Nettle nettles useful properties
Stinging nettle( Urtica dioica) - dioecious perennial herb, stem and leaves are seated stinging hairs. Rhizome creeping, branched, four-sided stems, opposite leaves, rough-hairy, lanceolate, petiolate, margin serrate. Flowers are small, green, same-sex, sitting with small glomeruli, collected in axillary branched spikelets. Blooms from July to autumn.
in Eastern Siberia to the Far East is considered an introduced, though widespread( Aboriginal these areas is a close view of nettle angustifolia, economically equivalent nettle).It settles on soils rich in nitrites: in alder, lowland forests and bushes in the settlements near the stockyards, fences, landfills and waste places. Due to its ability to reproduce vegetatively by long rhizomes sometimes formed extensive almost pure thickets.
Composition: comprises flavonoids, carotenoids, vitamins, minerals, beta-sitosterol, krapivnuyu acid, vegetable acids, stinging hairs - amine( histamine).It is worth mentioning the sterols and steril glycosides present in the rhizomes and tannins.
The leaves of nettle detected: vitamin C, K, V, Pantothenic acid, glycoside urtitsin, chlorophyll, tannin and protein substances, formic acid, protoporphyrin and coproporphyrin, fitosteron, gistalin and carotenoids: carotin, xanthophylls, xanthene-filletoksid,violaxanthin, iron salts, calcium and others. In the cell sap of the nettle hairs contains formic acid, which causes its pungency.
Cultivation: nettle prefers sunny or poluzatenennye areas and soil rich in nutrients. Nettle is particularly demanding for an increased nitrogen content in the soil, so it is necessary to apply mineral fertilizers. For seed germination, a relatively high soil temperature is required, so sowing should be done no earlier than May-June. With small cultivation areas, it is recommended to breed nettle by dividing the root. With
Forest: young shoots before flowering harvested for fresh consumption.held multiple netsvetuschie mowing nettle, and for the third year in the fall or spring to collect the roots of the grass blank. Seed collection from September to October. Useful properties
O Tvar nettle diuretic, has a favorable effect on the blood is used in rheumatism and diseases of the urinary tract. Recommended
anemia, arteriosclerosis, skin itching eczema as a means increases lactation in lactating. The hairs
nettle contain poisons such as acetylcholine, histamine and formic acid, so when numbness, convulsions, rheumatism patients recommended lash portions of fresh nettles, when wilting longer hairs nettle tourniquet.
nettle leaves when used topically lowers the secretion of wound and stimulate granulation and epithelization of lesions tissues. External applied in the form of infusion for compresses and for burns, as well as hair loss.
leaves contain many vitamins K( . Biol 400 units per 1 g), carotene( 14-30 mg%), ascorbic acid( 100-200 mg%), B2 and pantothenic acid, as a kind of natural multivitamin concentrate. They are used as a therapeutic and prophylactic agent for hypo- and avitaminosis.
Because vitamin K extract and leaf infusion increases blood clotting, used for uterine, kidney, intestine, lung and other internal bleeding. Leaves are part "stomach", hemostatic and vitamin charges are part "Allohol" choleretic drug.
Leaves also have nutritional value. In addition to vitamins, they contain up to 17% protein, 10% starch, about 1% sugars, many salts of iron and potassium. Young leaves are added to borscht and soups, of which green cabbage soup is cooked, the dietary value of which is especially high in the spring, when the body is depleted of vitamins. In the Caucasus, young leaves are eaten fresh as a salad, mixed with other herbs, added to many dishes, salted for future use. Nettle is highly valued as a fodder plant, especially for pigs and poultry. It is believed that its fruits stimulate the sexual activity of animals;they are given to chickens to increase egg production. In fruits, up to 22% of fatty oil is found.
Are also used in the manufacture of many cosmetics. The chlorophyll contained in the leaves is used as a dye in the pharmaceutical and food industries and as a medicine that improves metabolism and stimulates the healing of wounds.
Rinse with nettle decoction strengthens hair, reduces the formation of dandruff and hair loss( not recommended for light hair).
Successful attempts have been made to use fiber from the stems of nettles for making fabrics and ropes, but this industry has not developed this development. Rhizomes were used for coloring wool and fabrics in yellow, and the leaves - in green.
In scientific medicine nettle is used mainly as a hemostatic for uterine, renal, intestinal, pulmonary bleeding, since the plant contains vitamins K, C, carotene and chlorophyll. The latter has the ability to enhance metabolism, increase the tone of the uterus and intestines, accelerate the regeneration of damaged tissues, stimulate the cardiovascular system and respiratory center.
Nettle is prescribed as a multivitamin for hypovitaminosis, hemostatic - for pulmonary, intestinal, renal and uterine bleeding, as well as bleeding of the gastrointestinal tract;externally - for the treatment of poorly healing wounds, with bleeding. In this case, not only increases the coagulability of blood, but increases hemoglobin and the number of erythrocytes. A good anti-inflammatory effect of nettle has been noted.
