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Nettle tea is a vitamin medicinal drink, which, due to its beneficial properties, is often used in herbal medicine. It is used to get rid of various diseases, strengthen the immune system, lose weight and as a sedative. For greater effectiveness, the drink should be consumed in combination with other means, but to keep the body in good shape it can be used independently.
Nettle tea is often used as a remedy for many diseases.
Composition and value of the drink
Nettle contains a lot of water (about 85%), as well as fiber, proteins, fats and carbohydrates. It contains representatives of B vitamins, folic and pantothenic acids, riboflavin, thiamine, pyridoxine, phytoncides and essential oils. Of the macroelements, the grass is enriched with magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, chlorine, calcium, and of the microelements: iron, selenium, manganese, copper, zinc. The seeds of the plant contain fatty oils and ascorbic acid.The roots are enriched with vitamin C. The burning hairs contain formic and other acids.
It is known that nettle tea is beneficial due to the presence of biologically active elements in the herb. For example, during heat treatment, the leaves of the plant release substances that reduce pain; in addition, they are considered a good natural pacemaker. The amino acids that make up the weed have a beneficial effect on protein metabolism.
Nettle has a high nutritional value, on par with legumes
The healing properties of nettle tea
The beneficial properties of nettle tea are very extensive. If there are no contraindications, the healing decoction can be taken by both women and men, as well as children, starting from the age of six. The herb is a good anti-inflammatory and hemostatic agent. With its help, you can increase the level of hemoglobin, increase the number of red blood cells in the blood, and increase the tone of the smooth muscles of the uterus. The plant is used for metabolic disorders, liver pathologies, anemia, tuberculosis, bladder diseases and hemorrhoids. The herb serves as a prevention of vitamin deficiency and atherosclerosis. Many note that it helps in the treatment of varicose veins.
Traditional medicine offers many recipes for tea, decoctions, and infusions of nettle, which have a diuretic, laxative, wound-healing, anticonvulsant and expectorant effect. Using the herb, you can cure kidney and liver diseases, edema, gout, bronchial asthma, dropsy, bleeding, dysentery and constipation.
Benefits of nettle tea for women
Due to the content of phytoncides in nettle, which suppress the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms, tea from it helps to improve women's health: it normalizes the cycle and hormonal levels, and has a positive effect on the functioning of the ovaries. It is known that such a drink contributes to the resistance of the nervous system to stress.
For many women, plant-based decoctions help get rid of extra pounds, especially if the weight appears due to disruption of the endocrine glands.
Benefits of nettle tea for men
For men, the benefits of a drink that contains hot herb are as follows:
- increased testosterone levels;
- improvement of spermatogenesis;
- increased muscle mass gain;
- increase in potency.
Many men who regularly drink nettle tea claim that the drink improves their general condition, normalizes the functioning of the digestive system, and eliminates pathologies of the urogenital area.
Experts say that the biological active elements contained in the plant help restore hair growth in men and also prevent hair loss.
Can children drink nettle tea?
If a child is not prone to allergies to plants, then tea made from nettle will be very beneficial to the child’s body. The drink serves as an excellent immunomodulator and can increase resistance to infections and viruses. With frequent use, the healing decoction will enrich the growing body with iron, protect against anemia and improve health.During a cold, nettle tea will eliminate inflammation in the lower and upper respiratory tract and help get rid of cough.
In childhood, the drink can be consumed after reaching six years of age.
Nettle tea recipes
There are many recipes for making stinging nettle tea, and since the herb itself has a specific taste, it is most often used in combination with other plants and products. If you add the zest (slices) of an orange or lemon, a few currants, raspberries and cherry leaves to the drink, it will become much more aromatic and sweeter, and will take on an interesting shade. Usually, fresh leaves and stems of nettle are used to make tea, but especially thrifty housewives prepare the plant in dry form. And they prepare a healthy decoction based on it throughout the year.
From fresh leaves
Before preparing tea from nettle leaves, the plant should be prepared: place the raw material in cold water for 10-15 minutes, wash thoroughly. Then put it in a saucepan, add water, bring to a boil and cook over low heat for a quarter of an hour. The strained broth is ready for use.
It is better to stock up on plants in the forest, away from roads and industrial enterprises.
From dried leaves
When preparing tea from dried nettle leaves, the raw material must be infused so that all the vitamins and nutrients have time to be released from the plant. It is better to use the following recipe:
- 6 tbsp. l. Pour herbs into a deep container.
- Add 1 liter of boiling water.
- Close the container tightly with a lid.
- Leave for 20-30 minutes.
