Teas

Nettle – a natural gift of forest wisdom

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When you enter the world of herbs, nettle – a green and vibrant plant – welcomes you with the energy of the earth and the minerals it carefully carries in its leaves. As a silent companion of nature, it whispers to you about the power of the past and the health woven into every touch of its hairs.

Stinging nettle ( Urtica dioica ), a member of the nettle family ( Urticaceae ), has countless tiny hairs that release histamine, serotonin, and other substances upon contact, which is its defensive magic. But when you prepare it as a tea or lunch, nettle becomes a gentle companion.

Folk wisdom through the centuries

In folk medicine, nettle was valued as an allergy reliever, digestive stimulant, diuretic, and postpartum support to strengthen the blood and the mother’s youth.

Scientifically proven benefits

  1. Antiallergic action – a clinical study with frozen nettle extract showed benefit in relieving symptoms of allergic rhinitis (rhinitis, sneezing). (1*)
  2. Anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects – nettle extracts have been proven to reduce inflammatory processes and support the immune system. (2*)
  3. Awakening as a functional food – it is rich in nutrients such as beta-carotene, lutein and flavonoids and is used as a food additive for additional nutritional value. (2*)
  4. Additional benefits – a diverse spectrum of active ingredients predicts benefits for metabolism, pain, and immunity, as proven by research on nettle phytoelements. (2*)

Tea and nutrition as a ritual

Dried nettle leaf tea is like a warm embrace from nature: full of antioxidants, vitamins (A, C, K and B), minerals (iron, calcium, magnesium). It inspires us to rest and provides our body with plant energy. (3*)

When to be careful?

  • Allergic reactions in rare individuals; safe when prepared and cooked properly. (4*)
  • During pregnancy – despite its traditional use as a postpartum tonic, scientific evidence on safety in pregnant women is not yet sufficient; consultation with a doctor is recommended. (5*)
  • Interactions – potentially increases water and salt excretion (diuretic), which affects blood pressure or diabetes medications. (6*)

Natural reminder

Nettle tea or dishes are more than just food – they are a reminder of the kindness of nature hidden in the strong greenery of the day. In every sip, you feel the support of the earth and the past, woven into the medicinal plant.

Literature: (*)

  1. Source: Randomized, double-blind study of freeze-dried Urtica dioica in the treatment of allergic rhinitis , (P. Mittman), https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2192379/

2. Source: Nutritional and pharmacological importance of stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.): A review , (KK Bhusal, SK Magar, R. Thapa, A. Lamsal, S. Bhandari, R. Maharjan, S. Shrestha, J. Shrestha), https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35800714/

3. Source: Fatty acids and carotenoids from Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica L.) , (JL Guil-Guerrero, MM Rebolloso-Fuentes, ME Torija Isasa), https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0889157502001722

4. Source: Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica L.): Nutritional Composition, Bioactive Compounds, and Food Functional Properties , (HP Devkota, KR Paudel, S. Khanal, A. Baral, N. Panth, A. Adhikari-Devkota, N. Kumar Jha, N. Das, S. Kumar Singh, D. Kumar Chellappan, K. Dua, PM Hansbro), https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9413031/

5. Source: Nettle , (Brigham and Women’s hospital), https://healthlibrary.brighamandwomens.org/Conditions/Pregnancy/19,Nettle

6. Source: Urticae folium – herbal medicinal product , (EMA), https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/herbal/urticae-folium

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