Stinging Nettle 2 (Butterfly Host Plant)

[mythtree]

One late spring in my youth, hiking Ojai, once I conquered the mountain was stunned upon a magnificent vista rolling green toward the sea. Stunned, & stung as I slipped & fell & caught purchase of this stealthy little stinging plant, blending in so well along the trail. I assure you it had no trouble penetrating my tender palms. Nothing to do, I couldn't even use my hands until returning to soak, still it stung for days. That moment of enchanted pleasure & sheer surprise I will never forget!

[JCMDIweirdStuff]

Sounds like you got whacked good by that plant! I can only remember a couple of times getting a sting so severely that it produced itchy-numbness for more than 24 hours. Good to remember what those plants look like in any case! =)

[Traveler2112]

When I was growing up there was a man that made this stuff I believe from boiling down the white part of pine underneath the exterior bark. I know pine has an antiseptic property. Anyway he had given a bottle of this stuff to a neighbor whose lawn I mowed. The neighbor had a lot stinging nettles on his property and one day I got it bad on the forearm. He said apply some of the pine oil extract stuff. It cleared up the sting almost instantly nullifying the effects. Will never forget that.

[JcmdiStockFootage]

That sounds like a very useful remedy! I have been whacked by nettles so bad that the stings hurt and tingled for 1-2 days. I'd also like to see such a remedy for Poison Oak, too! :-)

[Traveler2112]

@JcmdiStockFootage Like I said Im not sure how he made it. But I know it worked. This was like 35 years ago or so.

[TheNatureStation]

It would be unfortunate if such a recipe were lost to time. I've heard stories of people who developed, or knew of such remedies that never passed the information on, and subequently took the knowledge with them when they died.. :-/

[Traveler2112]

@TheNatureStation He probably did. He was an old man at the time when I was a kid. 

[Traveler2112]

@JcmdiStockFootage I've never had Poison Ivy or Oak which surprises me as much as I have hiked/played/explored through the woods since I was a kid. And I've lived all over the place. Been lucky I guess.

[413hey]

aren't these high in vitamin c ?

[jcmegabyte]

I've heard that too. It's best to eat the young leaves (and you're less likely to get stung by them!) , and boiled it's said to taste like Spinach, though I have yet to try it :-)

[413hey]

@jcmegabyte i think i would probably just boil it and strain it, then add some mint leaves and some slippery elm

[rickysgirl330]

I've heard of this plant....is it worse than getting poison ivy on you, do you know? Poison ivy is nasty!

[jcmegabyte]

Poison Ivy/Oak/Sumac is really in class by itself... We have Poison Oak here in CA but it's the same oil in all three plants that causes the rash and extreme itching. I've had it a few times and yes it can be terrible!

On the other hand, Nettle stings are like really weak bee stings or ant bites. It itches a little and can even leave a tingling sensation for the whole day if you get a really good whack, but otherwise it's nowhere near as nasty as Poison Ivy/Oak

:-)

[geggis13]

can you smoke that ??

[jcmegabyte]

You probably can, but I don't think it would do much for you other than give you a nasty cough. I think it's better eaten...

[loveyoutodeathbut007]

Stinging Nettle is very valuable for cleansing the body of toxins. I hope you trimmed a few plants =)

[jcmegabyte]

I've been meaning to cook some up and try it. I hear it tastes like chicken.. um I mean Spinach. ...and I DO like fresh and lightly steamed Spinach, although I won't be wolfinf-down any fresh Nettles! I also have some potted in the back yard. It's super easy to grow (it likes it very WET!). I get stung plenty when searching for caterpillars on it in the field, but I haven't used it for anything other than worm chow so far. :-)