A brief introduction to stinging nettle and its health benefits:
Stinging nettle is an evergreen herbaceous shrub that has a long medicinal history and is considered a classic “nutritive” herb. The leaves and stems of stinging nettle possess anti-inflammatory actions that have most commonly been used to treat painful muscles and joints, eczema, arthritis, gout, anemia, urinary problems and hay fever. Stinging nettle is a very nutrient-rich plant that can be used in food recipes, tea, capsule, tincture, and extract form.
Note: If using fresh stinging nettle instead of dried, boiling or sautéing the leaves first is a must! This will tame the sting of the spiny bristles on the leaves of the nettle plant.
Follow this link for a healthy stinging nettle pesto recipe that tastes great!
