Nettle (Urtica dioica)

Nettle (Urtica dioica)


Description
Nettle is a herbaceous plant that grows up to 150cm tall, with a fine, cylindrical rhizome in the ground, whitish in color, long and branched.The stems are straight, with four edges, covered with opposite leaves, dentated on the edges. Both the stem and leaves are provided with nettle hairs. At the base, it has cordata leaves. The nettle has both male and female flowers, placed on different stems (dioica). It grows everywhere, cultivated and uncultivated lands, ditches, along roads, on the waters, forests edges and sheepfold.


Harvest
Leaves are harvested from nettle , from May until the end of autumn.


Drying Mode
The leaves are spread in thin layers, in rooms with proper ventilation. Drying can also be done outdoors, in places away from bright light. Hot air drying is done at a temperature of 50-60 degrees C. From 4.5 to 5.5 kg of fresh leaves you can get 1 kg of dried product.


Uses
Nettle is used as a diuretic and an adjunct in diabetes. Internally: eliminates uric acid, antimicrobial, diuretic, antidiarrheic, vitamin supply, haemostatic, hypoglycaemic. Externally: stimulates tissue repair, healing.


Observations
To protect the skin from nettle hairs, which cause irritation and itching, use gloves during harvest.




Source: www.sanatateverde.blogspot.com