I love springtime...all the beautiful wildflowers, all of the plants and trees coming back to life! The fresh bright green color of new growth and the scent of flowers all around! It is by far my favorite season.
Quite often in this glorious season, people are faced with the unfortunate consequence of such beauty. Allergies!
Allergic reactions occur when your immune system reacts after coming into contact with environmental allergens, such as pollens (all those lovely flowers, grasses, and other plants/ trees in their glory), dust, pet dander, dust mites and mold. Common and severely annoying symptoms include runny nose, itchy/ watery eyes, sneezing and fatigue. The immune system is launching an attack by creating a lot of mucous and sending it to the affected areas to surround and move the problematic particles out of the body. Super helpful, right? The body is actually just doing it's job here, so give it some love!
I am going on a tangent here to just mention that I know many people who have greatly reduced and cured many of their allergies by switching to a whole food organic diet and limiting toxic exposure in the home and environment. I am also one of those people. I used to have to take Claritin-D every single day to avoid allergy symptoms! This was alleviated for me when I stopped bombarding myself with chemical food and toxic substances. Moving out of chronic inflammation and toxic overload lessens the over-reacting of the immune system, and the body can function more efficiently overall. Of course this may not be such a simple fix for everyone, as we are all very different in so many ways.
When someone asks me what can be done for allergies there is one herb that I always recommend because it WORKS.
That herb is stinging nettle!
Nettle can be consumed in a tea, tincture, tablet, capsule, pill, or other extract. The boiled leaves can also be applied directly to the skin, and there are also topical oils available. You can also find it fresh and alive near the creek right here in Idyllwild, California! Be mindful when harvesting fresh nettle of course, and make sure the source is abundant, healthy (not purple, which signals the plant is already struggling) and not in a polluted area. It is also not a good idea to harvest nettle when it is in bloom. When nettle blooms, the plant's chemistry changes a bit to attract butterflies and moths. Blooming nettle is found to be higher in calcium carbonate, which can interfere with kidney function in some cases.
Stinging Nettle will cause a rash when you touch it, so you want to have protective clothing and gloves when harvesting. Nettles sting as a protective mechanism. This plant has protective boundaries! Oh the things we can learn from plants! There is so much that is of value inside of this plant. Surely the animals would eat it all up if it were more...accommodating. Nettle's leaves and stems have long stinging hairs that inject chemicals like formic acid (just like a bee sting), histamine, serotonin and acetylcholine. Once the leaves are boiled, the stinging substances are neutralized, and the plant can be enjoyed.
It's a good idea, with all plants, to ask the plant if you can harvest from it (You will feel a yes or no) and give some love and gratitude before leaving when you are harvesting. Some people like to leave a gentle offering to the land where they harvest. This can be a pinch of your favorite herb, dried corn, a prayer, the light of your own heart...whatever feels accurate to you as a gesture of gratitude to the land.
So what is so special about nettle? Nettle is highly nutritious, which is attributed to it's long and deep root system. Nettle is able to really benefit from the mineral content of the deep soil, and it holds a lot!
Nettle contains the following vitamins, minerals and compounds:
- B vitamins (mood and energy levels)
- Vitamin C (immune system, free radical control)
- Vitamin E (free radical control, immune system, skin support)
- Vitamin K (bone building, blood clotting)
- Vitamin A (eye health, reproduction, growth and development)
- Iron (growth and development, blood oxygen levels)
- Magnesium (healthy bones, muscles, nerves and blood sugar levels)
- Calcium (bone health & density, cardiovascular and muscular health)
- Beta Carotene (converts to Vitamin A, important for eyes and maintaining healthy organs)
- Protein (structural support, hormones, enzymes etc.)
- Other Minerals (bone growth, muscle & nerve function, water balance etc.)
