Nettle - medicinal properties and contraindications

If someone did not know about the stinging nature of nettles, but fell into her bush, remember this case for life. And to recognize the plant will be from afar, trying not to approach, because, touching the plant, pain and burning are felt on the skin, and a rash appears. After a short time, everything passes, but the unpleasant impression of the "wild nature" of the nettle remains.

Many believe that the blame for this leaves, which have burning hairs. But in fact, at the touch of these hairs break - they are so fragile. Under them is formic acid, which, being on the skin of a person, gives such a reaction (it seems that there was a real burn).

Interesting Nettle Information

The plant grows like a weed. You can see it in the most unexpected places: in forest areas where there is a lot of shade and high humidity, in wastelands and scorched places, along ditches and in ravines, in clearings and gardens, near houses and ponds.

Nettle is a dioecious perennial plant. Its stem reaches a length of about one and a half meters. The leaves are located on rather long petioles, have large dentate edges. On the veins and on the stalk it is densely dotted with burning hairs. Contains female inflorescences, which are thickened, and to the touch are quite dense, their color is green. There are male inflorescences. Differ in color - with a yellowish shade, and much thinner.

Flowering plant falls at the beginning of May and lasts until July. And while this period continues, you need to have time to procure a plant for medicinal needs. Therefore, the leaves are collected in June and July. But some herbalists believe that the grass should be harvested in the spring and at the very beginning of the summer season. Their opinion is based on the fact that in the future the leaves often attack the caterpillars, and therefore the plant becomes unsuitable for treatment.

Unfortunately, after the nettle has dried out - part of the therapeutic effect is irretrievably lost. Before sending for storage, it is necessary to carefully review all the leaves and flowers to discard the darkened ones, since they are no longer suitable. And then decompose the crop in cloth bags so that there is air intake, and place the room dry and well ventilated.

If there are no such conditions, it is possible to store the crop in freezing conditions. This will require fresh leaves to wash, spread on the fabric. After drying, the leaves will require processing: they are finely cut and sent to the freezer.But, if this method of storage is not possible, then canning remains. The recipe is this: the leaves are carefully washed and very finely chopped. Pre-sterilized jars are taken, and the leaves are laid in them. They need to tamp, only then the plant will begin to produce juice. When the banks are full, they are sealed and sent to a dark room with a low temperature.

Nettle roots are no less useful, even in some diseases, they play the main role during treatment. Because they are also harvested, digging in the spring, before flowering began. It is enough to wash them, dry, chop.

Why nettles are referred to medicinal plants

Doctors for a basis take in the nettle only leaves. And traditional medicine believes that rhizomes, flowers, seeds and juice will bring benefits to human health.

If you examine the leaves of the Zhigalki (the so-called plant is different), then first of all you can find in them a high content of vitamins C, K and B2 and carotene.

They also have:

• formic and silicic acids;
• urticin glycoside;
• phytoncides;
• many different trace elements;
• carotenoids;
• mineral salts;
• chlorophyll;
• tannins.

How is nettle useful for people?

First of all it should be noted that the plant has the ability to stop the bleeding. There are many blood-forming effects at nettle, it can:

• increase blood clotting;
• increase hemoglobin and platelet count;
• constrict blood vessel lumens;
• increase prothrombin levels if anticoagulants have been introduced into the body.

The leaves increase the tone of the smooth muscles of the intestine and uterus, restore the epithelium of the affected tissue, regulate metabolism.

Nettle preparations have such effects on humans:

• diuretic;
• anti-inflammatory;
• choleretic;
• anthelmintic;
• expectorant;
• antirheumatic;
• astringent

Taking means with the content of nettle, the body becomes more resistant to various diseases, and the extract will be able to normalize the disturbed menstrual cycle and lipid metabolism, improve the cardiovascular system.

With the help of fresh juice or broth, you can lower blood sugar levels.

