infusion because it seems to result in a much richer nutritional product. But the nettle tea recipe also works.

For times when I feel too busy for this simple procedure, I add a handful of dried nettle leaf to the pot when I am cooking vegetable soups and stews. Nettle soup feels wonderfully strengthening to me… especially in the winter time.

Other varied uses for this nettle tea recipe include using it as a hair rinse, and using it as plant fertilizer.

Precautions

This nutritious herb may interact with certain medications. If you are pregnant or lactating, if you have a medical condition or taking any medications please consult with your health care professional before using this herb.

You may wish to read about the many other plants that also help with Herbal Stress Relief, or...

For an overview of an overview of many natural stress relief tips and techniques visit Gentle Stress Relief home page,

Sources:

Scalzo, Richard and Cruz, Omar. Traditional Medicines from the Earth. 2002-2007. Brevard, North Carolina: Herbal Research Publications

Hoffmann, David. 1987, 1988, 1998. The Herbal Handbook A User’s Guide to Medical Herbalism. Rochester Vermont: Healing Arts Press

Weed, Susun S., 1989. Wise Woman Herbal Healing Wise. Woodstock New York: Ash Tree Publishing

Smith, Ed. 2007, 2006, 2003, 1999. Therapeutic Herb Manual A Guide to the Safe and Effective Use of Liquid Herbal Extracts. Williams Oregon: Ed Smith