- Terpenoids (anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antiallergic, antimicrobial and antioxidant)
- Carotenoids (antioxidant and pro-vitamin A functions)
- Fatty Acids (needed for various bodily functions- must be obtained from food)
- Essential Amino Acids (needed for various bodily functions- must be obtained from food)
- Chlorophyll (cleanses blood and reduces inflammation)
- Polyphenols (antioxidant properties)
- Flavonoids (cardiovascular health, cognitive benefits)
- Anthocyanins (anticancer, antioxidants, cardiovascular health)
- Saponins (anti-inflammatory, anticancer, liver protection)
There are many other ways that nettle can contribute to better health. Scientists doing animal studies with nettle are showing a lot of promise when looking at how nettle works.
Nettles may help in the following ways:
- Allergy relief. Anti-inflammatory and antihistamine. See study here.
- Female reproductive health- the relief of cramping and bloating. Nettle also acts as an astringent, lessening blood flow.
- Nutrient uptake efficiency of the gut, digestive aid
- Stimulation of lymphatic system
- Diuretic properties, helping to remove toxins
- Easing of the hormonal transition of menopause. See study here.
- Kidney health. Kidney stones and urinary ailments. See study here.
- Lowering systolic blood pressure and stress on the cardiovascular system. See this paper.
- Reduction of blood glucose levels.
- Preventing prostate enlargement.
- Improving insulin sensitivity.
- Reduction in the severity of acne
- Preventing bacterial infections
- Stimulating milk production in nursing mothers, aiding in lactation
- Burn treatment
- Reduction in colonic inflammation
- Soothing of ulcers and hemorrhoids
- Speeding up wound healing
Does Stinging Nettle have side effects? In my experience, nettle is a gentle herb when taken as a tea, however it is always best to consult your trusted physician or herbalist for dosage and to make sure you don't have conflicting conditions or medications. With any new herb, you always want to go low and slow, and make sure you are only introducing one herb at a time, so it will be easy to check in with your body's reaction to it. Most common side effects are diarrhea and sweating. If you have kidney or bladder issues, or if you are on medication like blood thinners, blood pressure meds, diabetes meds, diuretics or lithium, check in with your doctor to be sure.
Now for the magical properties of nettle! I just couldn't write about nettle and ignore the fact that it's been used for centuries in mystical and spiritual practices around the world. When we think about the magic of plants and communing with them daily or in a more ceremonial ritual that enhances our intentions, we tend to look at the structural components of the plant, where it grows, what it likes...etc. Think about it like getting to know a friend and integrating what you can learn from this friend in your own journey.
Nettle is structurally strong and it is surrounded by the protection of its own design. It has so much to offer, but only to those who treat it with reverence. It is a plant to be respected. It has been used in some practices to ward off "evil" spirits, curses and negative energy. To use it in this way, you would hang some of it in a doorway or window in a pouch. Or sprinkle the tea in these or other areas as desired.
Stinging nettle also has such strong fibers that it is also used to make twine, string, rope and fabrics. This can be a symbol of the weaving of life itself. The strength in connection. A sweet nettle tea ceremony with a friend or group of friends to celebrate this connection would be beneficial to all involved. Nettle has also been used to access lucid dreaming states, which can be seen as a weaving of the dreamscape into reality, that which makes it hard to tell what is real. A lucid dreaming practice can bring some interesting awareness of multi-dimensional travel and gaining control of your dream space. Nettle's protective quality holds a safe space for this kind of exploration.
Some other names for nettle include "burn weed" and "burn nettle" which speak to its wound and burn treating properties, but this may also relate to the fact that the act of stinging incites a burning sensation. This burning (and fire in general) can be seen as cleansing & purifying. Some cultures have used nettle for smudging (burning and spreading the smoke) or bathing to remove impurities of all kinds.
Nettle is associated with the fire element and ruled by Aries/ Mars. Aries and Mars symbolize forward action. In the zodiac, Aries is the assertive and energetic "I AM". Aries knows itself and is unapologetic for the standing in the authentic self. We can all use some of that! You can see the physical association in the fact that nettle is full of B vitamins, which give you energy. This energy is also seen to help with stagnation that we sometimes all experience.
There are so many reasons to work with this helpful plant!
Here is a link to my favorite nettle root tincture. I have recommended this tincture to many people, and they always have great relief of allergy symptoms...and I'm sure they are benefitting in other ways!