Looking at this is not an observable plant, you might think that it is quietly and ingloriously growing in the forest thickets and back streets of cottages. But this is not so. Nettle is widely known among many peoples. For example, according to Nepalese legend, the god of nature Poromiyepkhali, seeing the lifeless earth, scorched by the sun, cried. The first among all the plants that grew from the tears of God was nettles. Mention of this herb is also found in many Roman authors. In one of Hans Christian Andersen's most poetic tales of "Wild Swans" Princess Elsa, with the power of nettles combined with the power of love, saved her brothers by tied their shirts from the stems of nettle. The Slavic name of the plant comes from the Old Russian word "koprin" - silk, because the nettle received fiber for the production of tissues. For a long time, this plant in this capacity was famous among different peoples and was especially grown on the fields.
Burning multivitamin
Nettle is a unique natural vitamin concentrate. Ascorbic acid in it is twice as much as in black currant and lemons. Only 20 leaves of nettle provide our body with the daily norm of vitamin A.
Healer of all trades
It is widely used both in folk and in the official folk medicine for the treatment of nettle. Nettle preparations are used for hepatitis, hepatocholecystitis, pancreatitis and diabetes: they reduce blood sugar levels and increase the effect of other medicinal herbs.
The leaves and root of the nettle contain substances that prevent the development of tumors. Nettle stimulates metabolism, promotes the elimination of toxins, has anti-inflammatory and antidiarrheal properties, is indispensable for various bleeding. A burning plant has a hematopoietic and choleretic effect, supports the function of the pancreas, stimulates digestion.
How to recognize a friend?
We have two types of burning nettles: one-year-old and many-year-old dioecious. Useful properties are the second. It is not difficult to distinguish between them: if the annual grows no higher than the knees, then the perennial one grows almost human (about 1.5 m). If you still doubt, shoot off: one-year-old nettle pops out easily, and over long years a long rhizome will be pulled. It is best to collect nettles on the eve of a full moon. Choose for collection the place most remote from the big cities and motorways.
Why nettles are burning?
It is so rich in useful substances that it perfectly replaces the early vegetables, which are literally stuffed with nitrates. To prevent the burning of the leaves, they must be scalded with boiling water before use. The nettle salad. Scalded nettle leaves chopped, add soft cheese (for example, feta), green onions, olives, sprinkle with lemon juice. Salad dressing with olive (sesame) oil. Nettle cords. Boiled and chopped nettle to combine with the finished millet porridge, salt, shape little bits, pan in breadcrumbs or flour and fry in olive oil. Stinging nettle, stewed with brynza. Chop nettle, green onion, grate cheese. Stir the nettle for about 5 minutes, add onion, salt, pepper, cheese, flour and simmer for another 5 minutes. Mix the egg with warm milk and pour the dish. Put in the oven and bake until done. Ingredients: 150 g nettle, 30 g melted butter, 20 g green onion, 20 g flour, 60 g grated cheese, 150 ml milk, 1 egg, salt.
Health Recipes
To maintain immunity from April to June it is useful to drink the infusion of nettle. Cut nettle in a pure form put in the freezer. Every morning 1 tbsp. l. finely-visited nettle pour a glass of boiling water, insist 3-5 minutes, drain and drink during the day in 1-3 reception.
To improve the work of the heart in young nettles before flowering, cut off the tops with leaves, dry them in shade and crush into powder. 5 tbsp. l. of this powder, pour 0.5 liters of water and boil over low heat for 5 minutes. Take a decoction of half a glass 4 times a day. You can add honey.
To improve appetite: 1 tbsp. l. dry leaves of nettle, add 200 ml of water and cook for 10 minutes, let it brew for 1 hour and strain. Take the broth 3 times a day for 2 tablespoons. l. before meals.