- Strain through a sieve.
It is better to collect nettles for harvesting in the fall, and it is important to ensure that all parts of the plant are free from damage and pests. The raw materials should be dried in a dry place, protected from sunlight, for about a month and a half, then the grass should be ground and stored.
Nettle tea with honey
If you add honey to nettle tea, it will be more tasty and will speed up the process of replenishing the body with useful substances. To prepare such a drink, brew fresh, washed herb (100 g) in 0.5 liters of water, boil for five minutes, let cool slightly, add honey to taste. You can drink 100 ml of tea four times a day.
With berries
Nettle tea will become even tastier and healthier if you add berries to it. They can be used fresh, dried or frozen. Sea buckthorn, cranberries, currants, raspberries and gooseberries are perfect for this drink. For three servings of tea you will need:
- nettle – 50 g;
- berries – 20 g;
- water – 0.8 l.
Cooking steps:
- Place the prepared herb in the kettle.
- Place berries on top (frozen ones should be thawed first).
- Bring water to a boil, pour into a container with nettle-berry mixture.
- Let it brew for 10-15 minutes.
Berries in tea can be crushed to release juice
With rose hips
A drink made from hot herbs with the addition of rose hips is an excellent way to strengthen the immune system. To prepare it, pour boiling water over the ingredients, 3 tbsp. l. each one, put on fire. After boiling, cover the container and let the broth brew for several hours.
Spiced
Nettle tea with spices is especially useful for nursing women. It helps increase lactation and restore the body after childbirth.To prepare this drink, mix a teaspoon of nettle, fennel seeds and anise. Pour a glass of boiling water over the mixture and leave for 60 minutes. Strain the liquid, divide into three parts, take throughout the day in between meals.
With herbs
Tea made from nettle and chamomile and other herbs gives an excellent effect in the treatment of all kinds of ailments:
- with St. John's wort - relieves coughing attacks, cleanses the lungs;
- with lemon balm - relieves stress;
- with chamomile – soothes;
- with mint – refreshing.
Every person can brew medicinal tea. To do this, pour 100 g of herbs into 500 ml of boiling water and leave for 10 minutes under a tightly closed lid.
For weight loss
Prickly grass is a choleretic and diuretic, so nettle tea is consumed for weight loss. Thanks to the abundance of beneficial components, the weed is able to cleanse the body of toxins and excess fluid, which helps to reduce body weight. In addition, nettle improves intestinal function, normalizes metabolism, lowers blood glucose levels and has a mild laxative effect.
To make tea for weight loss, you will need:
- fresh nettle – 50 g;
- lemon juice – 15 g;
- water – 250 ml.
Cooking process:
- Bring the water to a boil.
- Dip the prepared grass into it.
- Let simmer for 5 minutes.
- Add lemon juice to warm tea.
Nettle leaves help reduce hunger
How to drink nettle tea
Reviews about the benefits of nettle tea are numerous, and the herb can only cause harm if it is used incorrectly. Therefore, it is important to drink the drink in recommended dosages and in accordance with the indications.It is usually advised to take one cup three times a day 20 minutes before meals or according to the following instructions:
- To cleanse the blood during intoxication, infuse nettle tea for an hour and drink 100 ml before meals.
- For vitamin deficiency, drink 50 ml of the drink five times a day, half an hour before meals.
- Tea made from nettle seeds with honey is useful for coughs. It is consumed several times a day, one cup at a time.
- An infused decoction of dried nettle is used to treat stomach ulcers. You should drink it in small sips.
- Tea made from 7 g of nettle raw material, diluted in a glass of boiling water, will help cope with anemia. This remedy is taken three times a day, 30 ml.
Restrictions and contraindications
Contraindications for drinking nettle tea are the presence of diseases:
- thrombophlebitis;
- atherosclerosis;
- heart failure;
- polyps and cysts in the uterus;
- high blood pressure;
- allergy.
To achieve a positive effect, it is important to remember not only the benefits of nettle tea, but also the harm, especially if you use it without following the dosage. It is not advisable to drink the drink in the summer, since due to the diuretic effect, dehydration may occur. People with high blood clotting should be treated with nettle with caution.
You should consult your doctor before drinking nettle tea.
Conclusion
Nettle tea is a remedy that supplies the body with nutrients and vitamins. The drink is a source of youth and good mood, helps restore strength and overcome fatigue, tones, saturates with energy given by nature.
But it should be understood that nettle tea cannot become a complete medicine and should be used in conjunction with pharmaceutical drugs. For recommendations regarding its use, you should contact a specialist.
