Nettle: medicinal properties and use in folk medicine, how to brew, how to drink

Content

1 The value and chemical composition of nettle
- 1.1 What vitamins are in nettles?
2 What properties does nettle have?
3 What are the benefits of nettle for humans?
- 3.1 For men
- 3.2 For women
4 How to brew nettles for drinking and more
5 Use of nettle for human health
6 Uses of nettle
7 Restrictions and contraindications for use
8 Conclusion
9 Reviews on the use of nettle for medicinal purposes

The medicinal properties of nettle are an interesting topic for connoisseurs of traditional health recipes. The famous plant is used to treat a wide variety of ailments.

The value and chemical composition of nettle

Nettle is highly valued due to its rich chemical composition. The leaves and stems of the plant contain:

ascorbic acid;
tannins;
flavonoids;
copper, iron and magnesium;
phytoncides;
calcium;
chlorophyll;
glycosides and phytoncides;
tanning components;
organic acids.

The grass also contains natural sugars, starch and ash.

What vitamins are in nettles?

The medicinal properties of the plant are due to the increased content of vitamins. In addition to ascorbic acid, the herb contains:

carotene - 101 mcg;
B1 - 0.008 mg;
B3 - 0.388 mg;
B9 - 14 mcg;
beta-carotene - 1150 mcg;
vitamin K - 498 mcg;
B2 - 0.16 mg;
B4 - 17.4 mg.

Important! The plant contains more vitamin C than blackcurrant and lemon - 333 mg.

What properties does nettle have?

Nettle has numerous medicinal properties. When used correctly, the plant:

normalizes metabolism and speeds up intestinal function;
increases blood clotting;
fights inflammation;
improves cardiac and respiratory activity;
accelerates tissue healing;
has a stimulating and tonic effect;
normalizes hemoglobin levels.

Decoctions and infusions based on the plant have a beneficial effect on the condition of the skin and help prolong youth.

Nettle has diuretic properties and helps cope with swelling

Medicinal properties of nettle leaves

Nettle leaves contain high amounts of B vitamins and ascorbic acid, as well as chlorophyll. The medicinal properties of plant materials help strengthen the immune system and protect blood vessels and the heart from illnesses, get rid of excess weight and improve digestion. The skin is treated with infusions and decoctions; nettle tea is used for gout, nervous disorders and colds.

Benefits of nettle juice

Fresh juice from the stems and leaves of nettle is used to stimulate digestion and in the treatment of kidney and pancreas diseases. In addition, it can be used externally, for wiping and lotions for skin diseases and injuries.

Beneficial properties of seeds and roots

Nettle roots have a mild laxative and choleretic effect and are used for constipation and liver ailments. The beneficial substances in their composition promote the production of interferon and provide protection against viruses.

The seeds of the plant contain large amounts of linoleic acid and flavonoids. Their medicinal properties can be used to improve potency, stop bleeding and increase overall tone.

What are the benefits of nettle for humans?

The beneficial properties of nettle for the human body are:

for constipation;
for allergies and skin itching;
to improve kidney function;
to increase the elasticity of vascular walls;
to improve uterine tone;
with slow production of gastric juice;
for pain in the intestines and increased gas formation;
for inflammatory diseases and cough;
for gastritis and pancreatitis;
with weak bile production.

You can use the healing properties of nettle for respiratory ailments - bronchitis, pneumonia and tuberculosis. Plant materials help eliminate bacterial processes and promote the removal of phlegm.

For men

It is useful for men to take nettle-based products to improve the functioning of the reproductive system. The medicinal properties of the plant increase potency and relieve inflammation of the genitourinary area.

For women

Women are recommended to use nettle for skin and hair care, for weight loss and relief of PMS symptoms.The medicinal properties of decoctions and infusions of the plant help with heavy periods and hot flashes during menopause.

Attention! During pregnancy, the herb can negatively affect the fetus; it is better to avoid it at least in the first trimester. But during lactation, nettle will promote the production of breast milk.

