Though a menace when touched, stinging nettle has been used since ancient times as an alternative medicine for various ailments. It is believed that cooking, boiling or even drying inactivates the toxic venom and renders it safe for consumption. The young plants are also consumed in various parts of Europe and are known to be highly nutritious as they are rich in iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, phenols and other naturally occurring antioxidants. Traditionally, different types of concoctions were made with the leaves, stem or roots and taken as tea or used as a tincture to treat urinary tract infections, joint problems or even seasonal allergies.

While handling the plant

Those who live in areas where stinging nettle grows and would like to harvest it, make sure to wear long sleeves and gloves or use tongs when handling these plants. Be warned that touching or accidentally brushing against the stinging nettle will cause a tingling sensation with pain and inflammation at the point of contact that can last for some time. This is due to the sting from the tiny hairs present on the plant that inject plant venom, believed by chemists to be a mixture of acetylcholine, histamine and serotonin. If you do get stung, you can wash the area with soap then take an over–the-counter anti-histamine tablet to reduce the severity of the sting. Or try natural methods like using mashed plantain leaves or a paste of baking powder in water.

If using as an ingredient in your kitchen

For culinary use, the young leaves and tender shoot should be harvested before it starts to flower, as naturopaths believe that the older plants are rich in oxalic acid which may cause kidney stones. Once plucked, they should be washed to remove any surface dirt or grime, pressure cooked [or boiled in water] first, then cut and put into dals and sabjis. You could also make a soup from it like any other green leafy vegetable. The iron content of the nettle is not readily absorbed by the body, but can be beneficial when eaten with a source of vitamin C like a dash of lime, an orange or a glass of lemonade. The Nepalese call stinging nettle as sishnu. Sishnu ko tarkari and shishnu soup are popular dishes in Nepal where it is sold in the local market along with other greens and vegetables. And that’s not all, there’s some exciting news for all wine connoisseurs as in Nepal it is even made into and sold as wine! In the West, people use the boiled leaves in a variety of dishes including salads, pizzas, soups, pastas and pestos.

When consuming it as pills or tea

If you aren’t lucky enough to get fresh nettle, you could buy it in the form of capsules, tablets, dried powders or tea bags, which are available online and in some health stores in India. It is mainly used as a medicinal herb in this form to treat various ailments from urinary tract infections, allergies, joint problems, skin problems, gout and kidney stones. Nettle tea can be made by boiling the dried nettle leaves in water, then straining and having as such or with some lemon, a few sprigs of mint and some honey. If you want a stronger concoction, simply boil a little longer. Large quantities can be made and refrigerated which can be used over three to four days.

Like most herbs, there are little or no scientific studies on the medicinal benefits of the plant and hence it is not widely used. Even the manufacturers of the commercial products in India tend to put out a statutory warning that the claims are not approved by the FDA [Food and Drug Administration in the United States]. Do make sure that your physician is aware of what you are taking.

Using it in your kitchen garden

Stinging nettle is also great as a fertiliser and can be used as green manure. A kind of bokashi mix [those familiar with gardening will know that it is a Japanese term for fermented organic matter which is used as a fertiliser] can be made by putting the leaves in a big bin of water and letting it rot for a week. The liquid then can be diluted and used to water the plants while the remaining solid waste can be used as compost matter.

This was first published in the December 2015 issue of Complete Wellbeing.

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Myth 1 Ayurvedic medicines are dangerous as they contain heavy metals

A lot of people would like to take Ayurvedic medicine but don’t because they are apprehensive about the heavy metal content in them. A few Ayurvedic preparations [herbo-mineral medicines] have heavy metals in them but these medicines are not dangerous in any way. The metals are made to undergo certain procedures to make them organic before they are incorporated in the medicines. Some of these metals are heat-treated to nullify the heaviness and toxicity. The medicines pass through a wide range of tests before they are declared safe for human consumption. The heavy metals, when converted, act as catalysts to carry the herbs to the desired site of action in the body.

Myth 2 Ayurvedic medicines do not have any side effects

It’s unfair to say this about any system of medicine. Though Ayurvedic medicines have fewer side effects, you can’t say for sure that they never cause any. For instance, when the detox procedures are not done properly, their counter-effects could be life threatening. One can develop symptoms like loose motions, constipation, digestive disturbances, rashes, boils, and fatigue. It is always advised to take the medicines under the supervision of a qualified Ayurvedic physician. Yet, there is always a tiny chance that you may develop some adverse reaction to a certain medicine.

When the detox procedures are not done properly, their counter-effects could be life threatening

Myth 3 There are more food restrictions while undergoing Ayurvedic treatments than other forms of treatments

Any treatment, whether allopathic or Ayurvedic will have certain dietary restrictions. And in order to treat an illness, at times certain foods need to be avoided. This is decided by your Ayurvedic physician after assessing your doshas. Since allopathy does not treat the disease as a whole and only treats the symptoms individually, there are not as many dietary restrictions as in Ayurveda or any other form of complementary therapy.

Myth 4 Ayurveda only means oil massages

Even though there is an increased awareness about Ayurveda, at a global level many people still consider Ayurvedic treatment to be consisting of application of different oils and massages. Ayurveda does not mention anywhere that oil massage is the only remedy for an ailment. It has to be understood that there are many conditions, as well as certain body types, where the application of oil could, in fact, aggravate the health problem. While oil massages are popular for the relaxing effect they produce, they are rarely used to cure diseases.

Myth 5 Ayurvedic medicines require a lot of grinding and pounding

Ayurveda has a wide range of preparations from pills, powders and decoctions to infusions, oils, and herbo-mineral preparations. Thanks to modern mechanical processes, ready-to-use medicines are now available. Even the bitter khashayams [decoctions] are now available in tablet form.

While oil massages are popular for the relaxing effect they produce, they are rarely used to cure diseases

Myth 6 Medicinal formulations are kept a secret

The main purpose of Ayurveda is to prevent the occurrence of diseases and to offer relief to the existing ones. There is nothing secretive about Ayurveda. Because most of the text, formulas and processes are in Sanskrit, they need to be translated. But, one can find many commentaries and translations in book stores these days. There are even universities that offer short- and long-term courses to understand Ayurveda.

Myth 7 Ayurveda is well-practised only in Kerala

There is no doubt that Ayurveda has flourished in Kerala, the land of the ashta vaidyas [the famous family traditionally serving people with their knowledge of Ayurveda]. When India was under British rule, Ayurveda was banned, but in the South it was still practised in parts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. After independence, when Ayurveda was legalised and recognised, many universities, colleges and hospitals started teaching and practising it. Today it is practised all over India and we find treatment centres from Jaipur to Jamnagar and the rest of the country.

Ayurveda is more than just treatments and medications; it is a lifestyle. The principles of Ayurveda,when practised properly, not only keep away diseases but also enhance our mental stability and brings about spiritual enlightenment. It is a holistic system suited for people from all walks of life.

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