In folk medicine , it has long been successfully used as a hemostatic for hemoptysis, severe bleeding from the nose, hemorrhage bleeding and hemorrhoids;in the form of fresh juice - with bleeding pulmonary, renal, gastrointestinal, with anemia;as a blood-cleansing - for anemia, atherosclerosis, muscle and articular rheumatism, sugar sickness, pulmonary tuberculosis, liver, gallbladder, gastrointestinal tract diseases( stomach cramps, vomiting, dyspepsia and diarrhea), headaches, colds, fever and even malaria;water decoction is drunk after childbirth, from whooping cough( more effective decoction of the roots), hemorrhoids, skin diseases accompanied by itching, with thrush, spleen disease. The section of fresh nettle replaces the blister patch and is useful for articular rheumatism, radiculitis. Infusion of nettle leaves is used to strengthen and improve hair growth.
Recipes
Tincture in conjunction with garlic: 2 parts of nettle root mix with 1 part garlic and pour 20 parts vodka( i.e. 1 tablespoon nettle root and 1/2 tablespoon garlic for 0,5 l vodka);insist 6-8 days and drink 1 tbsp.spoon 3 times a day with the addition of water for fever, malaria. The same tincture rubs the body. Preparations from the root are more effective than preparations from leaves.
Aqueous decoction of the whole plant( 15 g per 200 ml) is drunk at 1-2 tbsp.spoons before meals 3 times a day to regulate the functional activity of the stomach, with headaches.
With persistent cough, candied roots( cooked in sugar syrup) are good. As an expectorant drink tea from the flowers of nettle - 1 pinch for 4 cups, the same for sugar sickness.
Decoction of herbs with honey or sugar( preferably with root) is drunk with "old" stones, to improve the work of the heart, liver, kidneys, with anemia, as a blood cleansing for gastritis, pulmonary tuberculosis, liver disease, cold, after birth, from whooping cough.
For severe hemorrhoidal pains, a mixture of nettle leaves and the yolk bark of the year before last;take this and the other 8 g per 1 liter of boiling water, keep on low heat for 10-15 minutes;take 1 glass 4 times a day.
In the presence of chiri it is recommended to use a decoction of leaves or extract. If this reduces urination and constipation, you should add dandelion leaves and thistle flowers in equal quantity to the decoction or extract;2 tbsp. Spoons of this mixture brew in 2 cups of boiling water, soak in the oven for 2-3 hours and drink half a cup 3 times a day.
With hair loss, 100 g of finely chopped and sifted leaves boil for half an hour in 500 ml of water, mixed in half with vinegar. Wash your head before going to bed.
From worms - decoction of roots and fruits( 15 g per 200 ml), 2-3 tbsp.spoons at the reception.
Gastric tea: brew 1 tbsp. Spoon the herbs in 2 cups of boiling water, boil for 10 minutes. Strain and drink 0.5-1 glass at night.
Liquid extract 30% or broth, condensed to half: extract - 25-30 drops, broth - 1 teaspoon 3 times a day.
Fresh juice, replacing extract, take 1 tsp 3 times a day. When tumors of the spleen are taken 3 times a day at the end of the knife powder from the mixture( in equal parts) of sage leaves, leaves of lanceolinate plantain and nettle leaves burning, squeezed with water.
Application in Cooking
Young fresh herb in combination with spinach is used for cooking garnishes and green soups and in fresh( scalded) form for making salads from fresh herbs.
Shields from young nettles
150 g of young nettle, 50 grams of sorrel, 2 carrots, 2 onions, parsley bunch, bunch of green onions, 1 egg
Shoot the young nettles, rinse and 3 minutes into boiling water,sieve, grind and simmer in oil 15 min. Carrots cut into cubes, chop finely chopped onion and fry in oil, before being ready to add finely chopped green onions. In boiling water put nettles, fried vegetables and sliced greens and cook.10 minutes before the readiness to add 1 bay leaf. For taste, soup can be seasoned with lemon juice. Serve the cabbage soup with the boiled egg and sour cream.
Cocktail "News"
For 1 serving - 1/2 cup of nettle juice, 5/4 cup cold carrot juice, 2 tsp.lemon juice, 1 -2 cubes of food ice Wash the nettle juice from the young leaves of the nettle in the juicer. In the resulting nettle juice pour cold carrot and lemon juice. Cocktail served with ice cubes.
Cocktail "Trio"
For 1 serving - 1/4 cup of nettle juice, 1 / 4- 1/3 cup of horseradish juice, 1 1/2 tbsp.l.onion juice, 2 cubes of food ice Pour the horseradish juice and onion juice into the nettle juice and mix.
Cocktail served with ice cubes. If desired, salt can be added to the cocktail.