The nettles stinke, yet they make recompense,
If your belly by the Collicke paine endures,
Against the Collicke Nettle-seed and honey
Is Physick: better none is had for money.
It breedeth sleepe, staies vomit, fleams doth soften,
It helpes him of the Gowte that eates it often.
~Middle Ages Rhyme, written by Sir John Harington in his Regimen Sanitatis Salernitanum (94)~
Other Names: Cool faugh, Common Nettle, Common stinging nettle, Devils Leaf,
Devils plaything, Ettle, Great stinging nettle, Heg-beg, Hidgy-Pidgy, Hoky-poky, Jenny nettle,
Naughty man's plaything, Tanging nettle.
Description
A perennial with an undeservedly bad reputation! It has seperate male and female plants and
grows up to 4ft (1.2m) high. The stems are squarish and bear small greeny flowers early summer
to early autumn. The leaves are toothed, pointed, oval and sport 'stings'. When the pointed
bristle of the sting is touched, it stimulates the release of a mild irritant, causing an itching
sensation. The irritant can also be useful, though, and can be boiled out so that the leaves may
be eaten.
Cultivation
| Site: | Any! However, it will 'leech' the soil of nutrients. The upside is that they are stored in the leaves, making it a highly nutritious food.)) |
| Propagation: | Sow seed in spring. Divide roots in spring. |
| Harvest: | Best when leaves are young. |
Preserve: Infuse/decoct herb to oil or tea.
Relationships: It is aided by strawberry, hyssop and rue. In turn it aids angelica, marjoram, mints, sage and valerian.