How to brew nettles for drinking and more

Traditional medicine mainly uses aqueous remedies based on nettles:

Decoction for internal use. Dry nettle leaves are crushed in the volume of a large spoon, 300 ml of water is poured in and heated over low heat for a quarter of an hour. The finished product is cooled, filtered and 200 ml of liquid is added. You need to drink the decoction three times a day, 100 ml.
Decoction for external use. Skin and hair care products are also prepared from the leaves of the plant. 500 g of dried raw materials are placed in a saucepan, filled to the top with water and brought to a boil, and then immediately removed and cooled. Before use, the product can be diluted in a 1:1 ratio with clean liquid.
Infusion. If you need to prepare medicine for external and internal use quickly, you can simply pour a large spoonful of dried nettle with a glass of boiling water. The drug is kept covered for 40 minutes. The dosage of the infusion depends on the specific recipe; usually take 100 ml of the product up to three times a day.

Before processing, nettle leaves are washed to remove dust and scalded with boiling water.

Important! In most cases, it is recommended to use nettle continuously for a month. After this, take a pause of the same duration and repeat the course.

Based on nettle, you can also prepare an alcohol tincture with medicinal properties. There are two recipe options:

On young leaves and shoots. The crushed raw materials in a glass vessel are filled to the top with vodka and put in a dark place for a week, and then filtered.
On the roots. The washed and crushed parts of the plant are combined with alcohol in a 1:1 ratio and left in a darkened cabinet for a month.

You can take the tincture orally three times a day or externally to rub the skin and joints. It is recommended to use the medicinal properties of the drug without interruption for no longer than ten days, so as not to cause harm to health.

A single dosage of nettle tincture should not exceed 5 ml

In all cases, for the preparation of medicinal compositions, traditional medicine advises taking young leaves and stems, their medicinal properties are the highest. Nettle roots must be harvested in the fall, when they have time to accumulate a maximum of valuable substances. Raw materials are collected exclusively in clean places with good ecology.

It is not customary to boil nettles for longer than 20 minutes. Excessive heat treatment negatively affects the composition of the plant and leads to a decrease in medicinal properties.

Use of nettle for human health

Nettle is very often found in folk recipes for promoting health. Its medicinal properties are used locally and internally according to proven regimens.

For hair

You can use the medicinal properties of nettle decoction for weakened hair. The herbal remedy strengthens hair follicles, eliminates dandruff and helps normalize oily scalp. The broth is simply used to rinse the strands after washing.

For anemia

For reduced hemoglobin and anemia, the medicinal properties of a decoction of young nettles are used. You need to heat four large spoons of dry raw materials over a fire for no longer than ten minutes, and then leave for another half hour. The strained product is drunk three times a day, 100 ml.

For diabetes

Among the indications for the use of nettle decoction internally is mild diabetes mellitus. For treatment use a regular decoction:

a large spoon of dry raw materials is poured with 300 ml of water;
Boil over low heat for 15 minutes;
cool the product and filter through cheesecloth.

The finished drink needs to be topped up with 200 ml of clean water. Take a decoction of 30 ml three times a day on an empty stomach.

For pancreatitis

The healing properties of nettle help with chronic pancreatitis. For therapy, you can prepare the following infusion:

two large spoons of dry leaves are crushed;
pour 500 ml of hot water;
leave under the lid for an hour;
filter through cheesecloth.

The infusion should be consumed 50 ml up to three times a day.

Important! The medicinal properties of nettle should be used during the period of remission of the disease. If pancreatitis worsens, the natural acids in the infusion can cause harm.

Nettle infusion improves the production of enzymes by the pancreas

When coughing

For colds and bronchitis, you can make a simple syrup from the stems and leaves of nettles. The recipe looks like this:

a large spoonful of raw materials is finely chopped;
pour 200 ml of water;
add 200 g of sugar;
Boil the product for 15 minutes.

Sweet syrup is taken 10 ml up to four times a day until the condition improves.

For constipation

Nettle infusion helps with constipation because it has a laxative effect. The medicine is made as follows:

pour 200 ml of boiling water into a large spoon of raw materials;
leave covered for half an hour;
strain from the sediment and cool.

You need to drink half a glass twice a day on an empty stomach. In total, nettle treatment is continued for ten days.

