This one takes me back to my childhood when my grandma Weronika was collecting stinging nettles for her potions, which she used in teas or for hair. She always said that the best, most nutritious leaves are collected in May, why? Because they are the freshest, juiciest just after the winter.
Stinging nettles products have always been popular in Poland. You get all sorts: shampoos, creams, toothpaste and teas. However these are not pure, they will always have some kind of bad chemical to help them stay fresh for longer. Most of the time that’s the case.
I never paid much attention to it until the lockdown and extra time on my hands. They grow absolutely everywhere, in every park, on every bit of grass, so it’s not hard to find them. Just be careful when you pick them. I used gloves and still got stung. I am not allergic so although I was covered in rash from my hands to elbows, I did not mind. Plus when I was a child every time I got stung by stinging nettles my mom would say it’s good for rheumatism and arthritis, it’s healthy.
Stinging nettles are super heroes of the herb world. They have been used for cleansing your body from toxins (after antibiotics, chemotherapy, medication that causes bleeding) and regenerating organs like liver and kidneys. Its been proven now that it reduces inflammations, allergies like hay fever. Their extract is now widely used in medications for prostate, liver health, blood pressure and blood sugar.
*** Do not use it when pregnant – it can trigger uterine contractions, which can cause miscarriage***
J Because of its cleansing properties DO NOT overdo it, everything in moderation will work best for the healthy nation
If that’s not enough, this beauty is full of vitamins: A, B, C, E and K, its packed with minerals and easy to absorb by your amazing body amino acids.
How to use it? Where to get it?
You can dry it, freeze it and use it fresh.
First of all you will need to find a nice and clean place like the edges of woods, fields. They love to grow around rivers, streams, lakes where they can have plenty of sunshine. To harvest your stinging nettles you will need a plastic bag, garden gloves, long sleeves jumper and jeans. I cut mine half way and I will grab some with roots as well. Most people will pick leaves only, I use everything and because half of my harvest will be sun dried I want to keep stems as well, so I can hang them after bath.
Now when you collect them, you will get stung, sorry there is no way of avoiding it. Somewhere in the process you will feel the pain, but think of the goodness… and remember its good for you and its good for your body… and rheumatism and arthritis… as long as you are not allergic you will be fine.
You have your bag full – I use big black bag, two of them actually.
Fill in CLEANED earlier bath with cold water and rinse them gently using shower, leave it there for up to ten minutes so any unwanted creatures will crawl out. After the bath I grab couple of towels and just lay them to dry a little. Leave it for another ten min. Turn them over after that time and leave for another five.
Now they are ready for drying.
I tie three to four plants together and make a not. I do that to all stinging nettles I want to dry. Last year we had an amazing hot May and I was able to dry them out in one day in the hot sun. When they are fully dired I put some in food processor and blend them – this powder I will then be used in my teas.
For freezing I remove the leaves and leave them to dry a little, after a day or so just freeze leaves in a plastic bag. The left over stems I will dry some and freeze some. I will use them later on for hair treatment potion.
Frozen leaves I use for salads, add to soups, cocktails, you cannot really taste it. I even add them to my mix veggie tray I roast.
If you want to make a fresh leaves tea you just picked, use a cup of leaves to four cups of hot water and leave it for few minutes. When doing fresh leaves tea I will also add lemon and honey. Even kids love it. I make lemonade style drink for hot summer. Its yummy.
For my dry leaves teas… well there are so many options… I use sun dried stems and leaves. I blend them well and put it in the bag, I use one table spoon for my tea pot, whenever I feel like a herbal tea I will drink it on its own or I will mix it with either: cinnamon, dry lemon, dry ginger, dry turmeric, dry camomile flowers, cloves… all these ingredients are amazing for anxiety. Explore and enjoy your own tea. I make my own teas now and give them to friends for Christmas. My favourite mixture is stinging nettles, camomile flowers, or the winter one stinging nettles, ginger and cinnamon… hmm hmmm hmm the smell is amazing and always works a treat not only for my head but also for my system.
I use tea pot as well and I never use boiling water… but this is a subject for another entry. Always have a lid on so the goodies won’t evaporate. Again I blame my grandma if I talk rubbish here. I am not sure if having a lid on keeps the vitamins in but I listen to my grandma, even now.
Stinging nettles and Hair.
Now my grandma always said that pokrzywa / Stinging nettles is best for hair growth, strength, it gives that healthy looking shine, prevents dandruff and helps fight fungal infections… She uses the whole plant for this: stem, roots and leaves.
How it is made? Make your hair potion using 2-3 table spoons of dry stinging nettles. Leave it until cool down, drain and KEEP the water. After you wash your hair with shampoo only, rinse it and then wash your hair again with earlier prepared stinging nettle water. Massage it in and leave it to dry with towel on your head.
To make your fresh leaves hair potion, use 2 cups of fresh leaves to two cups of hot water. Leave it until cool down and rinse your washed hair with it, massaging it in your scalp. After you are done put towel over your hair and let it dry.
If you don’t feel comfortable with leaving the stinging nettles on, just wash it off. However if you leave it on, be assured that there is no after smell or colour. The hair feel so soft and is shiny. It really works!
By leaving this magic potion on for ten minutes only, you have already helped your head and hair.
Don’t forget you can use the left over leaves, put it in your next dish, salads, and cake or add it to your bullet juice.
Enjoy!
