Nettles

Nettles (Urtica dioica) - Our Community Herb for August!

Nettles is a perennial flowering plant in the nettle family (Urticaceae), widely recognized for the tiny, hair-like structures on its leaves and stems that can cause a temporary stinging sensation when touched. Native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa, it has naturalized across North America and many other regions of the world. For centuries, nettles has been valued as both a nourishing food and a traditional herbal remedy, with historical records of its use dating back to ancient Greece and Rome.

The plant produces serrated, deep green leaves and small clusters of greenish flowers. Once dried or cooked, the characteristic sting disappears, making the leaves suitable for teas, soups, and culinary preparations. Traditionally, the aerial parts, particularly the leaves, have been prepared as teas, infusions, tinctures, and capsules. Nettles remains one of the most widely respected nutritive herbs in Western herbalism and is prized for its naturally occurring vitamins, minerals, and long history of traditional use.