| Archive for The Potting Shed A forum to discuss Crafts, Cooking, Gardening, Countryside, Livestock and Pets |
| Kathy |
NettlesYes they are "healthy" and when I move I fully intend to have a patch just for them!The value of the common nettle has been known for centuries and it would take too long to type all the benefits of this herb (yes, herb not weed!). I've found an easy to understand website that lists it's many benefits, helping asthma and arthritis being just 2 of them. 
http://www.proliberty.com/observer/20060517.htm |
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| Cabbagepatch |
Nettle soup is so easy to make and really really delicious. 
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| Leonie2 |
How would you make nettle tea? Dry the leaves first or use fresh leaves?
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| Kathy |
I love that CP and its nice steamed like spinach too.
I'm also going to juice it, I suspect the taste might be a bit strong but if I can drink fresh wheatgrass juice I'm sure I'll cope with that. 
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| Cabbagepatch |
You can make a tea from either fresh or dried leaf, just make sure you use just the newest baby leaves. And don't forget a pair of gloves when harvesting them 
Kathy, you could try mixing the juice with apple or other fruit to disguise the taste a little, worth experimenting because it really is quite bitter. Nettles are a really god blood tonic and cleanser, good if you are trying a Lenten detox 
I haven't tried them like spinach before, will give that a go
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| Kathy |
The wheatgrass juice is really bitter, I mix it with carrot juice which helps a little but the apple juice sounds better so I'll use that, thanks CP.
At the moment I'm buying the organic nettle tea, I've stopped drinking coffee and hope that this will be a better replacement for helping the asthma. The detrimental effects of the caffeine outweigh the benefits for me. |
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| Cabbagepatch |
This is quite an interesting site, I posted it last year in time for the National Nettle week:
www.nettles.org.uk |
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| Becki |
Mark knows all about this 
I'll give him a yell if you want
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| Cabbagepatch |
He doesn't does he?
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| Cabbagepatch |
This is a lovely hair rinse:
20z fresh stinging nettles or 10z dried 4fl oz cider vinegar 4fl oz mineral or rainwater 6 drops rose essential oil Finely chop the fresh nettles and put in the top of a double boiler with the vinegar and water. Cover and simmer for 1 hour. Cool, strain into a jug and add the essential oil drop by drop. Use as a hair rinse, it gives a lovely shine. I love nettles
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| Kathy |
Ooooo, that sounds nice, thanks CP!
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| mrutty |
Use fresh leaves and slightly cruch them. Stew as you would a pot of tea or boil through a pan fullon the stove.
Kathy, yes they are meant to help with Ashma but not tried them enough for that. I remember that Rosemary in the morning helped me a bit but I put it down to being a general pick me up. As for coffee if you drink alot it every day it's meant to be bad for ashma but taken as you would your blue puffer it's very effective. |
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| nanny |
i must admit that i have never given anything nettle-ish a go apart from nettle hay for the goats
must try harder this year now i have the time (hah, hah) |
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| Kathy |
I wouldn't say I drank loads of coffee Mark, 2 cups, black, every morning, but it was still regular consumption and I know that it compromises the absorption of calcium and other nutrients. Although it did help with the asthma, given my age and the whole bone loss thing I'll try different ways, perhaps nettles might do the trick!
I've a Greenlife juicer that makes an excellent job of juicing wheatgrass so I figured it would manage to make nettle juice ok. |