For gout

When salt deposits occur, nettle juice has a good effect.To obtain it, you need to grind several fresh, washed leaves of the plant and press the pulp through cheesecloth. Take the remedy three times a day with a small spoon.

For hemorrhoids

The healing properties of nettle are good for hemorrhoids. An infusion of leaves is prepared as follows:

10 g of dry raw material is poured with a glass of boiling water;
keep covered for about half an hour;
passed through gauze.

The infusion should be consumed 50 ml three times a day. The product can also be used for microenemas and lotions. The infusion can be added to sitz baths and taken in the evenings on a daily basis.

For the liver

A medicinal nettle decoction helps restore and cleanse the liver. It is prepared like this:

two large spoons of dry leaves are poured with 500 ml of water;
Boil after boiling over low heat for five minutes;
pass through cheesecloth and cool.

Add 15 g of honey to the finished product. You need to take the medicine four times a day, 100 ml.

Nettle infusion helps remove toxins from the body and reduces stress on the liver

For cholecystitis

The choleretic medicinal properties of nettle are beneficial for cholecystitis. A decoction of the roots of the plant is used for medicinal purposes. They do it like this:

two large spoons of raw materials are finely chopped;
pour 250 ml of boiling water;
Heat over low heat for a minute.

The broth is infused under the lid for another hour, after which it is filtered. You need to take the product up to four times a day before meals, 50 ml.

For bleeding

For uterine bleeding and too heavy periods in women, you can take nettle juice. Drink a small spoon of it up to five times a day, diluting it in 50 ml of clean water.

For colitis

The medicinal properties of a collection of several medicinal herbs help well against colitis.Do it as follows:

mix 50 g of nettle leaves with an equal amount of chamomile;
add 50 g of dried blueberries and peppermint;
measure out three large spoons of raw materials and pour in 750 ml of boiling water;
keep in a thermos for 5 hours.

Then the product is filtered and drunk warm, 250 ml only once a day.

For diseases of the genitourinary system

For prostatitis and decreased potency in men, nettle infusion is beneficial - a large spoon of the raw material is brewed with 1 liter of water. The product is kept covered for 30 minutes and taken 100 ml three times a day.

For gastrointestinal diseases

Nettle can regulate stomach acidity and intestinal peristalsis. For gastritis, sluggish digestion and pain, it is taken as an infusion. The recipe looks like this:

pour a large spoonful of leaves into a glass of hot water;
keep covered for 20 minutes;
filter;
add 5 g of natural honey.

You need to drink the infusion 1/3 cup three times a day on an empty stomach.

Nettle helps with increased gas formation in the intestines

For skin diseases

For furunculosis, abscesses, acne and pimples, fresh juice of a medicinal plant is useful. It is squeezed from young leaves and taken 15 ml every day until the condition improves. You can also wipe the affected areas of the skin with juice to relieve inflammation.

For muscle and joint pain

The anti-inflammatory and restorative properties of nettle are beneficial for rheumatism, arthritis, bruises and sprains. Medicinal infusions and decoctions of the plant are used for compresses and lotions. You can also take 15 ml of fresh juice from the leaves once a day.

To improve kidney function

Nettle has diuretic properties and improves kidney function.For medicinal purposes, a decoction of the plant is prepared:

30 g of dry leaves are poured into 200 ml of boiling water;
simmer over low heat for 15 minutes;
strain through cheesecloth.

You need to drink 150 ml three times a day on an empty stomach. You can dilute a small spoon of honey in the broth to improve the taste.

For healing burns, wounds and frostbite

To quickly restore damaged skin, you can use the healing properties of powder from the stems, roots or leaves of nettle. Dry raw materials are ground with a mortar or crushed in a coffee grinder. The resulting powder is diluted with water until a paste is obtained and sore spots are treated up to three times a day.

When losing weight

The cleansing and decongestant properties of nettle help you get rid of extra pounds faster. On a diet you can use the following infusion:

30 g of finely chopped leaves are poured into 300 ml of boiling water;
keep covered for half an hour;
filtered.

You need to take a small spoon of the drink four times a day. The product will speed up metabolic processes and promote the removal of toxins. To make the weight loss process go faster, you need to combine nettle intake with a healthy diet and exercise.

