🌿 Stinging Nettle: A Fierce & Generous Ally
There’s something special about the plants that make you slow down and pay attention. Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) is one of those plants—a bold, wild teacher who greets you with a fiery prick and leaves you stronger for it.
As a clinical herbalist, I hold deep reverence for nettle. She’s not flashy or exotic. She doesn’t whisper sweet nothings. Instead, she comes in with strength, resilience, and a deep well of nourishment. Nettle is a plant of boundaries, of vitality, of reclaiming your energy from the inside out.
✨ A Nutrient Powerhouse
Nettle is rich in minerals—especially iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and even a bit of silica. It also offers vitamins like A, C, K, and B-complex. This makes her a deeply nourishing tonic, ideal for folks who are feeling depleted, overworked, or simply needing to rebuild.
I often reach for nettle in cases of:
- Low energy or burnout
- Underactive thyroid support
- Building blood & replenishing iron stores
- Support during menstruation or postpartum
- Nourishing hair, skin, and nails from within
Think of her as a plant-based multivitamin with a wild heart 💚
🌱 For the Underactive Thyroid
While nettle doesn’t directly act on thyroid hormones, it supports the systems around the thyroid—especially the adrenals and the blood. Her iron-rich profile helps combat fatigue. Her vitamin C supports stress resilience. Her minerals fortify what’s been worn thin.
In the case of hypothyroidism, where everything can feel slow, foggy, and tired, nettle helps restore tone—not just physically, but energetically. It’s like a gentle push toward vitality.
🍵 How to Work With Her
My favorite way to work with nettle is as a nourishing infusion. That means steeping a generous amount of dried nettle leaf in hot water (about 1 oz herb to 1 quart of water) and letting it sit for at least 4 hours—ideally overnight.
The result is a dark, rich, slightly grassy brew that feels like you’re drinking deep green medicine. It can be sipped warm or cold, sweetened or plain, and enjoyed daily.
She also plays well in soups, broths, hair rinses, and even as a fresh green if cooked or steamed (to remove the sting!).
💫 More Than Her Sting
Nettle reminds us that nourishment sometimes comes with a boundary. That being fierce doesn’t mean you’re not generous. That healing isn’t always soft—it can be strong, and wild, and filled with minerals.
If you’ve worked with nettle, I’d love to hear your story. If she’s new to you, consider this your invitation to meet her—on the page, in your cup, or out on the land.