Spirit Speaks – Using Nettles (Herb)

A Stinging Nettle in the field.

When I was growing up, every summer was filled with chores that helped put food on the table.  One of the chores was pulling weeds.  Our farm was located in what is called light soil, and so the soil had a sand component.  Contrary to the belief that stinging nettles only grow in damp places, these nettles grow mostly anywhere, and they grew very well in the garden.  We had to wear long sleeve shirts and gloves to weed them out of the plants because we kids did get rashes from the nettles.

What makes this somewhat ironical is that in the spring, when the stinging nettles were first coming out, and when they were still quite soft, my mother would make us gather the nettles and we would have a feed of steamed green nettles, at least once a week for three weeks.  Mom said that it was a spring tonic that cleaned out the winter colds and flu bugs still stored in our bodies. 

As I got older, and became more interested in the properties of different plants, I learned a bit more about this amazing weed.

• Stinging nettle contains natural antihistamines and anti-inflammatories (including quercetin), that open up constricted bronchial and nasal passages, helping to ease hay fever, and nose & sinus type allergies symptoms.
• Nettles were used as a tonic for the female system.  This was discovered by the Native American women who used it throughout pregnancy and as a remedy to stop haemorrhaging during childbirth. It is considered one of the best all round women's tonics.
• Nettles are amazing in that they contain protein, calcium, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, beta-carotene, along with vitamins A,C, D, and B complex, all in a form that is easy for the body to use.
• Nettles act as a diuretic that encourages excretion of uric acid and therefore helps prevent kidney stones.

Add a little nettle to your meal this spring!

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Other herb posts -   Spirit Speaks – Blueberries (Bilberry) (Herb),  Spirit Speaks – Feverfew (Herb),   Spirit Speaks – Sweetgrass,   Ancestors Speak – Using Dandelions (Weeds) as Medicine (Herb)

Judy@angelsandancestors.com

See all the available audios on the “I AM” series with Archangel Michael at www.legionsofmichael.com.   See the new May Magazine at www.angelsandancestors.com/newsletter/mag1005.pdf