Nettle

(Urtica dioica)

The common stinging nettle is widely distributed across N. America and Europe and has been boiled and eaten as a vegetable by some poulations.

It has long been known to have useful medicinal qualities. The tea or extract is a good natural source of potassium and contains silicic acid.

Nettle extract helps prevent the crystallisation of uric acid and assists in its elimination from the system, so providing useful relief from gout and some forms of arthritis. Nettle is also an astringent and helps to stop bleeding, and has anti-inflammatory and vaso-dilatory effects.