To get the juice, the raw material is washed, some cool boiled water is added to it, and then it is passed through a meat grinder.You can chop the leaves in a blender (then you need to strain the juice). Take a teaspoon three times a day. If the juice is difficult to drink, you can add a little honey to it. Cooked juice remains useful only for a few days, stored in a cold place.

In medical practice, it is used zhigalka with hypo-avitaminosis, various bleeding.

There is a proportion of nettle in the popular allohol, which is used against the liver and intestines.

Many doctors recommend patients with zhigalki, if diagnosed such diseases as:

• atherosclerosis;
• Iron-deficiency anemia;
• hypotension or hypertension;
• neurosis, epilepsy or hysteria;
• liver disease;
• jade;
• cystitis;
• bronchial asthma, whooping cough.

Nettle is necessarily included in those fees that are prepared when you need to increase your appetite, if peptic ulcer or gastritis, enterocolitis or heart failure of I or II degree are found.

Herbalists believe that nettle is most effective in treating pulmonary tuberculosis, jaundice, severe coughing and choking, vomiting and constipation.

It helps with edema, palpitations, if the spleen is sick or there are cramps in the intestines and stomach.

Use in the treatment: flowers, roots and seeds

Flowers
Be sure to harvest herbalists flowering tops of the plant. They will be useful in the future to those people who have kidney problems, bleeding occurs or dysentery begins. In these cases, nettle helps as a vitamin remedy. Cooked flower tea helps as an expectorant. To make it, enough pinch of flowers for four 200-gram cups.

Seeds
From the seeds, a medicine is obtained, the action of which is aimed at combating fever, paralysis and problems in the gall bladder. Seeds will also be useful if stones form in the kidneys - oxalates (nettle is an excellent prophylactic against stone formation) or a breakdown is felt. In these cases, the seeds are ground in water. Daily dose - 1 teaspoon per 250 ml of water.

Seeds will be needed if sexual weakness has come. Also seeds are used when diabetes is treated. They are added to sour milk.

You can get rid of stones and cough if you take nettle seeds - 5 teaspoons, 2 parts of a moss-like spore, and three parts of sugar. All mixed and taken three times a day.

Root
The roots will benefit those people who have not had a cough for a long time or have found long-standing kidney stones. Then use candied roots.

If a person has a fever, it is possible to treat it with the help of a lighter root. Roots and garlic are placed in a container and infused with 40% spirit. The remedy will bring particular benefit if it is kept in a dark place for 6 days. Then the tincture is used:

• rubbing the patient;
• give him inside twice a day - only three spoons.

Nettle against many diseases: recipes

1. Some women have problems with irregular menstrual cycles. To avoid this, you can try to use a decoction of nettle, starting to drink it for 3 - 5 days before the start of menstruation, this method will also help reduce blood loss.
2. After the winter, decline in strength and a decrease in immunity are observed in many. And there has not yet appeared a new crop of fruits and vegetables that will saturate the body with useful substances; nettles may well replace them. Who cooks the soup from the young nettle, says that after a month the body's defenses increase, the mood improves and the vision becomes sharper.
3. To satisfy the body with vitamins and minerals, to prevent exhaustion, they do this. Take two tablespoons of nettle leaves to dilute 0.5 l of freshly removed water from the fire. For an hour insist in a tightly closed container. Strain. Drink before meals, measuring the third part of the glass. The amount of funds received - 3 - 5 times a day.
4. To quickly bring back the metabolic processes in the body, lose weight and improve the digestive process, it is recommended the following recipe. Mix one spoon of crushed nettle leaves and yarrow (approximately 10 gr.), Boil for 10 minutes in 0.5 liters of boiling water. It is advisable to take only half a glass before going to bed at night. This tool well removes some of the manifestations of such diseases as atherosclerosis.
5. Nettle helps to restore the lost sense of smell and saves from dropsy. To remove eczema, take note of this recipe. Takes 50 gr. nettle leaves and birch, hop cones and dandelion root, mint and 100 gr. grasses All ingredients are mixed, and then 2 spoons are poured with 0.5 liters of water and boiled for 5 minutes. Drink 100 ml before meals 4 times a day.
6. Use the special qualities of the plant - such as irritant and distracting - during the treatment of rheumatism and sciatica. The method is a bit unpleasant, but effective: use a cross section, that is, a touch of fresh nettles. The procedure is repeated 3 - 5 times, but every other day.
7. Effective is a tool that cleans the blood and helps get rid of boils, constipation and little urine. In equal proportions, nettle leaves and blackberries, dandelion and thorns are taken. All poured 0.5 liters of water and sent to languish in the oven for 2 - 3 hours. Need to use the mixture every day a teaspoon for two weeks.
8. Sexual attraction in people's lives is important, and if these functions disappear, they need to be urgently restored. And again use the invaluable help of nettle, which can do it. The seeds of the plant are able to act as a stimulant for sexual desire. They should be taken along with the wine from natural grapes, you can use and port. You will need 5 tablespoons of seeds and 0.5 liters of wine. Norm - 50 ml each day before bedtime.

