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Stinging Nettle
The stinging nettle is a type of plant. Medicine is made from the root and the above-ground components. Diabetes and osteoarthritis are treated with stinging nettle. It is sometimes used to treat UTIs, kidney stones, enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH), muscle discomfort, and other ailments, but there is no clear scientific evidence to back up these claims.
We could not leave out Nettle soup because it is probably what most people think of when they think of wild cookery. Potato, to give it body, and good stock, to give it character, are the elements to a superb nettle soup.Without these, the wild food cynic’s worst fears about cooked weeds will come true. Note that the typical measurement is a reusable carry bag or basket.Young stinging nettle leaves are cooked and consumed as a vegetable.Stinging nettle extract is utilized as an ingredient in hair and skin products in the manufacturing process.The leaf of the stinging nettle has a long history of use. In ancient Greece, it was largely employed as a diuretic and laxative.
Health Benefits of NettleSoup
In ancient times, stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) has been used in herbal therapy. Stinging nettle was used to alleviate arthritis and lower back discomfort in ancient Egypt, and Roman troops rubbed it on themselves to stay warm. Urtica dioica gets its scientific name from the Latin word uro, which means “to burn,” referring to the fact that its leaves can induce a momentary burning sensation when touched. The hair-like features on the leaves hurt and cause itching, redness, and swelling. Stinging nettle, on the other hand, can be safely ingested once it has been processed into a supplement, dried, freeze-dried, or fried. It has been linked to a number of potential health advantages in studies.
Nettle Soup Recipe
Over thousands of years, nettles have been a component of many distinct cultural cuisines, from ancient Roman diets to the eating habits of tribes in the Himalayas and North America. Young nettle leaves can be found in a variety of dishes, including salads, soups, cordials, and teas. In the spring, certain indigenous populations appreciate fresh nettle leaves or a nettle tonic.
Eating Nettles
Stinging nettles, like some of our other plant friends, are considered weeds, and in some locations, not just weeds, but invasive species. It is unpleasant to livestock. Oh, the “stinging” part? Human skin is irritated by the little spines or hairs found on the plant’s stems and underside of the leaves.
Toxins like formic acid, which you may be familiar with if you’ve ever encountered a fire ant, may cause a severe burn in sensation (and possibly welts) if you brush up against them. Why do we recommend that you eat this for dinner? “There’s a visceral delight to eating unsafe or forbidden food,” says Michael Ruhlman, “plus they taste excellent and are nutritional powerhouses,” therefore you should buy some.
Nettle-Picking Tips
Nettles are best when they are young and tender, so pick them early in the spring or later in the season. Pick the tips of the young leaves.
To avoid being stung, wear rubber gloves or pinch the leaves firmly. Lay the nettles out on a tray to wilt once they have been gathered. They can no longer sting you once they have withered. To enter the skin and inject the stinging form, the sting uses erect hairs.