Seeds 1 oz. Stinging Nettle

1 oz. (Urtica dioica). Zones 3 - 7. The stinging nettle grows to a height of 2 to 4 feet. The slender stems are four-sided. It has a creeping, stretching root from which new shoots emerge. The dull, dark green leaves grow opposite each other on the stem. They are thin and sort of egg-shaped with a toothed and tapered end and covered with stinging hairs. They are 2 to 6 inches long and 1 to 2 inches wide. Nettles loose their stinging qualities when they are dried.

When the plant flowers in the summer, it has tiny greenish or greenish-white flowers that hang down in clusters just above where the leaves attach to the stem. It flowers from June to September. It reproduces through seeds and a creeping rootstock.

Nettle tea greatly relieves asthma, hay fever, allergies and mucous conditions of the lungs. Make the tea using two teaspoons for the dried leaves per cup of boiling hot water. Take three to four cups daily, as needed. Or take two capsules daily, up to four times per day (not to exceed 8 capsules).

The root has been shown to have a beneficial effect upon benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). There are several clinical studies documenting the efficacy of Nettle root for BPH. Some of the more resent research on BPH and Nettles show that Nettles can interfere or block a chemical process in the body that has been linked to prostate disorders. As men age, free-floating testosterone becomes bound to albumin in a process called human sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), removing its bioavailability to the body. In clinical studies, Nettles have demonstrated the ability to block this process. Two teaspoons of Nettle root tincture is taken three times daily.

Propagation: Nettles prefer a soil rich in phosphates and nitrogen. The plants are dioecious, so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is desired. Sow in early spring in a cold frame, barely covering the seed with fine soil. Transfer the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. Plant them outside after the chance of frost has passed. Divisions can be made at almost any time in the growing season and transplanted to a permanent site.