Nettle - Urtica Dioica

Spring is a time of birth and flowering branches, the return of the sun. Although the promise of renewal is on the wind, this is historically the hungriest time of year. The winter stores have been depleted, and the body craves fresh, living sustenance. Beginning in March, here in the Pacific Northwest, stinging Nettle can be found ready to harvest in abundance. You can find the purple tinged, mineral rich green leaf in watery lowlands and shadowed wild places. Be sure to harvest wild only from clean places where glyphosate has not been sprayed. Most are aware- Nettle stings! An old Irish name for Nettle was ‘nenaid’, meaning ‘fire’. I prefer to harvest Nettles with bare hands. The sting brings blood flow, and urtication has been shown to help with arthritis. You can wear gloves if you are not in the mood for a rash. If you are looking for some relief from the irritation that comes from a Nettle sting, look around for Plantain. Plantain can be chewed and applied to the rash, and you can usually find Plantain growing along trails and places disturbed by human activity while out harvesting.

Nettles are a traditional spring tonic and blood cleanser, an ally during periods of fasting and cleansing. Nettles are highly nutritive and will perk you up when you feel tired or depleted and can help build reserves after a long or intense illness. I find that my hair tends to grow much faster in the Spring, as I tend to consume a great amount of Nettle, fresh in meals (used in any recipe in replacement of a green like spinach,) and as well dried in tea throughout the year.

Nettle’s ability to support the liver is one of its most celebrated benefits, particularly in the spring when the liver is naturally working to detoxify and revitalize the body after the slower, more stagnant winter months. Nettle helps in this process by acting as a powerful diuretic, encouraging the body to flush out toxins and waste. It’s also a great antihistamine, reduces overall inflammation and supports the function of the liver's detoxifying enzymes. I like to combine my Nettle infusions with other liver supporting herbs such as fresh Cleavers, Burdock, Dandelion, and Milk Thistle. Join us for our plant spirit journey in April for more insight into this revered plant of the wild hedge.

Nettle Soup Recipe

Ingredients

½ cup heavy cream
4 cups chicken stock
2 cups diced peeled russet potato, roughly 1 large potato
2 cups diced leeks
2 medium sized shallots diced small
1 small yellow onion diced
3 tablespoons butter or olive oil
1 cup diced celery
Kosher salt to taste
White pepper to taste
8 oz stinging Nettles

Preparing the Nettles

Harvest fresh nettles March-April when they are about 4-5 inches tall

(Nettles are best used for fiber once they have gone to flower.)

Wash the nettles in a sink of cold water.
Boil a large pot of clean water, and blanche the Nettles for a minute or two. Cool the Nettles in ice water. Save your blanching water for tea! Note that you can also add the Nettles directly to the blender or soup raw for a stronger flavor and skip this step. The Nettles will lose their string once ground or boiled.

Soup Base + Serving

Sweat a mirepoix of celery, potato, onion, shallot and leek on medium heat for 5 minutes. Add the chicken stock and bring the mixture to a simmer. Cook on medium-low until the vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes. Add the Nettles + cream and puree the soup in a blender or with an immersion blender, working in batches if needed. Season with salt and pepper. Reheat the soup to your liking after blending. Garnish with creme Crème fraîche + olive oil or butter. Yum!

Our gentle & beloved detox blends.

SEASONAL REFRESH

Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium)

Oregon grape supports liver detoxification through its berberine content, which has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties that can help alleviate liver congestion and promote bile production. It also helps to cleanse the liver by stimulating bile flow and improving digestion.

Yellow Dock (Rumex crispus)

Yellow dock aids in liver detoxification and promotes bile production. The anthraquinones help stimulate liver cleansing and improve digestion. It also acts as a gentle diuretic, helping to flush toxins from the body, while its antioxidant properties protect the liver from oxidative stress.

Dandelion ( Taraxacum officinale)

Dandelion supports liver health by enhancing bile production (particularly from the root) and promoting liver detoxification. The leaf serves as a diuretic, flushing toxins from the body, while its antioxidant content helps reduce oxidative damage, making it beneficial for overall liver function and regeneration.

Burdock (Arctium lappa)

Burdock root promotes liver detoxification by stimulating bile flow and improving digestion. It purifies the blood and supports liver regeneration by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation. Inulin in burdock helps nourish beneficial gut bacteria, which in turn supports the liver’s detox processes.

Rose Hips (Rosa canina)

Rose, especially rosehips, is rich in vitamin C, which is essential for liver detoxification and regeneration. This vitamin enhances the liver's ability to process and eliminate toxins. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of rose help reduce oxidative damage to liver cells, promoting overall liver health.

Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum)

Cinnamon’s antioxidant properties help reduce oxidative stress on the liver, supporting its detoxification and regeneration. Additionally, cinnamon’s ability to regulate blood sugar levels makes it useful for preventing fatty liver disease and enhancing liver function.

LIVER REPAIR

Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum)

Milk Thistle is one of the most widely known and researched herbs for liver health. Its active compound, silymarin, has potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Silymarin protects liver cells from damage caused by toxins, free radicals, and oxidative stress. It also promotes the regeneration of liver cells and helps stabilize liver cell membranes, making it harder for harmful substances to enter. Additionally, Milk Thistle aids in detoxification by increasing bile production, which helps eliminate waste products and toxins from the body.

Burdock Root (Arctium lappa)

Burdock Root is known for its blood-purifying properties, which make it beneficial for liver function. It contains compounds like arctigenin and inulin that support liver detoxification processes. Burdock acts as a gentle diuretic, encouraging the elimination of toxins through urine, and it also supports bile production, aiding digestion. Furthermore, Burdock has anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce liver inflammation and promote overall liver health by supporting its ability to process and remove toxins.

Dandelion Root (Taraxacum officinale)

Dandelion Root is another powerful herb for liver detoxification. It stimulates both bile production and secretion, which assists in the digestion of fats and the removal of waste. Taraxasterol, a compound found in Dandelion, helps promote liver cell regeneration and protects the liver from damage. Dandelion also acts as a mild diuretic, helping the kidneys eliminate waste products, thus reducing the burden on the liver. Additionally, it has anti-inflammatory properties that support the liver’s natural detox processes and overall function.

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)

Fennel, commonly known for its digestive benefits, also plays a supportive role in liver health. Fennel is rich in antioxidants like flavonoids and phenolic compounds, which help combat oxidative stress, a major factor in liver damage. It also has mild diuretic properties, promoting the elimination of excess toxins and waste from the body, thereby reducing the load on the liver. Fennel’s role in digestion also supports the liver by enhancing the breakdown and absorption of nutrients, reducing the liver’s burden in processing undigested or improperly processed food.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale)

Ginger is well-known for its anti-inflammatory and digestive-supporting qualities, which also benefit liver health. It contains gingerols, bioactive compounds that help reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in the liver. Ginger promotes healthy digestion and improves circulation, which helps the liver receive an adequate supply of oxygen and nutrients. Additionally, ginger’s ability to reduce inflammation in the digestive tract aids in the proper flow of bile, reducing the burden on the liver. Research also suggests that ginger may support liver detoxification by increasing the liver's ability to break down and eliminate toxins more effectively.

Spring Greens for the Wild Table