Uses of nettle

The medicinal properties of fresh and dry nettle are widely used in medicine, the pharmaceutical industry and cosmetology. You can even use environmentally friendly raw materials to add to culinary dishes.

In folk medicine

Traditional medicine uses the medicinal properties of nettle most widely. Based on the leaves, stems and roots of the herb, decoctions, infusions, and alcohol preparations are prepared. Nettle is used to stop bleeding, for inflammation and cough, for gastritis and pancreatitis. The plant is added to medicinal baths, lotions and compresses are made based on decoctions.Crushed leaves are used to make homemade ointments and balms.

Fresh nettle juice is used to relieve itching from insect bites.

In cosmetology

Young nettle can significantly improve the condition of problem skin. Its medicinal properties are used in the form of decoctions and lotions for acne, pimples, rosacea and irritations, early wrinkles. The plant can be found in store-bought lotions, tonics and masks.

Herbal products should be used to restore dry and brittle hair. You can regularly wash your curls with nettle infusion so that they acquire a pleasant shine, silky structure and volume.

In official medicine

The medicinal properties of nettle are recognized by official medicine. Plant raw materials are included in domestic and foreign medicines. The herb can be found in preparations to stop gastrointestinal, hemorrhoidal and pulmonary bleeding. The rhizomes of the plant are present in antitumor drugs, as well as in ointments for treating wounds and burns.

Important! Nettle extracts are contained in many medications for hepatitis, since the plant contains chlorophyll, which improves metabolic processes.

In pharmacology

The pharmaceutical industry is actively using the benefits of nettle for the body. In pharmacies you can buy:

liquid nettle extract - for external and internal use;
Nettle extracts are alcoholic and aqueous
medicinal tea in filter bags;
Tea in filter bags can be brewed as usual, right in the cup
dried seeds and roots.
Seeds and dried nettle roots are often used to make hair rinses.

The laxative and choleretic drug Allohol, consisting of a plant extract with animal bile and garlic, is very popular. Also widely known is the Nettle shampoo, intended for the treatment of problematic and weakened curls.

In cooking

Young nettle contains a large amount of ascorbic acid, carotene, antioxidants and acids and also has a pleasant taste. In the kitchen it is used along with other herbs, often in combination with sorrel. The herb can be added fresh to salads and soups, and the dried plant is used as a seasoning for first and second courses.

Nettle salad has a pleasant slightly sour taste

Advice! Since fresh nettle leaves are quite hot, they are scalded with boiling water to soften them before use.

Restrictions and contraindications for use

The benefits and harms of nettle are ambiguous, like any plant. It is not recommended to use the medicinal properties of the herb:

with severe hypertension;
with atherosclerosis;
with varicose veins and a tendency to thrombosis;
for chronic kidney diseases;
for malignant tumors.

A strict contraindication to the use of the medicinal properties of nettle is individual allergies. Herbal remedies are not recommended for continuous use for a long time. You can drink nettle for 30 days in a row, but no more. It thickens the blood, and excessive consumption increases the risk of developing cardiovascular abnormalities.

Conclusion

The medicinal properties of nettle are very diverse. The herb is widely used in medicine and cosmetology and has valuable nutritional qualities.Although in general the plant is considered safe, when consuming it, small dosages must be observed and therapy must be carried out with mandatory breaks.

Reviews on the use of nettle for medicinal purposes

Egorova Nadezhda Vladimirovna, 45 years old, Krasnogorsk

I suffer from chronic gastritis, several times a year I suffer from heaviness in my stomach, nausea and pain. At the very beginning of an exacerbation, a decoction of nettle helps well; if you drink it for at least a week every day, the symptoms quickly subside and the condition returns to normal. It is especially valuable that the plant can be taken with increased acidity.

Krivtsova Elena Igorevna, 36 years old, Tver

I use nettle decoction as a mild laxative - the medicinal properties are good, and there are no side effects as with pharmaceutical drugs. Additionally, the plant regulates the production of bile, with which I have chronic problems. I also rinse my hair with nettle; the herb has already helped cope with the consequences of constant dyeing.