Wild Nettles and why you should be friends!

So Spring is FINALLY here in the Pacific Northwest! I am BURSTING with excitement to finally get to be outside more! And….. I am also thrilled to find my Wild Nettles coming back!!!!!

Have you heard of Stinging Nettles Urtica dioica before? They are a deep forest green plant that grows EVERYWHERE in the fields and back country here in Western Washington. Known as the Spring Tonic, Stinging Nettle is one of my favorite Wild Edibles!

Here is a pic of my jars steeping with the Nettle tops I picked just an hour ago!

It is known as an everyday nourisher, an energetic changer, kidney/adrenal ally, digestive restorative, hair & skin nourisher, and one of the highest natural non-animal Iron sources at 7%! Wild Nettle is also high in calcium, magnesium and chlorophyll. Each special property is even MORE of a reason to incorporate it into your life!

Since my love for Wild Nettles has grown since I first moved to Washington state 8 years ago, so has my knowledge. When you live around them, see them through the entire life cycle, a sprout to a dried plant in the fall, you get to know the plant and its energies. I have tried to harness these energies to make them available in a consumable form, my Wild Nettle Tea, as well as my Organic Rosemary & Nettle Hair Rinse!

“Wild Nettle Tea?” you are thinking. Yes, tea! It is good to make up a quart each night before bed and keep it in the refridgerator. Put 2 teabags, or 1 teapot bag into a quart jar. Fill up to the top with boiling water. Put on a lid, and store in the refridgerator until the morning. You can drink it all in the morning, OR sip it throughout the day. It reminds me, taste wise, kind of like spinach. Which brings up another point that it CAN replace spinach in recipes!! This is mostly achieved from fresh Nettles, so feasible if they grow around your area 🙂

And for the hair, it is a downright MUST!! It helps balance overly oily hair, check falling hair, encourage strength and ease itchy scalps! I have steeped the Wild Nettles with Organic Rosemary in this Organic Hair Rinse. I have been using it since my first jar of infusion was made over 1 year ago. My hair is stronger, my scalp no longer itches, and it is growing in thicker where I once had some thinning spots! So amazing! It is available here.

Are YOU interested in learning more about herbs? Check out the recommended books below! I learned a lot from Susan Weed’s Wise Women Herbal Healing Wise.

So would YOU like to try some Wild Nettle Tea for yourself? Would YOU like to see if the hair rinse will work for you? Comment below how Wild Nettles could help you and get in the drawing for a FREE 6 pk of Wild Nettle Tea AND an 4oz Organic Rosemary/Wild Nettle Hair Rinse!! Don’t forget to put in your email address so I know how to contact you if you win!

**Winner pays shipping.Open Worldwide.Drawing to be held Monday April 1st.You have 24hours to claim your prize, if not, another winner will be chosen.Please list your email address, even if it is with the “@” sign spelled out.**

We went Nettle picking today all to replenish my stock of Wild Nettles for my herbal teas!

Today we got outside while it was still not raining, and picked some fresh Spring Nettles! They are known as Stinging Nettles because the little hairs all over them will sting you and it will keep stinging for a few days!

Once they prick you it releases natural histamine in your skin which produces a needle pricking sensation. Not fun! So I wore my pink rubber gloves!

I always try and take my daughter out when I am harvesting herbs so she will learn about them and be interested in them at an early age. It is my duty as a Mother to teach her what I know about herbs and healing so it can be passed down. It is so much more rewarding to go out and do little activites with your children instead of keeping them “glued to the tube”! The TV stays cold pretty much all day until the evening when we watch a few hours of news and a little bit of the History channel.
So on this trip she was wanting to grab for the herbs, so I had to hand her over to Dad to save her from the horrible sting!

Do you know of the magical healing powers of Stinging Nettle?
Organic Wild Harvested Nettle contains the highest protein content for any plant at 7%! It is also high in Vitamin C and Iron which helps increase energy and boosts your immune system. It is best served either cooked like spinach or served in a tea form, hot or cold.

Urtica dioica ,also known as Stinging Nettle, has been sustainably Wild-Harvested here from Honey Bee Holistic’s Farm in the valley of the Cascadian Mountains of the Pacific Northwest.
It is the most nourishing herbal tea you can consume! Drink a cup of Nettle tea instead of your caffeinated beverage for a natural energy boost!
Use as an everyday nourisher, an energetic changer, a great kidney & adrenal ally, a digestive soother,respiratory strengthener, a hair & skin nourisher and a wonderful ally for women through all of lifes stages!

This herbal tea is available on my website in 2 sizes. Either a 6 pack of single serve bags –OR– a 2 pack of Large tea pot bags. The tea can be brewed in a basket coffeemaker too if you don’t have a tea pot!
Visit http://honeybeeholistics.com/organic_herbal_teas.html to purchase!
You should also check out this book by Susan Weed! She has so much knowledge of Wild-Harvesting and using herbs!