Depending on the type of medical condition or health concern you wish to treat, there are many different ways to approach the herbal plant called the stinging nettle. With a history that dates back to Roman troops led under Caesar’s control, the warmth and astringency associated with the plant is regarded as an effective treatment for a variety of body parts, including the circulatory system, joints, and the nose.
When it comes to preparing the stinging nettle for an herbal treatment, it is the fresh or dried aerial parts and the root that an individual will turn their attention to. Below you will find an array of suggestions to consider for the creation of an effective herbal remedy, including tinctures and decoctions.
Using the Aerial Parts of the Stinging Nettle
The aerial parts of the stinging nettle hold many different properties that can be used to prepare infusions, tinctures, compresses, ointments, washes, juices, and powders.
Infusion: An infusion made from stinging nettle has the ability to stimulate the circulation in the body and helps to cleanse a system affected by arthritis, rheumatism, eczema, and gout. As for nursing mothers, they find stinging nettle infusions quite helpful because it increases the milk flow in their breasts. When the fresh shoots of the plant are harvested, a spring tonic that provides its users revitalization is the result.
Tincture: A stinging tincture is known to reap positive benefits when used in combination to a slew of medical conditions, such as arthritic disorders, skin issues, as well as uterine bleeding.
Compress: When a pad is soaked in tincture, an individual may then apply the compress to pain-ridden joints affected by arthritis or other painful health woes, such as gout, neuralgia, sprains, tendonitis, and sciatica.
Ointment: The ointment made from stinging nettle has a reputation of making an effective application for hemorrhoids.
Wash: When a wash containing stinging nettle is applied to pesky insect bites, fiery burns, and painful wounds, positive results arise.
Juice: When one liquidizes the entire fresh stinging nettle plant, they may create a decent tonic that helps with debilitated conditions, anemia, as well as to soothe nettle stings.
Powder: The leaves of the plant can be powdered to the point that when inhaled, the substance makes a snuff that treats nosebleeds.
Using the Root of the Stinging Nettle
While the aerial parts of the stinging nettle plant are filled with an array of recommendations when looking for an effective natural remedy, the root is used to prepare poultices and decoctions.
Poultice: The stinging nettle can be made into a poultice that works well with head and hair issues. A prepared decoction can be used as the base of this medicinal approach, which then makes a reasonable rinse for a dandruff-ridden scalp and to ease the effects of hair loss. The root also makes a reasonable conditioner that is used for general purposes.
Decoction: When a decoction is made with stinging nettles, the addition of saw palmetto is now known to show promising results when looking for a treatment for benign prostate enlargement.