But there is another means.Make nettle seed powder and mix it with black pepper. The proportions are equal. Smash a raw egg in a bowl, beat it slightly and add the prepared mixture to it, but only at the very tip of the knife. Stir and use in the morning, half an hour before breakfast. The course lasts no more than 5 days.

Zhigalka leaves have a unique property: when they are harvested during the flowering period, they can stimulate the tissues of the prostate gland. And along the way they stimulate sexual desire, help the formation of motile sperm. Because nettle is used if necessary to get rid of impotence.

The use of nettle in cosmetology

1. To quickly improve the condition of the hair, nettles are also actively used. It strengthens the hair and dandruff, and makes the hair grow better. The best recipe in this case is this: one tablespoon of dried leaves or 2 handfuls of raw need to insist in a liter of boiling water for an hour. After the head is washed, part of the infusion is rubbed into the hair part of the head, and the rest is washed with the head. It is important to remember that after such washing the hair is not recommended to be wiped.Such procedures should be permanent, but with short breaks.
2. If the hair falls out strongly, dandruff constantly appears, such a remedy helps. Nettle leaves will need - 80 gr., Its root - 20 gr., As well as calamus root - 10 gr. Add everything into a container and add 50 ml of water and 130 ml of 95% alcohol. The remedy should be infused for at least a week. As soon as this time has expired, it is necessary to strain the infusion and squeeze. Use, rubbing into the head with massage movements.
3. If baldness is a threatening factor, nettle will help to cope with this problem. For this purpose, you will need fresh or canned leaves. They are placed in a glass container and poured vodka. The remedy should be infused for three weeks. At this time it should be in a dark and cool place. It is rubbed into the problem areas of the head.
4. If there are problems with the scalp, it will be useful to use such a tool. Prepare 100 gr. crushed leaves, you can take as a basis and the root, boil 30 minutes in the next mixture - 0.5 liters of water and 0.5 liters of vinegar. The finished product is filtered and washed the head, but with the following conditions:

• Do not use shampoo or soap;
• several times in a row, preferably at bedtime.

Nettle treats asthma and tumors!

In patients with asthmatic bronchitis and bronchial asthma in mild form, the condition improves significantly if you take a special infusion:

• 15 gr. nettle leaves measure 25 gr. wild rosemary Cook the plants in a liter of boiling water;
• a course of treatment is two weeks with 0.5 cups;
• rate 5 - 6 times a day.

Children are given this infusion in a reduced dose - a teaspoon several times a day.

There is a recipe that allows you to stop the development of a tumor in the spleen. It is necessary to make a powder of equal doses of nettle leaves, plantain lanceolate, sage. Take three times a day. The dose should not exceed the amount that fits on the edge of the knife.

Are there any contraindications

Nettle can harm pregnant women, as well as those people who have poor blood clotting, thrombophlebitis, or the slightest threat of heart attack.

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